The Budget Utilization of a Primary Health Center in Uttara Kannada District

Primary Health Centre (PHCs), sometimes referred to as public health centers, are state-owned rural health care facilities in India. PHC Amdalli is having 1 acre 4 guntas of its own land with a tiles roofed old building. PHC is serving 2900 population with 4 sanction post , those are one Medical Officer, one Pharmacist, one Junior health assistant female and one group D. It is located in Amdalli village near Panchayat office and it is 18 km meter away from Taluka and District headquarters that is Karwar (Uttara kannada). As this PHC comes under State Government administration budget will be allotted from the Government through Zilla Panchayat and District Health and Family welfare offices under different account heads. The present study aims to find out the budget allotted to Primary Health Center in last three financial years that is 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and the utilization of the budget for different purposes. The study also aims to compare all three years budget allotment and utilization with reference to the requirements of the PHC to give better service to the community. The Retrospective type of data was collected from the records of the PHC Amdalli, which is maintained by First Division Assistant of District Malaria Office. From the study it can be concluded that the budget allotted to Salary component of Medical Officer, Paramedical staff and Non-medical staff and Honorarium component of ASHA workers is sufficient. But for the ARS (Arogya Raksha Samiti) it is lacking in 2015-16 financial year and the amount is not properly utilized in 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial year. To provide all the curative, preventive, primitive and Family Welfare Services services without any disturbance in case of PHC Amdalli there is a need of Male health worker, Staff nurse, First Division Assistant, LHV, Senior Health Assistant and a Peon so that in any emergency staff can serve better. So the sanction posts should be increased according to the need and amount released for the salary should be increased accordingly. As there is scarcity of staff, the medical officer&pharmacist are deputed to PHC Todur and PHC Hattiken respectively weekly two days. So recruitment of the medical, paramedical and non-medical staff should be done on regular basis. As this is the policy matter were quest Government of Karnataka to take necessary action. ARS grant release is the backbone of the smooth running of any PHC, so it has to be increased year by year even though there is lack of utilization of the grant in any particular financial year. On the other side the ARS committee should also be active in identifying needs of the particular financial year and responsibly take action for the proper utilization of the budget released so that the PHC can serve the community in better way. As ASHA workers are the important bond between PHC and Community, we personally believe that their honorarium amount should be increased or a particular amount should be fixed as salary every month to increase their work capacity or to boost their working capacity.