A landmark budget was presented today by the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley with the agenda of “Transform, Energize and Clean India’ with the intention of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.” This was stated by Shri J P Nadda while hailing the Union Budget for the year 2017-18. Thanking the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji and the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley, Shri Nadda further said that this is an inclusive budget which is pro-poor, pro-farmer, pro-downtrodden and for the development of all the sectors and the country at large.

Shri J P Nadda stated that the budget estimates for health show an appreciable increase of more than 27%. From Rs. 37061.55 cr in 2016-17, the budget estimate for 2017-18 has been increased to   Rs. 47352.51 cr (Net). “This will help to attend tertiary care, human resources for health and medical education and to strengthen NHM,” Shri Nadda added.

The Health Minister further informed that the Ministry has spent 73.25% of 2016-17 budget till now.  “With this pace I am hopeful of spending the remaining budget for 2016-17,” Shri Nadda said. The Health Minister also stated that the Ministry will also create 5000 Post Graduate seats per annum to ensure adequate availability of specialist doctors to strengthen secondary and tertiary levels of healthcare. Furthermore, two new AIIMS will be set up in Jharkhand and Gujarat, Shri Nadda mentioned.

Shri Nadda stated that the Government has prepared an action plan to eliminate Kala-Azar and Filariasis by 2017; to eliminate Leprosy by 2018, Measles by 2020 and to eliminate Tuberculosis by 2025 is also targeted. Moreover, action plan has been prepared to reduce IMR from 39 in 2014 to 28 by 2019, and MMR 167 in 2011-13 to 100 by 2018-2020.

The Union Health Minister stated that steps will be taken to roll out DNB courses in big District Hospitals and to encourage reputed Private Hospitals to start DNB courses. Steps will also be taken to strengthen PG teaching in select ESI and Municipal Corporation Hospitals.

Shri Nadda said that as part of the Budget announcements, the Government is committed to take necessary steps for structural transformation of the Regulatory framework of Medical Education and Practice in India. There is a proposal to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to ensure availability of drugs at reasonable prices and promote use of generic medicines, and New Rules for regulating medical devices will also be formulated. These Rules will be internationally harmonised to attract investment in this sector. This will reduce the cost of such devices.

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MV/SK