Health Ministry and Budget Allocation

The General Budget presented by the Union Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram for 2013-14 supports the health sector in a big way.

The following are the major provisions relating to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in the budget:

1.      Rs.37,330crorehas been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.Of this, the new National Health Mission that combines the rural mission and the proposed urban mission will get Rs.21,239crore, an increase of 24.3 percent over the RE.

2.      Rs.4,727crore has been allocated to Medical Education, Training and Research.

3.      Rs.150 crore has been allocated to National Programme for the Health Care of Elderly which is being implemented in 100 selected districts of 21 States.  Eight regional geriatric centres are being funded for the development of dedicated geriatric departments.

4.      Rs.1,069crore has been allocated to the Department of AYUSH. Ayurveda, Unani, Sidda and Homoeopathy are being mainstreamed through the National Health Mission.

5.      Rs.1,650crore  has been allocated to six AIIMS – like institutions. These institutions haveadmitted first batch of students in the academic session that commenced in September 2012. The hospitals attached to these institutions will be functional in 2013-14.