The finance minister has accorded special attention to the healthcare sector, increasing the overall outlay to health and wellbeing to nearly Rs 2.25 lakh crore, an increase of over 135 per cent over last year. The enhanced allocation, along with the plan to look at healthcare holistically – including nutrition, sanitation, clean drinking water, and pollution control, certainly augurs well for the country. The allocation of Rs 35,000 crores towards covid vaccination also is a very welcome step.
Significant focus also has been brought to scaling up infrastructure, like critical care capabilities as well as primary and secondary care facilities through the PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat programme. It is also heartening that the finance minister promised higher allocations as required, as institutions absorb the funds committed at the first instance. All in all, a great beginning has been made in the journey to take our healthcare system to world-class standards.
Further, the augmented government spend planned for capital expenditure by over 35 per cent would aid job creation and growth in incomes, which would, in turn, enable people to spend on healthcare when required.
