As a result of today’s Budget, experts are dismayed by the reduced allocation to the health sector.
Among the 39.45 lakh crore budget for last year, the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development reported 86,606 crore for health expenditures, which is 2.19%. 1.97% of the total budget of Rs 45 lakh crore has been allocated to health this year, which is Rs 88,956 crore.
The health allocation in India is among the lowest in the world, according to Dr Arun Mitra, senior vice-president, IDPD. As a result, we have far from satisfactory health indices. If we want to meet the health needs of the people, we must allocate a minimum of 10 percent to health.”
Doctors and other paramedical staff are nowhere mentioned in the budget as receiving better emoluments. The status of a worker was not given to frontline health workers, ASHAs and Aanganwadi staff. They were hardly recognized for their services. A measly 0.21 percent increase has been made to the National Health Mission’s budget,” said Dr Mitra.
