Injecting more funds to boost health infra

New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said that, under the Budget 2021-22, the government will invest on health infrastructure substantially. Under the Union Budget 2021-22, several schemes and measure were announced by the Finance Minister as the country continues to be grappled by the Covid-19 threat.

Finance Minister announced a new Centre-sponsored scheme, namely PM Atma Nirbhar Swasth Bharat with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore to boost healthcare infrastructure across the country amid ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

"We will support 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres (HWC), setting up integrated public health labs in all districts and 3,382 blocks in public health units in 11 states," Sitharaman said while addressing the Parliament.

The Finance Minister also announced strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in 5 regional branches and 20 metropolitan health surveillance units. Additionally, it was also announced operationalisation of 17 new public health units, strengthening of existing 33 Public Health Units of Entry points at airports, seaports and land crossing.

"We are setting up 15 Health Emergency Operation Centres and 2 mobile hospitals; will be setting up national health institution for One Health, a regional Research Platform for WHO South East Asia region, 9 Bio-safety Level III and 4 regional National Institutes for Virology," the Finance Minister said.