The UNMET HEALTH CHALLENGE

By Sneha and Shubham

The blog analyses the allocations to the health sector in the budget and highlights the need for greater allocations.

There is a need to increase the cost on health

The Economic Survey argues that government spending on health care needs to be increased to 2.5–3 per cent of GDP, which is currently 1.5 per cent. The survey shows that in terms of results and quality there is not much difference between health services in the private sector and such services in government centres.

Therefore, the Economic Survey called for strengthening the National Health Mission (NHM) with AYUSHMAN BHARAT. The NHM was launched in 2005-06 to strengthen public health services. AYUSHMAN BHARAT PROVIDED SOCIAL INSURANCE, which finances private sector services with government funding. The Economic Survey makes a strong pitch for greater control over health services in the private sector.

Budget allocation on health (and well)

The finance minister in his budget speech described "health and welfare" as one of the pillars of the budget and announced a 137 per cent increase in allocations. He placed health care, water and sanitation and nutrition as key components of this pillar. However, the figures in the budget documents reflect a different story.

Health, water and sanitation and nutrition go hand in hand, with the actual decline in health care and nutrition increasing claims to allocate 137 per cent to “health” services.

Pradhan Mantri Atma Nirbhar Swasthya (PMANSY)

The Finance Minister also announced a new scheme called the Pradhan Mantri Atma Nirbhar Swasthya to support about 29,000 health and welfare centres in the country. The plan also seeks to establish public health laboratories and critical care hospital blocks and institutes of virology.

Concerns with PMANSY

PMNC has an announcement of Rs 64,180 crore in six years, but it has no place in the current budget. But these additional activities can be made into NHM. The NHM allocation has been revoked since 2014. Therefore, a slight increase of 1.33 per cent (from Rs 27,039 crore to Rs 30,100 crore) is also a testament to the government's realization that it is important for public services. Approximately Rs 10,000-Rs per annum is required to cover public services with "universal health coverage". Allocating Rs 11,000 crore to PMANSY is not enough. The High-Level Expert Group on Universal Health Coverage estimates that by 2020 we will need a 114 percent increase in sub-centers and primary health centers, 179 percent increase in community health centers, and 230 percent increase in sub-district and district. Hospital. When approaching it anywhere, it is necessary to double the actual allocation each year over a five-year period, which equates to 10 percent of the budget. In the current budget, it will be reduced to just 2.21 percent.

The road ahead

If such public regulations for universal health coverage cannot be made, alternatives to low-cost rational service systems should be devised. Insurance plans only create the ability to carry health services while increasing public spending. Community and public services are the least costly for any community.

The Conclusion

Water and sanitation make sense for health, but it also increases allocations for “health and welfare”. We need a real increase in spending for health.

Sources

Civils Daily news article