Analysis of Sansad TV Discussion: ”Budget 2022-23: Spending on Health”

Budget 2022-23: Spending on Health

Relevance

”GS 2: Health, Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Relating to Development”

Introduction

• In the Union Budget 2022-23, the health sector has been allocated a little over Rs 86,000 crore – a hike of 16 percent over nearly Rs 74,000 crore in 2021-22.
• Out of this, Rs 83,000 crore have been allocated to the Department of Health and Family Welfare while Rs 3200 crore have been allocated to the Department of Health Research.

Key Provisions

• An open platform for National Digital Health Ecosystem to be rolled out.
• ‘National Tele Mental Health Programme’ for quality mental health counselling and care services to be launched.
• The budget also highlighted the importance of Genomics and AI aptly in future.

Focus on  mental health

• A network of 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence will be set up, with NIMHANS being the nodal centre and the International Institute of Information Technology, Bangalore (IIITB) providing technology support.
• Pandemic had accentuated the mental health problems in people of all ages thus the plan to set up a National Tele-Mental Health programme in India is a much-needed step.
• Given the shortage of mental health professionals, especially in rural areas, telemedicine would greatly enhance accessibility for patients requiring psychiatric help

National digital health ecosystem

• It would consist of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity and universal access to health facilities.
• With a holistic, technology-driven approach, this will provide a unique ID to every Indian citizen.
• This announcement promises to empower India’s digital health mission and thereby help customers navigate the healthcare system seamlessly.
• It will be rolled out under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
• With this Affordable healthcare can be easily provided through the digital platform.
• The digital health ecosystem will improve diagnosis and treatment.

What is Telemedicine?

• It refers to the practice of caring for patients remotely when the provider and patient are not physically present with each other.
• Modern technology has enabled doctors to consult patients by using HIPAA compliant video-conferencing tools.
• During Covid times patients are proactively using healthcare to manage their health and telehealth.

About NIMHANS

• The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is a multidisciplinary institute for patient care and academic pursuit in the field of mental health and neurosciences.
• The Institute has emerged as the nodal centre for evolving national policies in the field of mental health, neurosciences and injury. This exemplifies a unique model of successful partnership between the Union and State Governments (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare).
• The Central Government recognized its eminent academic position, growth and contributions, and declared it a ‘Deemed University’ in 1994.
• In 2012, NIMHANS was conferred the status of an ‘Institute of National Importance’.

Conclusion

Overall, the proposals made in Budget 22-23, should make quality healthcare accessible and affordable. However, the government should have focused more on primary healthcare investment and made the healthcare system a National Priority’ status. 95% of 112 aspirational districts had already made significant progress in health and other parameters and efforts would now be made to work on districts that were lagging.

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