Health gets over 28% hike in budget; special focus on medical education, training, research

India's health allocation has been hiked by over 28% in the budget for 2013-14 to Rs37,330 crore, with a special focus on medical education, training and research.

Presenting the budget in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the focus of the government was "health for all".

He said the new National Health Mission that combines the rural mission and the proposed urban mission would get Rs21,239 crore, a hike of 24.3% over the revised estimates.

While the rural mission aims to provide better health facilities to people living in remote places, the proposed urban mission plans to provide health amenities to those in shanties in cities and towns.

Last year's revised budget was Rs25,927 crore.

"I propose to provide Rs4,727 crore for medical education, training and research," Chidambaram said.

According to the Planning Commission, India faces a shortage of about 600,000 doctors, one million nurses, 200,000 dental surgeons and a large number of paramedical staff. The high allocation to this key area would mean that the demand for trained human resource in the country will be able to met.

He said the national programme for the healthcare of the elderly was being implemented in 100 select districts of 21 states.

"Eight regional geriatric centers are being funded for the development of dedicated geriatric departments. I propose to provide Rs150 crore for this programme," he added.

The minister said the government would mainstream the department of AYUSH — Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Sidddha and Homoeopathy — through the National Health Mission.

"I propose to allocate Rs1,069 crore to the department of AYUSH," he added. The department is under the health ministry.

The minister said six All India Institute of Medical Sciences-like institutions — patterned on the one in New Delhi had admitted their first batch of students in the academic session that commenced September 2012.

The hospitals attached to the colleges will be functional in 2013-14.

"I propose to provide Rs1,650 crore for these institutions," Chidambaram said.

Expenditure on public health saw an increase with the government allocating Rs2,375 crore to tackle vector control diseases, mental health, TB, blindness and leprosy.

In the previous budget, it was Rs1,955 crore.