Health sector wants higher outlay, universal insurance in upcoming Budget

Govt officials say health outlay will have to rise significantly not just for vaccine expense but also for creation of supporting infra and distribution channels

The health sector representatives have called for higher health expenditure in the upcoming Budget 2021-22 to provide for universal insurance, upskilling of doctors and nurses, research activities and strengthening of overall health infrastructure in their meeting with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.  

The Finance Minister on Thursday held the sixth pre-budget consultations with the stakeholders of the social sector including the health sector. 

“The government is very receptive. We believe that the pandemic is not over yet and this is not going to be the last pandemic. We need to be prepared,” Naresh Trehan, chairman of Medanta and CII Healthcare Council