Health delivery system: Punjab government to get financial support from World Bank, DFID

World Bank and DFID have shown interest to provide financial support to the Punjab government for the implementation of health sector strategy through Punjab Health Sector Reform Programme. As per budget document 2013-14, an agreement has been signed by the Government of Punjab with DFID which has agreed to provide a grant of British Pound 90.000 million for improving health and nutrition facilities.
Negotiations have also been concluded with World Bank for a soft loan of $100 million for the implementation of Health Sector Reforms Programme. With a view to ensure quality of health care delivery in public and private sector, Punjab government has established Health Care Commission. In this regard, detailed spadework has been completed with technical assistance from DFID while minimum service delivery standards for tertiary care hospitals, licensing protocols and governance mechanism have been developed.
In order to improve indicators of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), sufficient allocations have also been made in budget 2013-14. An amount of Rs 3,000 million has been made available in FY 2013-14 under Punjab Millennium Development Goals Programme in the development budget as a separate financing item. Further, the Government, through a phased programme, has embarked upon a target to ensure that all district governments spend at least 30% of their health sector budget for non-salary purposes ie, provision of medicines, purchase of necessary equipment etc. The government will extend additional grant of Rs 500 million during 2013-14 to district governments for this purpose. It is expected that through this programme, 30 percent non-salary share in health spending of district government would be ensured in next 4-5 years.
Under Chief Minister's Health initiative for attainment of MDGs, efforts were made for provision of 24 hours Emergency Obstetrics and New born Care (EmONC) services at selected RHCs of flood affected areas in Bhakkar, Mianwali, Rahim Yar Khan, D G Khan, Muzaffargarh and Rajanpur.