With Rs 90K cr outlay, focus on affordable healthcare
Aksheev Thakur
New Delhi, February 1
The Interim Budget proposes schemes for affordable healthcare. Insurance cover under the Ayushman Bharat will now be extended to ASHA and anganwadi workers.
Free jab against cervical cancer
- Cover under Ayushman Bharat to be extended to ASHA, anganwadi workers
- Free vaccination against cervical cancer for girls in the age group of 9-14 years
- Plan to set up more medical colleges by utilising existing hospital infrastructure
While the allocation for Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has increased from Rs 2,100 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 4,108 crore in 2024-25, the allocation for Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) has been increased from Rs 7,200 crore to Rs 7,500 crore.
Until December 2023, around 55 crore people were covered under the Ayushman Bharat. Under the scheme, the poor and lower middle income group are provided a cover of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The beneficiaries can also avail cashless services. In the Interim Budget, the healthcare sector received an allocation of Rs 90,658 crore, up from last year’s Rs 89,155 crore.
The FM proposed a vaccination programme to prevent cervical cancer among girls in the age group of 9-14 years.
Behram Khodaiji, CEO, Ruby Hall Clinic, said, “The decision to provide free HPV vaccines for girls is a critical step in promoting their well-being. By making these vaccines more accessible, we are taking a proactive approach in preventing HPV-related health issues. This decision will not only benefit the individuals receiving the vaccine, but will also serve to protect the broader population from the spread of the disease.”
The government has also announced the setting up of more medical colleges. “Several youths are ambitious to get qualified as doctors. They aim to serve our people through improved healthcare services. Our government plans to set up more medical colleges by utilising the existing hospital infrastructure under various departments. A committee for this purpose will be set up to examine the issues and make relevant recommendations,” Sitharaman said. She also announced that the U-WIN platform for managing immunisation and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush to be rolled out throughout the country.
Dr Sunny Jain, HoD, Oncology, Marengo Asia Hospitals, Faridabad, said, “Cervical cancer vaccines should ideally be given before the first unprotected intercourse because females usually get infected by human papillomavirus (HPV). The cervical cancer vaccine prevents and guards the women against the HPV virus-induced carcinoma cervix. We are happy that the government is making strong efforts towards cancer prevention.”
