New Delhi (NVI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Union Budget 2021-22, proposed Rs 2,23,846 crore outlay for health and well-being for 2021-22, compared to Rs 94,452 crore in the current fiscal.
Notably, there is an increase of 137 per cent this time.
The spending will include a new centrally sponsored scheme — the PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana — to strengthen the health infrastructure of the country. The government plans to spend Rs 64,180 crore on the scheme spanning over six years.
The health scheme, the finance minister said, is in addition to the government’s existing National Health Mission, and will focus on three areas — preventive, curative and well being.
Under the scheme, more than 17,000 rural and 11,000 urban health and wellness centres will be supported.
Besides, integrated public health laboratories will be set up in all districts; and 3,382 block public health units will be established in 11 states.
Furthermore, critical care hospital blocks will be created in 602 districts and 12 central institutions.
Sitharaman also proposed spending Rs 35,000 crore for Covid-19 vaccines in the next fiscal, and announced the rollout of pneumococcal vaccines. Such vaccines, she said, can help India avoid more than 50,000 annual child deaths.
She also said that two more India made Covid-19 vaccines will be available in the country soon.
In addition to this, the Finance Minister also announced launch of Mission Poshan 2.0, with the aim to improve nutritional outcomes across 112 Aspirational Districts.
The supplementary nutrition programme and the Poshan Abhiyaan has been merged to launch Mission Poshan 2.0 to strengthen the nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcome.
Poshan 2.0 is an umbrella scheme covering the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, Scheme For Adolescent Girls and National Creche Scheme.
