Budgeting for Health: India's Policy Priorities and Investment Trends (original) (raw)

In recent years, India has set ambitious goals to become a 'Vishva Guru' or a global leader in various fields. However, one crucial area that has often faced challenges in receiving adequate attention in the Union Budget is the health sector. Despite several promises, the health sector remains neglected in the union budget, even after the COVID-19 catastrophe. Persistent underfunding in the health sector has severely hampered its capacity to effectively utilize available funds. Despite slight budgetary increases in recent years, the allocated budget is underutilised excluding the COVID-19 period. Additionally, persistent issues such as the neglect of rural healthcare, inadequate funding for capital expenditure, and limited investment in medical R&D in the allocation of the budget persist within the budget allocation. Further, the long focus on population control, family health, and disease-led programs continues, creating deficit and negligence of the general physical health and NCDs. This trend could potentially result in catastrophic health consequences for the masses. Furthermore, the current budget allocations and announcements contradict the objectives outlined in the National Health Policy 2017, which emphasises the government's commitment to achieving holistic wellness through integrated approaches.

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