Prime Minister Modi had committed ₹15,000 crore, which includes ₹50 lakh insurance per person for health professionals
With a view to boosting testing facilities in rural India, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, yesterday announced the setting up of public health laboratories at block levels. This will also help for future health emergencies and ramp up health infrastructure.
“Public expenditure on health will be increased. All districts will have an infectious diseases block. There will be integrated public health labs in all districts at the block level. Health and wellness centres in urban and rural areas will also be increased,” the finance minister said while announcing the details of the economic stimulus package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday.
“Investments at the grassroots level will be ramped up in urban and rural areas and all districts will have infectious diseases hospital blocks,” she informed.
According to government data, there are 7,096 blocks in India.
Presently, India’s government spending on public health accounts to around 1.3 per cent of GDP. The National Health Policy envisaged public health spending of 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025.
The finance minister said the government will also encourage research by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and a national digital health mission will also be implemented.
Highlighting healthcare measures amid the pandemic, the finance minister said Prime Minister Modi had committed ₹15,000 crore, which includes ₹50 lakh insurance per person for health professionals.
“The government made sure that telemedicine comes into play, capacity building exercises have been taken up for the protection of health workers, and amendment of the Epidemic Diseases Act was required, which was undertaken,” said Sitharaman.