TFP Bureau, Raipur, December 3, 2024: A significant move towards financial decentralization in Chhattisgarh’s government medical colleges has been approved under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai. On the instructions of the Chief Minister, Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal chaired a meeting of the autonomous societies of 10 state-run medical colleges today, where major administrative and financial reforms were announced. These reforms aim to reduce reliance on government-level approvals and expedite medical processes for improved patient care.
The changes grant Deans and Hospital Superintendents greater authority in managing day-to-day operations. Previously, they had to seek approval from the state government for minor purchases or repairs exceeding ₹1 lakh. With the new reforms, they can now make decisions for amounts up to ₹10 lakh without further approvals, speeding up essential actions like the procurement of medicines, medical equipment, and maintenance. The financial threshold for purchasing tools and small equipment has also been raised from ₹1 lakh to ₹10 lakh, while full financial autonomy for purchases under ₹20,000 is now granted to Deans and Hospital Superintendents.
A key aspect of the reforms is the reorganization of the autonomous societies, which have historically lacked standard guidelines. A model for these societies has now been approved, providing uniformity across the state. Notably, the Executive Committee of each society will now have the power to approve financial matters up to ₹2 crore per project, a significant increase from previous limits. Additionally, the Finance Committee can approve amounts up to ₹10 lakh per project.
In a move to strengthen the financial standing of medical colleges, the state government has also increased the share of the Ayushman Bharat scheme funds allocated to these colleges from 25% to 45%. Furthermore, the budget allocation for medicines and medical supplies has been raised from 10% to 25%.
Health Minister Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, while addressing the meeting via video conferencing, emphasized that these reforms were a major step toward improving tertiary healthcare services and making medical colleges financially self-sufficient. The decision empowers medical institutions to address urgent needs without delays, ultimately benefiting patients.
The meeting was attended by a wide range of officials, including Mrs. Kiran Kaushal, Commissioner of the Medical Education Department, divisional commissioners, district collectors, Deans, and Hospital Superintendents, who joined via video conferencing.
