India’s latest budget has allocated one of its biggest ever spends on healthcare. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed a spend of INR 64,180 Cr. on primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare over a period of six years. This will be in addition to the National Health Mission. A total of 17,000 rural and 11,000 urban health and wellness centres are also to be set up, as are ‘integrated public health labs’ in each district, and 3,382 block public health units in 11 states. This follows latest Economic Survey, which is presented before every budget in the country, and which, this year, spoke on the need for greater expenditure both public and private on healthcare as a critical ingredient to further development and growth.  The healthcare and well-being expenditure next year has been pegged at INR 2.23 lakh Cr. – INR 35,000 crore will be spent on the Covid-19 vaccine.

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