The 2024 interim budget for healthcare sector focused on government’s targeted spending which aimed at improving the quality of healthcare across the nation.
Union Budget 2024: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented the annual accounts in Parliament on February 1, focused on the healthcare industry. During the budget presentation, she also noted India had overcome the hurdles posed by COVID-19 and laid the groundwork for an independent India. As mentioned by the Finance Minister, several reforms could enhance the nation’s infrastructure, distribution, assessment, and research and development in the healthcare sector, which is crucial to the health of the country.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated in the Union Budget 2024 that 157 newly founded medical colleges and new nursing colleges will be housed together. Sitharaman also declared that seven crore individuals would be screened as part of her objective to eradicate sickle cell anaemia by 2047.
Nirmala Sitharaman also disclosed during the budget presentation that faculty members from public and private medical colleges as well as the private sector will have access to facilities at certain ICMR Labs for research purposes.
6 Key Takeaways From Union Budget 2024 For Healthcare Sector
- To prevent the disease, the government will promote cervical cancer vaccination awareness among girls between the ages of 9 and 14.
- All ASHA and Anganwadi staff and assistance would be covered in health care under the Ayushman Bharat initiative.
- The government intends to use the infrastructure of the current hospitals under different departments to establish more medical colleges i.e. hiring more doctors. A committee will be established for this purpose to investigate the problems and pertinent suggestions.
- To promote synergy in implementation, all maternity and child healthcare programs will be combined into a single comprehensive program.
- The ‘Saksham Anganwadi’ and Poshan 2.0 Anganwadi centres will be upgraded as soon as possible to enhance early childhood care, development, and nutrition delivery.
- Mission Indradhanush’s intensification and immunisation will be managed using the newly created ‘U-Win’ platform, which will be quickly implemented across the nation.
What Experts Have to Say About Budget 2024 For Healthcare Sector?
India.com spoke to Manvi Lohia, MPH, RD & & Head of Holistic Health, and International Business, Ekaanta regarding the government-led initiatives in the healthcare sector in the interim budget 2024. She said, ” The Indian government’s commitment to improving maternal and childcare, along with the expansion of the healthcare sector under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, is commendable. The upgrade of Anganwadi centres under ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0’ marks a significant move towards enhancing nutrition delivery and early childhood care. These initiatives have the potential to significantly impact the health and well-being of vulnerable populations in India.”
She continued, “Another remarkable initiative by the government is the rollout of the U-WIN platform for managing immunization as research has consistently demonstrated the effectiveness of immunization in reducing child mortality rates and preventing illness. With this implementation, the government has shown its commitment to leveraging technology for public health advancement, making it a pivotal step toward achieving widespread immunization and safeguarding community well-being.”
According to Dr Vasundhara Kamineni, HOD Obstetrics & Gynecologist, Kamineni Hospitals, L.B Nagar, “Vaccinating young women not only saves lives but also proves to be cost-effective compared to treating the disease later. Beyond the individual health benefits, vaccination instils a sense of community responsibility and helps address health disparities among vulnerable populations.”
“In a concerted effort to combat cervical cancer, the government has unveiled plans to intensify vaccination efforts targeting girls aged 9-14. By promoting vaccination in this population, it aims to increase preventive measures against cervical cancer, thereby protecting the health and well-being of young women across the country, ” she added.
As per Dr. Sreenivass B J, Medical Oncologist and Cervical Cancer Specialist, HCG Cancer Hospital, Bangalore, “Empowering our young girls through cervical cancer vaccination is a commendable step in Budget 2024. This investment in healthcare reflects our commitment to the well-being of the future generation. By prioritizing preventive measures, we aim to create a healthier and more resilient society. Kudos to the government for this forward-thinking initiative.”
Meanwhile, the government’s projected FY 2023–24 budget was Rs 45,03,097 crore, which represents a 7.5% increase above the amended FY 2022–2023 estimate. The projected total spending for 2022–2023 is predicted to exceed the budget estimate by 6.1%.