HEALTH BUDGET 1 -- 2017-18

UNION HEALTH BUDGET 2017-18

India Special

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Highlights: 

• Elimination of diseases like Kala Azar (Visceral leishmaniasis), Filariasis, measles, and tuberculosis over the next few years.
• 5,000 new postgraduate seats in medicine and an initiative to upgrade 1.5 lakh health care centers in the country.
• Two new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Gujarat and Jharkhand.

The Union Budget for the year 2017 to 2018 was presented by the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley at the Lok Shaba on 1st February 2017. The budget focused on ten sectors - farming sector, the rural population, the youth, the poor and underprivileged healthcare, infrastructure, the financial sector, speedy accountability, public services, prudent fiscal management and tax administration.

Healthcare Budget 2017

The healthcare sector in India lacks many of the basic health facilities. The government has committed higher spends on the healthcare sector in the Union Budget 2017-2018.  The Finance Minister has announced measures to widen the availability of essential drugs, AIIMS in 2 states, elimination of diseases over the years, benefits for pregnant women and increased the number of medical seats. 

‘Union Health Budget for 2017-2018 included elimination of diseases such as leprosy, leishmaniasis, Filariasis, measles and tuberculosis in the coming years and also schemes for women and children.’

]]Elimination of Diseases

Mr. Jaitley announced that the government had prepared an action plan to eliminate certain diseases over the years. 

• Kala-azar or Leishmaniasis and filaria by 2017
• Leprosy by 2018
• Measles by 2020
• Tuberculosis by 2025

The government has also made a projection to reduce infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019 (39 in 2014) and maternal mortality rate to 100 by 2020 (167 in 2011-13).