The budget session of Parliament will begin on July 22. On July 23, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the general budget. This is the first budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term. The health sector has high expectations from the budget. NITI Aayog member Dr. VK Paul said that a report has been released for the largest digital health scheme in the country. It is considered an important step towards digital healthcare and corporate wellness.
Health sector is growing rapidly
Dr. Paul said that India is constantly moving forward in the health sector. Artificial intelligence is being used in this. Going forward, the use of technology in it will further improve healthcare and create new dimensions. Regarding the upcoming budget, he said, “We are all waiting for the budget and the health sector has high expectations from this budget.” Dr. Apoorva Chandra of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “We can use AI a lot in the country. The health sector is one such sector in which the most help can be taken from Artificial Intelligence. It can be used in all kinds of investigations and information.”
Budget allocation expected to increase
Regarding the budget, he said, “We hope that many provisions will be made in the health sector this time. There is every possibility of increasing the budget allocation for the health sector. We hope that adequate budget has been kept for the National Health Mission, National Health Authority and AIIMS Hospital.”
What was there for the health sector in the interim budget?
In the interim budget earlier this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined some important schemes for India’s healthcare sector. For 2024-25, the sector was allocated ₹90,171 crore from the budget. Several important healthcare measures were also introduced in the interim budget. A new initiative was launched to promote cervical cancer vaccination for girls above 15 years of age. Allocation for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana was increased from ₹7,200 crore to ₹7,500 crore. Unorganised Workers Identification Number (U-WIN) platform was introduced to enhance vaccination management and support ‘Mission Indradhanush’.
