Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the expenditure on public health would be raised and health reforms implemented to strengthen hospital and lab infrastructure at the grassroots level so that they are prepared for pandemics in future.
This will entail creating dedicated infectious diseases hospital blocks in all districts and establishing government diagnostic labs till the block level. The government said focus will also be on ramping up health and wellness centres in villages.
Currently, India spends around 1.3% of GDP on public health, which is amongst the lowest globally. Though the Centre had set a target of spending 2.5% of GDP on health by 2025, the year-on-year increase has been low so far.
“The government will be increasing investments in public health to be absolutely ready for such eventualities in future,” Sitharaman said.
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The Indian Council of Medical Research will help build a national institutional platform that will boost research initiatives. Also, implementation of the national digital health blueprint will be expedited to make better use of technology in delivering healthcare services in the country.
The health ministry has already released Rs 4,113 crore for Covid-19 activities of the Rs 15,000 crore funds allocated by the Centre. Essential items worth Rs 3,750 crore and testing labs and kits worth Rs 550 crore have also been disbursed.
Source: The Times of India
