Kolkata: The 15th Central Finance Commission has sanctioned Rs 230 crore for the upgradation of West Bengal’s rural health infrastructure.
The State Health Department has accordingly sent notifications to all districts. The funds will be utilised to completely revamp all the block and village panchayat level health centres, as well as start new pathology centres.
Initiatives are being taken to develop rural hospitals, super-speciality hospitals, block primary health centres, as well as block primary health units (BPHU).
The pathology centres will be located in these BPHUs. In some cases, where secondary health centres are running in rented or other government premises will now get new buildings from this fund. All work will be completed within the FY 2025-26.
A total of 51 block primary health centres and rural hospitals across 23 districts will be developed as BPHUs. A sum total of Rs 30.47 crore has been allocated for this only, which translates into Rs 59.75 lakh for each BPHU.
The government has allocated Rs 25.64 crore for 18 primary health centres without their own buildings. This means Rs 1.42 crore will be spent on each PHC.
For sub-health centres without their own buildings, another Rs 173.74 crore has been allocated. Each sub-health centre will therefore spend Rs 64.83 lakh.
A maximum of 47 sub-health centre buildings will be built in Nadia district. Malda, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Birbhum will get new buildings for one sub-health centre.
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