Paiwang meets Sitharaman, shares health concerns of Nagaland

DIMAPUR, MAY 23 (MExN): Nagaland Minister for Health & Family Welfare, P Paiwang Konyak, met the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today in New Delhi and shared various health concerns of the state. 

At the meeting, Paiwang said it was the desire of the State Government to provide affordable and accessible health care to its citizen and requested the Union Finance Minister to consider the external aided project of (PPR ID-11761 Nagaland Health Systems Strengthening Project), focused mainly on filling up the gaps of infrastructures of health centres, quarters for health workers etc.

As per a press release, he further stated that the sanction accorded under Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health System Preparedness (ECRP) etc are for a specific Project and could not cover for the overall needs of the health sectors.

Paiwang further said with the success and positive impact of the Nagaland Health Project, funded by the World Bank, the state government has further proposed for the World Bank assistance project amounting to US$ 42.74 million to support the state for construction of district hospitals in newly created districts, construction of staff quarters, strengthening of district hospitals for delivery of assured services.

He also stated that the National Health Mission (NHM) which is the main funding for improvement of the health sectors Nagaland could avail hardly 50% of the Annual Resource Envelope over the years and requested the union finance minister to consider for release of fund in 2 instalments instead of 4 instalments. 

On her part, Sitharaman stressed the importance of timely contribution of state share to avail 90% grant from the centre, the release added. 

Paiwang was accompanied by the Commissioner & Secretary, H&FW, Y Kikheto Sema.