Aizawl: The Mizoram government has decided to disburse all pending healthcare bills under the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme(MSHCS) before the new financial year 2024-25, a minister said on Thursday.
Health minister Lalrinpuii informed the state legislature that more than Rs. 45.59 crore is now due for release to beneficiaries under the state healthcare scheme.
She said that the new Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) government has earmarked Rs. 40 crore from funds allocated under the Socio-Economic Development Policy (SEDP) of the previous Mizo National Front (MNF) government to clear pending healthcare bills.
She said that no pending healthcare bills have been cleared using Rs. 40 crore till now.
Apart from Rs. 40 crore, Chief Minister Lalduhoma, who also holds the finance portfolio, released Rs. 15 crore for clearance of pending bills soon after the formation of the new government and the money has been disbursed to the beneficiaries under the state healthcare scheme, she said.
“Over Rs. 45.59 crore is now due for disbursement to healthcare beneficiaries. If we subtract Rs. 40 crore earmarked from SEDP from Rs. 45.59 crore, the remaining will be around Rs. 5.6 crore. However all pending healthcare bills will be paid to the beneficiaries before the start of the new financial year 2024-25,” the minister said while replying to a query from an opposition MNF member. K. Laldawngliana.
The healthcare bill was one of the major political issues before the assembly polls in 2023.
The MNF government headed by former chief minister Zoramthanga drew severe flaks from different quarters as it failed to pay pending healthcare bills.
Lalrinpuii also informed the house that the state government will borrow a loan amounting to Rs. 1,000 crore from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the implementation of the healthcare scheme.
She said that the measure was initiated by the MNF government and even though the loan agreement was on the verge of signing during the MNF rule, it was delayed due to the state assembly polls held in November last year.
“Step is being taken to borrow Rs. 1,000 crore loan from ADB for the implementation of the healthcare scheme and the ADB has proposed to sign a loan agreement after the Lok Sabha polls in June this year,” the minister said.
In another reply, the health minister also informed the assembly that there are at present 391 health and wellness centres across the state.
Of these, 54 are primary health centres, 319 sub-centres, nine urban primary health centres and nine urban health and wellness centres, she said.
She said that the government is making massive efforts to overcome the shortage of doctors and health workers in various hospitals across the state.