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World Bank-aided health scheme launched

By Our Special Correspondent

JAIPUR, AUG. 24. An ambitious health system development project, to be implemented in Rajasthan with the assistance of World Bank, was launched here today with the objective of streamlining the health sector by providing a high-quality healthcare delivery system. The project's cost has been estimated at Rs. 472.58 crores.

The Chief Minister, Vasundhara Raje, inaugurated the project here in the presence of top functionaries of the Health Department, World Bank's representatives and a large number of doctors from various districts. The main components of the project are institutional strengthening, improving service quality, and innovations to enhance access and equity to disadvantaged sections.

The State's share in the project -- to be implemented over a period of five years -- will be of the order of 15 per cent, amounting to Rs. 75.72 crores, while the World Bank's assistance will be to the tune of Rs. 396.85 crores. Seventy per cent of the assistance, to be routed through the Central Government, will be in the shape of loan and the remainder grant to the State.

Mr. Raje, speaking on the occasion, said the project would go a long way in realising the State Government's vision for the health sector and change the shape of healthcare services for the better. She laid special emphasis on providing healthcare facilities to women and children.

The World Bank's team leader, Sadia Afroz Chaudhary, said the similar projects implemented in nine other States had developed the capacity for policy analysis and dialogue leading to better distribution of resources. She said the project would be significant for Rajasthan in view of high maternal and infant mortality rates in the State.

The State Medical and Health Minister, Digambar Singh, pointed out that some "hard decisions'' would be taken to streamline the functioning of Government hospitals and the project's funds would be properly utilised for various works. "We will achieve a status in the next two years when no poor person will be deprived of medical services,'' he said.

Some of the focus areas of the project are renovation of medical institutions, waste management in hospitals, involvement of private sector, supply of medicines and hospital equipment and human resource development through technical and managerial training to doctors and para-medical staff.

The public-private partnership is also expected to improve efficiency of health care delivery system, while the optimum utilisation of the existing infrastructure would help improve the human development index of the State. Ms. Raje also inaugurated the official website of the Medical and Health Department on the occasion. The website provides information regarding the availability of services and policies and programmes of the State Government in the health sector.

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