UHS approves Rs895.7m budget

LAHORE

The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Board of Governors (BoG) has approved Rs 895.700 million budget for the financial year 2016-17. 

According to a press release on Monday, the 36th meeting of UHS board was held on Monday which was chaired by Federal Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar. Other members who attended the meeting included Prof Malik Hussain Mubbashar, Zarine Aziz, UHS VC Prof Muhammad Aslam and representatives of provincial health and finance departments.

The VC apprised the board of progress of the university during the last one year with special focus on Kala Shah Kaku Campus on which the work was taken at hand. The board was also apprised that the university had maintained its position in Higher Education Commission’s Ranking 2015 and was among the ‘Top 10’ universities of Pakistan.

The UHS VC said that the university had been given a lead role in higher education Medium Term Development Framework (MTDF) III with regards to capacity-building in Dental, Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.

The chair urged the university authorities to maintain the highest standards so that this important field of medicine and health which is one of the top most priorities of the present government could improve its service delivery and provide better and affordable medical facilities to the common man.

The finance minister said that although government was focusing primarily on ‘Three Es’ (economy, energy and extremism), it has increased the budgetary allocation for health and education.

According to budget estimates of the UHS, Rs 41.500 million has been earmarked for research purposes. Out of it, Rs15.00million has been allocated for the grant of scholarship to research scholars, Rs 5.00 million for purchase of chemicals, reagents, glassware and specialized kits, and Rs.21.00 million has been allocated for lab equipment and machinery. An amount of Rs.0.5 million will be spent on research surveys and exploratory operations. A sum of Rs.88.785 million has been allocated for operating expenses that includes utilities (Rs.15.300 million), communications (Rs.8.03 million), travel and transportation (Rs.11.155 million) and general expenses (Rs.53.700 million).

An amount of Rs.203.439 million has been reserved for employee related expenses. The board approved 10 per cent ad hoc relief allowance announced by the government for the employees.

An amount of Rs 454.620 million will be spent on development activities which include civil works at Kala Shah Kaku Campus (Rs 415 million), purchase of machinery (Rs 21.00 million), and furniture and fixture (Rs 8.00 million).

UHS will spend Rs 104.00 million on the conduct of examinations and Rs 1.500 million on continued professional development of the medical faculty. A sum of Rs 1million has been allocated for international linkages and Rs 1.00 million for the introduction of new academic programmes during the year 2016-17.