Constant focus on Medical and Health sector in every year’s Budget indicates towards the Modi administration’s vision

India’s budget has arrived right before Lok Sabha Elections that are about to take place in April-May 2024. Current administration introduced Union Budget 2023-2024 on 1^st February in the presence of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Ministers. The budget this year is measured as a considered plan for all sections of the society. But what captivated the attention of all was a change in Income tax slabs and jobs which is been presumed as a fair favor to the middle class section. Apart from it, budget adopted seven significant priorities – Inclusive development, Reaching the last mile, Infrastructure and Investment, Unleashing the potential, Green growth, Youth power and financial sector.

PM Modi while addressing the nation after presentation of Budget in the parliament said, ‘This budget will fulfill the dreams of the poor, villagers, farmers and middle class’. Except change in tax policies, administration has widely focused on health sector and allocated increased 50 percent amount than last year. They have put major emphasis on increasing Ayush services and scientific research. Posted by PIB (Press Information Bureau) ‘The total allocation of budget to Ayush Ministry has increased by 20 percent to Rs 3647 crores. The budget has also emphasized on promoting evidence based research in Ayush systems through Ayush research councils’.

Since the pandemic has hit countries, economy and health sector has lost their balance and are still under affected by the consequences. Administrations have become more careful and responsible in empowering these two sectors and so does Indian administration. According to a medical researcher Gagan Agnihotri, major focus on scientific research will boost the confidence of people working in this field and other advantages. He said, ‘Availability of resources will not only help researchers working in medical field but will also motivate pharmaceutical industry to do better. Apart from it, I am also very happy because through these parameters Indian traditional system of medicine will get strengthen’.

Budget allocation to centrally sponsored National Ayush Mission (NAM) has got 50 percent increase in allocation from Rs 800 crores to Rs 1200 crores. It is majorly focused on providing cost effective Ayush services with the universal access through up gradation of Ayush hospitals and dispensaries, comprehensive primary health care through upgrading health care facilities as Health and wellness Centers (HWC) and co-location of Ayush facilities at PHCs, CHCs and DHs, as per PIB. Gagan is in his second year of research and believes India has the potential to represent medicine globally. He said, ‘At the time of pandemic when countries were struggling economically and were forced to be deprived of resources, India appeared to be the reliable country with its vaccines Covaxin and Covishield and that were approved by World Health Organization also. Foreign countries like Brazil, Morocco, Bhutan, and Maldives were granted Covid-19 vaccines by India that made India commercial vaccine supplier.’

National Ayush Mission launched in 2014 by Ministry of Health and Family welfare, also supports cultivation of medical plants, production of quality and standardized ingredient for supply of Ayush, integration of medicinal plants in farming systems and increasing export of value added items of medicinal plants. ‘Medicinal plants plays an important role for Indian traditional system of Indian medicine and NAM enhance the cultivation of such plants has contributed in carrying the process forward. If you know, traditional medicines are always proven beneficial for the body with no harmful side effects than other chemicals. Administration should find ways on how to increase the cultivation of such plantations and how to keep them alive’, said Gagan.

A brief look at the budget clarifies that the current administration is trying to strengthen Indian health and medical sector. According to the information, health sector has been allocated Rs 89,155 Crore this year which is 13 percent higher than 2022-23 budget plan. It is also included that 156 nursing colleges will be established in co-location with the existing 157 medical colleges since 2014. During Russia-Ukraine war, thousands of Indian medical students travelled back home, disclosed then that due to high academic fees charged by private colleges and tough entrance examination for public colleges in India led students to choose such options.

Gagan told EAT news, today medical aspirants’ wants to pursue their further academic future from abroad and wants to settle there. He said, ‘Shortage of medical staff in Indian hospitals is an another issue here. We are not passing enough medical staff in the country to go on field because today maximum aspirants want to pursue their further medical studies in abroad and wish to settle there. Increasing infrastructure in medical sector will make them realize the domestic and quality service country is ready to provide to its students’.

All the states (Rs 920 Crores), union territories (Rs 96 Crores) and North eastern areas (Rs 231 Crores) have also witnessed an increase in grants-in-aids that is from Rs 861.97 Cr to Rs 1246.73 Cr. Clearly, Modi administration is focusing on Health and Medical sector that will help India to reach new heights.