Health Ministry allocated over Rs 90,658 crore in interim Budget

The Union Health Ministry has been allocated Rs 90,658.63 crore in the interim Budget for 2024-2025, a hike of 12.59 per cent over 80,517.62  crore in the Budget (revised estimates) for 2023-2024.

The government also announced that healthcare cover under the AyushmanBharat insurance scheme will be extended to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers.

Presenting the interim Budget for 2024-2025 in Parliament on Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government plans to set up more medical colleges by utilising existing hospital infrastructure and will form a committee to examine the issues and make relevant recommendations.

Out of Rs 90,658.63 crore, Rs 87,656.90 crore has been allocated to the Department of Health and Family Welfare while Rs 3001.73 crore to the Department of Health Research. The Budget allocation for the AYUSH ministry has been hiked from Rs 3,000  crore to Rs 3,712.49 crore, recording a 23.74 per cent increase.

The finance minister also said that the government will encourage vaccination for girls in the 9-14 year age group for the prevention of cervical cancer and that various schemes for maternal and child healthcare will be brought under one comprehensive programme for synergy in implementation.

The newly designed U-WIN platform for managing immunisation and intensified efforts of the Mission Indradhanush will be rolled out expeditiously throughout the country, Sitharaman said. The budget allocation for centrally sponsored schemes has been increased from Rs 77,624.79 crore to Rs 87,656.90 crore.