Health Ministry has claimed to have utilized 90 per cent of the allocation to it during the 11th Five Year Plan period, but the health targets set by the Government for the period were missed by a bigger margin.

The approved outlay during 2007-08 to 2011-12 (budget estimation) has been Rs.99,491 crore. The utilization during the Eleventh Plan has been Rs.89,576.17 crore which amounts to 90 per cent of the total outlay.

The major health targets set for the period included reduction of Infant Mortality Rate( IMR) to 28 per 1000 live births, reduction of Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 100 per 100000 live births and reduction of Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.1 by 2012.

“Various initiatives taken by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with States/UTs have resulted in reducing IMR to 47 per 1000 live births in 2010, MMR to 212 per one lakh live births in 2009 and Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.5 in 2010. Given the geographical coverage of the country, its socio economic diversity, the population dimension and its level of economic development, the progress made in health status indicators has been good,” claimed an official.

Pointing out that the utilization of funds was to the tune of 90 per cent, sources claimed that it could have been better but for delayed take-off of many new schemes. Initiatives such as Healthcare for Elderly, National Programme for control of diabetes, cardio vascular diseases and stroke, telemedicine, upgradation/strengthening of State Government Medical Colleges, and Paramedical Institutions could not be launched in time as proposed.

Besides, late commencement works under Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) which aimed at setting up of six new AIIMS-like institutes and upgradation of 13 medical colleges and low absorptive capacity of some States also resulted in short utilisation of funds, sources said.

“Action plan for completion of projects are made within the contours of resource availability as determined in the annual allocation of resources for the health sectors and funds are released subject to furnishing of utilization certificates for previous releases,” the official said.