Thiruvananthapuram: The state’s health department finds itself entrapped in a dire financial crisis, burdened by a debt of Rs. 949 crore in pending arrears associated with various projects. This fiscal turmoil has left the department grappling with an acute shortage of funds, making it impossible to meet essential requirements. Reports also reveal widespread complaints of critical medications being unavailable through the free medicine distribution system.
The accumulated arrears include Rs. 868 crore under the Karunya Arogya Surkasha Yojana, Rs. 171 crore in the Karunya Benevolent Fund, and Rs. 50 lakhs in Arogya Kiranam, summing up to a colossal government debt of around Rs. 950 crores. The health department is deeply concerned about its ability to carry forward vital projects, given the shortage of funds, which has even impacted the procurement of essential medicines.
While the government has pledged to settle outstanding payments to private hospitals that have provided services under the Karunya Yojana this month, it has also assured that dues to agencies supplying heart implants will be disbursed on the 15th of this month. However, these commitments seem unattainable without the financial department’s intervention. The pressing question is how the state will secure such a substantial amount in the face of its severe financial crisis.
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