<p>The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) is facing a fund crunch to the tune of around Rs 68 crore due to budget cuts from both the Centre and the State government. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Nimhans is short of Rs 50 crore due to the budget cut from the Centre and by about Rs 18 crore due to State government cuts. Explaining the cuts, Dr Satishchandra, Director, said: “ We were to receive Rs 400 crore from the Centre as part of the budget but we have received only Rs 350 crore. The State government was to give us Rs 35 crore but we have received only Rs 17 crore. All allocations towards care and treatment will be made on priority basis to ensure by the cuts do not affect treatment. While the shortfall in the Central government’s contribution has been going on for a while, the State government’s shortfall has come as a shock. We are in talks with both governments to see how best we can bring about an increase in aid.”<br /><br />The directer also assured that the cuts would not be allowed to affect healthcare services at Nimhans. He said that he would not allow the fund shortage to impact the medical supplies and the total health care apparatus, but warned that it is bound to happen in the medium and long-term if funds are not allotted. The immediate impact would be on salaries of staff. Salary is a major component of the funds allotted. The staff may be willing to take cuts for a short while but if the cuts continue, protests are inevitable and the immediate impact would be on healthcare services. Patients will suffer. But the director is of the firm belief that healthcare won’t be impacted. <br /><br />“I have explained to the governments how it may be difficult to maintain present salaries if their cuts continue. They understand and they have promised that our concerns will be taken care of in the coming days. We have to wait patiently to see how things turn out. I am confident that our concerns will be addressed,” he said.<br /><br />The hospital is in need of funds because it has added 125 new beds in the speciality block and another 25 beds in the adolescent psychiatry department. New beds call for higher supply of medicines, more staff time or recruitment of new staff, all of which require higher funding or revenue for the hospital. <br /><br />The number of head injury cases too have been going up this year compared to the last couple of years, which means more hands would be necessary to take care of the increasing flow of patients. With increasing population, the number of patients are also going up. Nimhans happens to be the only centre for treatment of severe neuro injuries, catering to the whole of Bengaluru and patients from other parts of the State such as Kalburgi, Bidar, Raichur and Vijayapura. <br /><br />Also, under the present circumstances, Nimhans will also have to wait for government approval to take up more work on the proposed Bengaluru North Nimhans campus, which is crucial to meet the requirements of people from the North and North east parts of Bengaluru.</p>
<p>The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (Nimhans) is facing a fund crunch to the tune of around Rs 68 crore due to budget cuts from both the Centre and the State government. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Nimhans is short of Rs 50 crore due to the budget cut from the Centre and by about Rs 18 crore due to State government cuts. Explaining the cuts, Dr Satishchandra, Director, said: “ We were to receive Rs 400 crore from the Centre as part of the budget but we have received only Rs 350 crore. The State government was to give us Rs 35 crore but we have received only Rs 17 crore. All allocations towards care and treatment will be made on priority basis to ensure by the cuts do not affect treatment. While the shortfall in the Central government’s contribution has been going on for a while, the State government’s shortfall has come as a shock. We are in talks with both governments to see how best we can bring about an increase in aid.”<br /><br />The directer also assured that the cuts would not be allowed to affect healthcare services at Nimhans. He said that he would not allow the fund shortage to impact the medical supplies and the total health care apparatus, but warned that it is bound to happen in the medium and long-term if funds are not allotted. The immediate impact would be on salaries of staff. Salary is a major component of the funds allotted. The staff may be willing to take cuts for a short while but if the cuts continue, protests are inevitable and the immediate impact would be on healthcare services. Patients will suffer. But the director is of the firm belief that healthcare won’t be impacted. <br /><br />“I have explained to the governments how it may be difficult to maintain present salaries if their cuts continue. They understand and they have promised that our concerns will be taken care of in the coming days. We have to wait patiently to see how things turn out. I am confident that our concerns will be addressed,” he said.<br /><br />The hospital is in need of funds because it has added 125 new beds in the speciality block and another 25 beds in the adolescent psychiatry department. New beds call for higher supply of medicines, more staff time or recruitment of new staff, all of which require higher funding or revenue for the hospital. <br /><br />The number of head injury cases too have been going up this year compared to the last couple of years, which means more hands would be necessary to take care of the increasing flow of patients. With increasing population, the number of patients are also going up. Nimhans happens to be the only centre for treatment of severe neuro injuries, catering to the whole of Bengaluru and patients from other parts of the State such as Kalburgi, Bidar, Raichur and Vijayapura. <br /><br />Also, under the present circumstances, Nimhans will also have to wait for government approval to take up more work on the proposed Bengaluru North Nimhans campus, which is crucial to meet the requirements of people from the North and North east parts of Bengaluru.</p>
