State governments have consistently underspent on health and education, trailing the economy's nominal growth. Despite rising demands, priorities remain unchanged, as data reveals concerning trends
The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on July 22 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the session may conclude on August 12
In Union Budget for FY25, experts anticipate expanded coverage and increased funding for major health initiatives in the upcoming budget
Interest payments, subsidies account for big chunk of outlays
A total of 4.34 crore hospital admissions entailing an expenditure of Rs 51,749 crore have been authorised under the government's Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme till February 2 this year, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed Lok Sabha on Friday. The average per capita expenditure under the scheme is Rs 11,924, Mandaviya said in a written response to a question. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (AB-PMJAY), launched in September 2018, provides a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. According to Mandaviya, a total of 23.07 crore beneficiaries have been verified under the scheme for issuance of Ayushman cards as of February 2, 2023. The minister further informed that a budget of Rs 6,412 crore has been allocated to be utilised under PMJAY for 2022-23 and Rs 4,580.10 crore has been utilised till February 2. A total of 4.34 crore hospital admissions worth Rs 51,749.40 crore have been authori
There is the problem of the current infrastructure being able to absorb higher levels of funding
Oxfam India's inequality report draws attention to the county's unequal healthcare story hit further by Covid-19
Healthcare has found little mention in Budget speeches over 75 years. Its near collapse in the face of the pandemic today is a result of this
India, which has the world's second highest coronavirus caseload after the United States, and currently spends about 1 per cent of gross domestic product on health
FY22 infrastructure allocation also likely to see significant increase
Niti Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul said "expenditure of 1.5% of GDP on health is not acceptable"
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
Budget estimates fiscal deficit to be at 3.4%, within permissible limit of FRBM target
Presenting the Budget for 2020-21, Sitharaman proposed to expand Jan Aushadhi Kendras to all districts of the country to provide medicines at affordable rates
Officials familiar with the plan said the finance ministry reduced planned funding because of other spending priorities and because of state govts' poor track record of spending the health budgets