Health budget: Delhi, Mumbai spent more on tertiary than primary healthcare

Delhi spent 80% of its Rs 8,200 crore health budget in 2017-18, compared to 75% of its Rs 6,519 crore health budget in 2015-16

Though the health budget of Mumbai and Delhi increased 41% and 26%, respectively, between 2015-16 and 2017-18, there is an acute shortage of staff at hospitals and primary healthcare centres. Both governments spent more on tertiary than primary healthcare, according to reports from Praja Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation. This generally results in an overburdened health system, which is also reflected in the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, experts said.

In 2017-18, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) spent 78% of its Rs 3,312 crore health budget, about the same proportion it spent in 2015-16, the series of reports on the state of