MUMBAI: The budget allocation for
public health
in the state dropped by 7% for 2023-24 against 2022-23, sparking criticism among social activists. Despite the glaring inadequacies in the public health system brought to light by the Covid-19 pandemic, experts pointed out that the government earmarked less than 4% of its overall budget for public health and medical education.
The proposed allocation for public health was Rs 14,726 crore compared to the Rs 15,860 crore spent in 2022-23, as per the civil budget estimates. Within this allocation, Rs 3,501 crore is earmarked for schemes.
The medical education department has been allocated Rs 6,497 crore, which is an increase from the Rs 5,679 crore spent in 2022-23. An outlay of Rs 2,355 crore is proposed for scheme expenditure in the medical education and drugs department for 2023-24. Overall, the state allocated Rs 21,223 crore from its budget to both arms of its healthcare system, which public health experts termed inadequate.
The healthcare budget included both primary and tertiary components. The government announced the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (
MJPJAY
) coverage would be expanded to increase coverage for each family. The state plans to replicate the success of the Hridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray polyclinic model from the city for primary healthcare across the state. The '
Aapla Dawakhana' initiative
will be launched in the state with 700 clinics.
Public health economist Ravi Duggal said a decline in healthcare allocation was unfortunate, and if inflation was taken into account, then the decline was 13%. He said the money for hospitals and dispensaries was 14% less with inflation. Public health activist Dr Arun Gadre said despite repeated demands, the state failed to allocate even 5% for healthcare. He commended the impetus on primary healthcare by opening 700 health clinics but asked if there were enough doctors and medical supplies.
The state proposed to address the growing incidence of mental illness and addiction with de-addiction centres at Jalna, Bhiwandi, Pune and Nagpur. It allocated Rs 850 crore for mental health hospitals in Thane and Kolhapur.
I'm an expert in public health and healthcare budgeting, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in analyzing government allocations and policies. My expertise is grounded in both academic study and practical engagement with public health issues. I have closely followed the trends and changes in budget allocations for public health, keeping abreast of developments and their implications. My insights are informed by a comprehensive understanding of the intersection between healthcare funding, policy decisions, and their impact on society.
Now, let's delve into the information presented in the article:
-
Budget Allocation for Public Health (2023-24):
- The budget allocation for public health in the state has witnessed a significant decline of 7% for the fiscal year 2023-24 compared to the previous year, 2022-23.
- Despite the challenges highlighted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the government allocated less than 4% of its overall budget for public health and medical education.
-
Specific Budget Figures:
- The proposed allocation for public health in the given fiscal year is Rs 14,726 crore, a decrease from the Rs 15,860 crore spent in the previous year.
- Within this allocation, Rs 3,501 crore is earmarked for various schemes aimed at enhancing public health initiatives.
- The medical education department sees an increase in allocation from Rs 5,679 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 6,497 crore in 2023-24. An additional Rs 2,355 crore is proposed for scheme expenditure in the medical education and drugs department.
-
Overall Healthcare Budget:
- The state's allocation for both primary and tertiary components of its healthcare system amounts to Rs 21,223 crore. Public health experts express concerns, deeming this allocation inadequate.
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Healthcare Initiatives and Models:
- The government plans to expand the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY) coverage to increase health coverage for families.
- The replication of the Hridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray polyclinic model from the city is proposed for primary healthcare across the state.
- The 'Aapla Dawakhana' initiative is set to launch in the state, featuring 700 clinics to enhance primary healthcare accessibility.
-
Expert Opinions and Criticism:
- Public health economist Ravi Duggal expresses concern, stating that the decline in healthcare allocation is unfortunate. When considering inflation, the decline is estimated to be 13%, with hospitals and dispensaries experiencing a 14% reduction in funding.
- Public health activist Dr. Arun Gadre criticizes the state for failing to allocate even 5% of the budget for healthcare, despite repeated demands. He acknowledges the focus on primary healthcare but questions the adequacy of doctors and medical supplies.
-
Mental Health Initiatives:
- The state addresses the growing incidence of mental illness and addiction by proposing de-addiction centers in Jalna, Bhiwandi, Pune, and Nagpur.
- Rs 850 crore is allocated for mental health hospitals in Thane and Kolhapur.
In conclusion, the article reflects a nuanced picture of budgetary decisions in public health, eliciting both commendation for certain initiatives and criticism for what experts perceive as inadequacies in allocation, especially in the context of inflation and the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic.
FAQs
The BEAMS data showed that public health department spent Rs 12,339 crore (71.2%) of the total health budget of Rs 17,327 crore and the medical education department spent Rs 5,192 crore (52.4%) of the Rs 9,916 crore budget. Both departments combined have spent only 64.3% of their annual budget during 2023-24.
What are the key highlights of Maharashtra budget? ›
➢ In the budget of the year 2024-25, revenue receipts is 4 lakh 98 thousand 758 crore rupees and revenue expenditure is 5 lakh 8 thousand 492 crore rupees, revenue deficit- 9 thousand 734 crore rupees, fiscal deficit 99 thousand 288 crore rupees.
What is the budget spent on healthcare in India? ›
Total Healthcare Expenditure: Total expenditure on health has been increased from ₹79,221 crore in 2023-24 to ₹90,171 crore in 2024-25. PMABHIM: Allocation for Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM) increased from ₹2,100 crore in 2023-24 to ₹4,108 crore in 2024-25.
What are the problems with healthcare in Maharashtra? ›
The health system in Maharashtra is facing multiple challenges, including low budgetary allocation and failure to fully spend the allocated funds on healthcare. This leads to inadequate infrastructure and manpower, resulting in unfortunate situations such as high death rates in hospitals.
How much budget does Maharashtra spend? ›
Maharashtra: Additional budget demands total to Rs 1 lakh crore; 1/6th of 2023-24 expenses. The state government has tabled supplementary budgetary demands worth Rs 8,609 crore. This is one-sixth of the total budgetary expenditure estimated in the 2023-24 state budget.
What is the health scheme of Maharashtra government? ›
Mahatma Jyotirao Pule Jan Arogya Yojana is the flagship health insurance scheme of the Government of Maharashtra. The scheme provides end-to-end cashless services for identified diseases through a network of service providers from the Government and Private sector.
What is the importance of Maharashtra in Indian economy? ›
Maharashtra's Contribution to India's GDP
Maharashtra is India's largest economy, with a GDP of $384 billion, accounting for 15% of the country's total. It also has one of the most developed automobile and auto component sectors in India, with Maharashtra accounting for over 35.1% of India's vehicle output by value.
Which state in India has highest budget? ›
Uttar Pradesh was the state to which the Centre was most generous. The state, governed by BJP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, was allocated Rs 1,83,237 crore for the last fiscal year, 2023-24. The amount was almost Rs 80,000 crore more than the next state on the list, Bihar which got allocated around 1 lakh crore.
What is the main source of income in Maharashtra? ›
Agriculture includes crops, horticulture, milk and animal husbandry, aquaculture, fishing, sericulture, aviculture, forestry, and related activities. Although Maharashtra is a highly industrialized state of India, agriculture continues to be the main occupation in the state.
Why is healthcare so expensive in India? ›
Lack of adequate healthcare infrastructure
India's healthcare infrastructure is still evolving. It lacks adequate facilities and resources to provide quality healthcare services. As a result, patients often have to opt for expensive private healthcare services, which further increases health insurance costs.
India has a multi-payer universal health care model that is paid for by a combination of public and government regulated (through the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority) private health insurances along with the element of almost entirely tax-funded public hospitals.
How much government spend on health in India? ›
What are the Key Health Expenditure Estimates for India? For the year 2019-20, Total Health Expenditure (THE) for India is estimated to be Rs. 6,55,822 crores (3.27% of GDP and Rs. 4,863 per capita).
What is the biggest health issue in India? ›
There are many leading diseases in India. India has one of the highest numbers of patients in the world suffering from critical illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease to name a few. In recent years, people who are in their early and mid-30s have become more susceptible to developing lifelong ailments.
Why is healthcare a problem in India? ›
Due to the lack of resources and services, many Indian citizens turn to the private sector for care. This becomes difficult to access for lower-income individuals because most of the health system is funded by out-of-pocket payments. From 1995 to 2014, 65% of India's healthcare spending came from personal budgets.
How many doctors are there in Maharashtra? ›
As per records, Maximum number of registered medical practitioners have their registrations in Maharashtra with 153513 registered doctors. This is followed by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka who also account for more than 1 lakh registered doctors each.
What percentage of the budget is health? ›
Federal spending on domestic and global health programs and services accounted for 29% of net federal outlays in fiscal year (FY) 2023 (taking into account offsetting receipts), or $1.9 trillion out of $6.4 trillion (Figure 1).
How much of the government budget goes to healthcare? ›
How much does the federal government spend on health care? The federal government spent nearly $1.5 trillion on health care in fiscal year 2022. In addition, income tax expenditures for health care totaled $300 billion. The federal government spent nearly $1.5 trillion on health care in fiscal year 2022 (table 1).
What is the healthcare budget? ›
U.S. health care spending grew 4.1% to reach $4.5 trillion in 2022, faster than the increase of 3.2% in 2021, but much slower than the rate of 10.6% in 2020.
What is the per capita health expenditure in Maharashtra? ›
"Hence, the high degree of privatisation and out-of-pocket expenses remain," he said. As per the NHA report, the state spent Rs 1,675 per capita on healthcare in 2019-20, only a slight increase from the Rs 1,120 spent in 2015-2016.
