State expands community healthcare under 15th Finance Commission grants; each centre to receive Rs 25 lakh infrastructure support
Nagaland will establish six additional Urban Health and Wellness Centres (UHWCs) this year as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and improve access to medical services at the community level, officials said on Tuesday.
The announcement was made during a one-day orientation program on the implementation of the 15th Finance Commission Health Grants, organised by the Directorate of Municipal Affairs in collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM), Nagaland, in Kohima.
Addressing the program, Director of Municipal Affairs Temjenrenla Kechü said the 15th Finance Commission Health Grant was introduced by the Government of India to strengthen basic healthcare services through local bodies after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant gaps in healthcare delivery, leaving hospitals overcrowded and overstretched.
She said the Urban Health and Wellness Centres have been designed to bring healthcare closer to communities by providing neighbourhood-level consultation, basic diagnostic services and referral linkages to designated polyclinics for specialised treatment.
According to Kechü, the scheme is being implemented jointly by the Departments of Rural Development, Municipal Affairs and Health & Family Welfare.
Under the Municipal Affairs Department, each Urban Health and Wellness Centre is eligible for a one-time infrastructure grant of Rs 25 lakh, along with an additional Rs 3 lakh for computer and internet facilities. The centres may be established through new construction, upgrading existing facilities or operating from rented buildings where land is unavailable.
Kechü said the State Government has integrated the initiative with existing Sub-Centres and Primary Health Centres to strengthen the delivery of primary healthcare services. Besides infrastructure support, recurring grants have also been earmarked for human resources, medicines, operational expenses, infection control, quality assurance, wellness activities, branding and monitoring.
ALSO READ | Nagaland seeks revised health funding formula from Centre
Speaking on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Managing Director of Naga Hospital Authority Kohima, Dr. Imotemsu, said quality healthcare should be accessible to all without causing financial hardship. While highlighting India’s progress through initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat, Health and Wellness Centres, digital health records and telemedicine, he noted that infrastructure gaps, manpower shortages, urban-rural disparities and high out-of-pocket expenditure continue to pose challenges to achieving universal health coverage.
He stressed that strengthening primary healthcare, increasing public health spending and leveraging technology would be essential to improving healthcare access across the country.
The orientation programme was organised to familiarise Medical Officers and Urban Local Body officials with the implementation of the 15th Finance Commission Health Grants.
Technical sessions on recurring and non-recurring grant components and polyclinic services were conducted by officials from the Directorate of Municipal Affairs and the National Health Mission.
