OPINION
Indian Health Budget 2021-22 Bahubali size or innovative accounting
On February 1, 2021, when the Finance
Dr Ranga Reddy Burri President, Infection Control Academy of India Honorary Professor, University of Hyderabad
Minister announced a new budget and all news channels and pundits were screaming about an unprecedented outlay for healthcare of Rs 2,23 lakh crore, I was elated and felt relieved that our government had finally departed from the previous tradition of sub 1 per cent of GDP allocation for a vital segment like healthcare. Alas, the jubilation didn’t live long. Having kept my calm when I doublechecked – healthcare budget 2021-22, I found the innovative accountancy done by the team finance under the captaincy of Nirmala Sitaraman, Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs.
Good things first Launch of yet another healthcare scheme—the Pradhan Mantri Atma Nirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana—with Rs 64,180-crore outlay spread over the next six years was welcome. The scheme is to yet be launched to develop capacities in the healthcare system for over six years. It will address the much-needed capacity development
to address one of the three major issues plaguing public health, which is understaffed and under-skilled human resources. However, it is unclear from the budget document how much of this money would make its way into any health spending this year. Hope clarity will emerge soon. A special allocation of Rs 35,000 crores promised for COVID-19 vaccines. This is substantial and reflects the government's commitment to deal with the ongoing pandemic. The vaccine is one major tool to control the pandemic such as never before allocation of this size is justified.
Innovative accounting and real allocations The government proclaims an unprecedented increase of 137 per cent in outlay for healthcare in budget FY‘22, pegged at Rs 2,23 lakh crore, which seems more optics than reality. Historically, the allocation for healthcare is referred to as allocation to the health ministry alone, the government this time has presented the healthcare
www.indiamedtoday.com
57