New Delhi, Nov 13: The central government has released Rs 8,453.92 crore as health sector grant for rural and urban local bodies of 19 states.

The Ministry of Finance on Saturday informed that the grant amount is released with an aim to strengthen health systems and plug critical gaps in the health care system at the primary health care level.

The grants have been released as per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.  State-wise amount of grant released is enclosed.

In its report for the period from 2021-22 to 2025-26, the Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended a total grant of Rs 4,27,911 crore to local governments.

9 states received health sector grant

The 19 states that have received the grant include Andhra Pradesh (Rs 488.1527 cr), Arunachal Pradesh (Rs 46.944 cr), Assam (Rs 272.2509 cr), Bihar (Rs 1116.3054 cr), Chhattisgarh (Rs 338.7944 cr), Himachal Pradesh (Rs 98.0099 cr), Jharkhand (Rs 444.3983 cr), Karnataka (Rs 551.53), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 922.7992), Maharashtra (Rs 778.0069 cr), Manipur (Rs 42.8771), Mizoram (Rs 31.19 cr), Odisha (Rs 461.7673 cr), Punjab (Rs 399.6558 cr), Rajasthan (Rs 656.171 cr), Sikkim (Rs 20.978 cr), Tamil Nadu (Rs 805.928 cr), Uttarakhand (Rs 150.0965 cr), and West Bengal (Rs 828.0694 cr).

The Finance Ministry said that the Commission inter-alia recommended grants including health grants of Rs 70,051 crore out of which Rs 43,928 crore have been recommended for Rural Local Bodies and Rs 26,123 crore for Urban Local Bodies.

These grants are meant to strengthen health systems and plug the critical gaps in the health care system at the primary health care level.  The Commission has also identified interventions that will directly lead to strengthening the primary health infrastructure and facilities in both rural and urban areas and has earmarked grants for each intervention.