The Finance Minister would do well to increase the budget allocation for the public health

It is unfortunate that even after seven decades of independence fatalities due to diseases in the country are high and infant mortality rate is a cause of concern.  Many people suffer from life threatening diseases such as TB,Cancer, heart ailments but are unable to get the treatment due to high cost of treatment. People suffer from disabilities such as blindness which seriously impact their life. The reason they do not have access to affordable healthcare.The government health infrastructure falls way short of the desirable levels. The gaps in public health are filled by private hospitals and doctors; that are way too expensive and do not have a footprint in far-off areas especially tribal areas and remote villages. Public health is a state subject and so primarily the state’s responsibility. There is a strong case to shift it to a concurrent list of the Constitution which would allow the center to directly address health issues. As many states struggle with funds, public health takes the beating. Public health is directly correlated to national productivity and hence it is a good investment to make for the health of the nation too. India ranks lower than many countries, like, Brazil, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand when it comes to life expectancy at birth.

The reason is not difficult to fathom. In 2019, India’s government health expenditure per capita (in purchasing power parity, or PPP, terms) was $69 as against $154 in the Philippines, $175 in Indonesia, $492 in China, $524 in Thailand, and $610 in Brazil. That greater investments in health will positively impact India’s GDP by increasing productivity over the long term. It was also acknowledged in the National Health Policy 2017, which suggested increasing public health spending. The finance minister has a shot in the present budget to increase the budget outlay for health. If the Union Budget 2023-24 can lower this gap by stepping up the budget outlay it would be a great service to the people. Budgetary allocations in the financial year 2020-21 were only 1.8 percent, well short of the  expenditure on health of the stipulated target of 2.5 percent of the GDP by 2025 as suggested by NK Singh, chairman of the 15th Finance Commission. He had also advised the Developmental Finance Institution (DFI) dedicated to healthcare investments to channel the funds for health in a better way. But a decent allocation in the budget for health can be a good start.