Union Budget 2021: 137 per cent increase in health spending; key highlights for healthcare

 Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday (February 1) presented Budget 2021-22 in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Minister, who began her budget speech by acknowledging the frontline workers amidst the global coronavirus pandemic, said that Rs 64,180 crore will be invested over a period of six years to improve primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare. This is in addition to National Health Mission, announced Sitharaman.

Here are key highlights for the healthcare sector

1. Budget proposals rest on six pillars, including health and well-being; physical and financial capital

2. A new centrally sponsored scheme PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana will be launched with an outlay of about 64,180 crores over 6 years to improve primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, said Sitharaman.

3. The total budget outlay for healthcare is Rs 2.24 lakh crore, which is an increase of 137 per cent from last year.

4. Health outlay to be used to establish critical care units and hospital blocks.

5. Investment in health infra in budget 2021 has increased substantially, said Sitharaman. “Three areas – preventive health, curative health and well-being – to be strengthened during the current year,” she added.

6. She announced that 17,000 rural and 11,000 urban health and wellness centres will be set up, and integrated public health labs will be set up in each district.

7. Sitharaman also said the government will launch Mission Poshan 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 aspirational districts.

8. Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Sitharaman announced that the Narendra Modi-led government will provide Rs 35,400 crore for COVID-19 vaccination in 2021-22.

9. The pneumococcal vaccines, a Made in India product, is presently limited to just five states, it will be rolled out across the country, the FM noted, adding it will avert over 50,000 deaths annually in the country. The pneumococcal vaccine is effective against potentially fatal pneumococcal infections like pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis.

Talking about India’s fight against COVID-19, Sitharaman said the country has two vaccines available and has begun safeguarding not only its citizens but also those from hundreds of other countries, adding that two more jabs are expected soon.

It may be noted that for the first time, the budget was presented in a paperless format. Sources said the Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the Budget 2021-22.