Fails to add additional capacity to rural health

BHUBANESWAR: Notwithstanding the flow of funds under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), the health scenario of the State is not inspiring. A cursory glance between the pre and post NRHM status shows the faultlines.  In March 2005, the total shortfall of female health workers/ANMs at the sub- centres and primary health centres (PHCs) was over 7,200. The shortfall increased thereafter to 7,967 by March 31, 2009. Similarly, the doctors at PHCs were in surplus, but by 2009 it turned into deficit with the gap touching 413. The shortfall of lab technicians in 2005 was only 1,202 but grew to 1,322 by March 2009.  Human resource management in the health sector is in disarray. Against a shortfall of 223 radiographers at community health centres (CHCs) in 2005, the number shrunk to 221 in 2009. While the PHCs/CHCs needed 2,262 nurses in 2005, by 2009 the requirement stood at 2,254. The State requires 553 specialists for community health centres.  While 7,300 sub-centres are needed, the State is managing with only 6,688. Similarly, against the required 292 CHCs, the State has only 231 functional ones.  Orissa fares worse than Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan in the Rural Health Statistics - 2009.  The State has failed to add any additional capacity to the rural health sector in the tenth Plan period.  The reason is obvious. In the 2010-11 budget, the Government has increased the capital outlay for the public health sector by mere Rs 4 crore over Rs 26 crore in the 2009-10 revised estimate. This increase of over 10 per cent suits the Government well as it fulfills the mandated NRHM norm of raising the State spending on public health by at least 10 per cent every year. But what it ignores is raising the spending on public health gradually to 3 per cent of gross state domestic product (GSDP) as mandated by the NRHM.  In 2010-11, the total spending on public health works out at around 0.9 per cent of GSDP only.