The Union Health Ministry has received Rs 89, 155 crores in Union Budget FY24, marking a rise of 12.6 per cent as compared to the revised Budget estimate for FY 23. This is barely likely to cover the effects of inflation and cut down out of pocket expenditure for the poor and middle class sector.
Among the centrally sponsored schemes, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) and the National Digital Health Mission have seen a hike but a status quo has been maintained for most other schemes.
The PMABHIM scheme, under which the Government aims to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance, and health research, has been allocated Rs 645.68 crore in the upcoming financial year; the revised Budget estimate for the scheme this year was Rs 281.86 crore.
The budget has also proposed Rs 341 crore for the National Digital Health Mission, more than doubling the FY23 spent, which stood at Rs 140 crore while a key scheme to provide healthcare services through public sector hospitals in India, the National Health Mission maintains status quo. It received Rs 29,085 crore — just a little more than the revised Budget of Rs 28, 974 crore in FY23 for the scheme. To ensure better health of citizens, the government has announced a 16% increase in National Calamity Contingent Duty (NCCD)on cigarettes, making the cancer causing tobacco product costly.
The Centre’s flagship health insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana, under which nearly 50 crore Indians receive cashless hospitalization benefits of up to Rs 5 lakh, will be allocated Rs 7,200 crore in FY24. However, projects related to epidemic research, including expenditure meant for setting up a nationwide network of laboratories for managing epidemics and national calamities and development of tools or support to prevent outbreaks of epidemics has been slashed.
However, making select ICMR labs available for research and development by public and private medical colleges, as well as private sector R&D teams, will play an instrumental role in improving healthcare facilities in the future while establishment of 157 new nursing colleges will meet para-medical staff shortage.
The budget also announces a project to eliminate sickle cell anemia, a blood disorder common among tribal people, will be launched by 2047. However, no separate fund has been allocated.
Also, by not allocating any funds for Covid-19 vaccination, the Budget has also indicated that the booster doses against coronavirus will now only be available through the private sector.