File Photo: Union Health Minister JP Nadda.
Government today said higher devolution of net tax receipts to the states following recommendation of the 14th Finance Commission will not affect the continuance of flagship healthcare programmes.
"All flagship healthcare programmes are going to continue...adequate budgetary resources have been provided by Centre for these schemes to ensure that there is no problem in delivery of healthcare services," Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda said.
He was responding to questions as to whether higher devolution of funds to states would come in the way for running such schemes.
The 14th Finance Commission has recommended 42 per cent devolution of the central tax revenues to the states from 32 per cent earlier.
"Since health is a state subject, state governments would now be in a much better position to provide requisite outlay from their part," he said.
The flagship healthcare programme and many health schemes of the government are centrally-sponsored schemes whose burden is met by both the Centre and the states in the ratio of 75:25 with the exception of North-East states where it is 90:10.
To an another question, he said unutilised funds can be used only under those schemes ot programmes for which they have been sanctioned.
"The government is contiuously trying to make optimum utilisation of funds allocated and funds which are lying unutilised," Mr Nadda said.