NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, FEB 1
Healthcare providers on Monday hailed the 2021-22 Union Budget, saying it provides the much-needed fillip to the health sector and is a testimony to India’s commitment to not just fight back the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to build a stronger and resilient health system.
The government has proposed a budget outlay of Rs 2,23,846 crore for health and wellbeing in 2021-2022, an increase of 137 per cent from the previous year, with Rs 35,000 crore earmarked for COVID-19 vaccine in the upcoming fiscal.
Poonam Khetrapal Singh, the Regional Director WHO South-East Asia Region, said one of the greatest lessons this pandemic has taught the world is that health needs to be a priority.
“The thrust and focus to health in India’s Budget announcement is a testimony to the country”s commitment to not just fight back the COVID-19 pandemic, but to build a stronger and resilient health system. India has been demonstrating this.
“India has not only proactively and belligerently dealt with the pandemic, but it also has and continues to support countries in the South-East Asia Region and beyond providing essential medical supplies and now vaccines, to protect the vulnerable populations against the pandemic,” she said.
According to Professor K Srinath Reddy, the president of the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), the Union Budget provides a much-needed fillip to health, sanitation, nutrition, and pollution control.
All of these are key elements in promoting the health and wellbeing of the population holistically, he said.
Primary healthcare, one of the most critical elements of healthcare provision in an efficient and equitable system, is now getting strengthened with even the previously neglected urban healthcare component receiving attention and resources, Reddy said.
“So, there is going to be an addition of health and wellness centres not only in rural but also in urban areas. Disease prevention is also dependent on effective surveillance.
“Hence, strengthening of National Centres for Disease Control and its regional branches plus district-level surveillance systems and the provision for more virological testing laboratories, all of them will contribute to better pandemic preparedness and response,” he said.
Commenting on the Union Budget, Dr Prathap C Reddy, the chairman of Apollo Hospitals Group, said the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented medical crisis and it underlined the importance of building resilient healthcare infrastructure.
“Today, the finance minister said health was her first pillar and her announcements to develop primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare systems, greatly gladdened my heart. This ground-breaking focus on health which will provide access to medical care for all in our country, fuel job creation and boost economic momentum.” Reddy said.
“The allocation of Rs 35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccines and more if required, makes our glorious nation stand tall as a model for the world,” he said.
Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, the Managing Director and CEO of Fortis Healthcare, said, “The 137 percent increase in the healthcare budget from last year is notable. Further, an infusion of Rs 35,000 crore for vaccine development and distribution, ensuring preventive health and frontline health and allied workers’ skills building along with surveillance on the infectious building, reinforces Government’s assurance on public health programmes.”
“We feel that the steps are necessary to boost healthcare infrastructure and the private healthcare sector will continue to stand with India and support the Government initiatives,” he said.
Poonam Muttreja, the executive director of Population Foundation of India, said, “The PM”s announcement of Atmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana is a step in the right direction of strengthening our healthcare capacities and infrastructure. The increased investment of Rs 50,000 crore over five years to strengthen research and development will surely put India”s innovation on the global map.”
“Prioritising social sector spending on women and young people”s health is central to all our futures. It will spur economic growth and recovery by ensuring a healthy population and ensure that the current health crisis does not increase existing gender disparities in access to affordable and quality healthcare,” Muttreja said.
A Ganesan, Group Vice-Chairman, Neuberg Diagnostics said, “With a substantial increase in healthcare outlay, the government has given a much needed shot in the sector’s arm. With a substantial increase in healthcare outlay and key emphasis on public-private partnerships, the entire value-chain in the healthcare sector will gain new momentum and will see major collaborations amongst stakeholders. The announcements of centrally funded – Aatmanirbhar Health Yojana will strengthen our primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare, and setting up of 15 health emergency centers with a focus on curative and preventive health and wellbeing will scale up the delivery of affordable healthcare services”.
Dr. Alok Khullar, CEO, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai, said, “The budget’s focus to strengthen the Indian healthcare infrastructure is really welcoming as it will help us to be well-prepared to handle disease outbreaks/pandemic. This move will reduce the burden on the healthcare workers and ensure increased accessibility for receiving critical and emergency care. Initiatives to promote fitness and sanitation will help in preventing lifestyle issues and reduce the probability of disease outbreaks among the rural areas.”
Dr. Arun Kalyanasundaram, Director, Pro-med Hospital, Chennai, commented, “The increased allocations for healthcare will boost the country’s healthcare sector and help in generation of more jobs and availability of skilled professionals that would help in meeting the increasing demand for accessible and affordable healthcare. The budget has adequate importance to preventive healthcare which is the need of the hour.”
Saranavakumar Rajan, General Manager – Operations, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Chennai. said, “The budget’s focus towards improving the health of the mother and a child with the Poshan Abhiyan scheme to enrich their nutritional intake will create more awareness on the importance of consuming a well-balanced meal for healthy living. We look forward to working together with the Govt in its efforts to strengthen the healthcare infrastructure among rural parts of India. This move would help in reducing the maternal and infant mortality rate as their deaths often occur as a result of inaccessibility to hospitals.”
