Ranchi:In a major administrative reform aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, the Jharkhand government has granted Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO) powers to in-charges of all Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs). The move is expected to decentralize financial authority and improve the efficiency of health services across the state.
Decentralization of Powers in Health System
State Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Ajay Kumar Singh said the decision has been taken to remove operational bottlenecks and make health institutions more self-reliant. Under the new system, medical officers-in-charge of hospitals—including district, sub-divisional, CHCs, PHCs, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs—will now be fully responsible for managing their facilities.
With DDO powers, these officials can now independently take financial and administrative decisions without waiting for approval from the Civil Surgeon’s office.
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No More Dependence on Civil Surgeon Approvals
Earlier, hospital in-charges had to rely on Civil Surgeons for approvals related to funding and procurement. This often led to delays in essential services.
Under the new arrangement, doctors-in-charge will no longer need to:
- Seek approvals for small purchases
- Wait for fund clearance for urgent requirements
- Depend on district-level administrative offices for routine decisions
This is expected to significantly improve hospital responsiveness and reduce administrative delays.
Faster Procurement of Medicines and Equipment
The reform will allow health centres to directly:
- Purchase essential medicines
- Procure medical equipment
- Hire outsourced staff when required
- Address urgent operational needs quickly
Officials believe this will ensure better patient care, especially in rural and remote areas.
Direct Use of Hospital Maintenance Funds
Under the Chief Minister Hospital Operation and Maintenance Scheme, annual grants are provided to health institutions:
- District hospitals: ₹75 lakh annually
- Sub-divisional hospitals: ₹50 lakh
- CHCs/Referral hospitals: ₹10 lakh
- PHCs: ₹5 lakh
- Health sub-centres/Ayushman Arogya Mandirs: ₹2 lakh
With DDO powers, in-charges can now directly utilize these funds based on local requirements without administrative delays.
Additional Financial Flexibility for Hospitals
Hospital in-charges will also be able to use:
- Contingency (emergency) funds
- Incentive funds under Abua Health Scheme
- Payments under Ayushman Bharat scheme incentives
These provisions aim to ensure timely upgrades and maintenance of healthcare facilities.
Expected Benefits for Rural Healthcare
The government expects the reform to deliver multiple benefits:
- Reduced workload on Civil Surgeons
- Faster decision-making at hospital level
- Improved infrastructure and service delivery
- Better access to medicines and care in rural areas
- Greater accountability of medical officers
Officials said the initiative will directly benefit patients in rural and underserved regions.
With the delegation of DDO powers to health centre in-charges, Jharkhand has taken a significant step toward decentralized and efficient healthcare management. The move is expected to streamline hospital operations, reduce delays, and enhance the overall quality of public health services across the state.
