Union Budget 2023: Health sector sees 13% hike, AIIMS gets cut

Union Budget 2023 was announced on February 1, 2023, and the healthcare sector has been allocated INR 89,155 crore this year, which is a hike of 13%. Last year, the allocation was INR 79,145 crore. AIIMS budget has been reduced and the central hospitals get an increased budget this year.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2023 on February 1, 2023. This year, the healthcare sector has been allotted INR 89,155 crore as against INR 79,145 crore allocated last year. The health care budget hike is 13% this year.

While the budget for All India Institute Of Medical Science has been reduced this year, the Central hospitals' budget has been increased. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital gets INR 177 crore more, and Safdarjung Hospital gets more 138 crores. Lady Hardinge Medical College and its attached Sucheta Kriplani Hospital have been given INR 58.15 crore more as compared to last year and Kalawati Saran Hospital’s budget has also got boosted by INR 19.09 crore.

Another major announcement by Nirmala Sitharaman was the mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047. It will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group 0 to 40 years in affected tribal areas & counselling through collaborative efforts. 

She announced 157 new nursing colleges to be established in co-locations with the existing 157 medical colleges established since 2014. Dedicated multi-disciplinary courses for medical devices will be supported in the existing institutions. A new programme for research & innovation in pharmaceuticals will be taken up through Centres of Excellence.

Read more:

• Union Budget 2023: Finance Minister announces Pharma research, 157 new nursing colleges
• Union Budget 2023: Management institutes give mixed reaction to 8% increase in education budget