Budget 2021: Allocation for health and wellbeing up 137%; here’s a breakdown

Amidst the pandemic, budgetary allocation for the health sector in the Union Budget 2021 was expected to see a rise. The allocation for the health and wellbeing sector has registered a 137 percent increase from Rs 94,452 crore in the budget estimate (BE) of 2020-21 to Rs 2,23846 crore in BE 2021-22.

The budget proposal rests on six pillars, one of which is health and wellbeing, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman emphasised in her speech.

Allocations for the coming FY increased by 160 percent against the actual expenditure of Rs 86,259 crore during 2019-20.

To further strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has allocated Rs 35,000 crore for COVID-19 vaccine, with additional funds to be released if required. The finance minister also announced the rollout of Pneumococcal Vaccine that will help avert more than 50,000 child deaths annually.

The government also announced PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, with an outlay of about Rs 64,180 crore over six years. “This will develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary care health systems, strengthen existing national institutions, and create new institutions, to cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases,” the finance minister said.