The approval cleared the way for the health ministry to disburse immediate funds for procurement of a huge amount of drugs from abroad, purchase of medical equipment, construction of health centres and payment of salary to about 80,000 family planning field workers.

The Daily Star on October 15 and 28 ran reports on the delay in okaying the OPs, pointing out that it had already caused immense sufferings to health service recipients as they could not procure drugs and the government's own staff were not getting salary since July this year.

The Ecnec meeting, chaired by Finance and Planning Minister M Saifur Rahman, formally approved the OPs which were held up for review by the Planning Commission since August this year.

As a result of fund shortage, no activities in the health sector could be carried out, like purchase of drugs and equipment.

According to sources, the meeting approved an additional Tk 101.23 crore from the government exchequer for the current fiscal year which has to be utilised by December.

Earlier, the health ministry had disbursed Tk 11.84 crore for different health expenditures. The Ecnec also approved Tk 400 crore in addition to Tk 250 crore already sanctioned for the health ministry from the Annual Development Programme (ADP).

The finance minister briefing journalists at the Planning Commission yesterday afternoon said, "All the money approved for the health ministry has to be spent by this December so that the next phase of the health programme can start in time."

The National Steering Committee of the ministry had okayed the 15 OPs in August, seeking Tk 578 crore for essential expenditures in the health sector. But the Planning Commission delayed the approval.

Due to the fund crisis, drug purchase for government hospitals remained suspended since July 1, sources said.