Union Budget 2021: Govt Proposes Rs. 2.24 Lakh Crore For Healthcare, Rs. 35,000 Crore For Vaccines

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today presented Union Budget 2021 and proposed Rs. 2,23,846 crore for the healthcare sector in 2021-22, as compared to Rs. 94,452 crore in the current fiscal year, thereby marking an increase of 137% towards healthcare spending.

She also approved Rs. 35,000 crore outlay for COVID-19 vaccines for the next fiscal year and announced the rollout of pneumococcal vaccines across the country. The Finance Minister also mentioned that she can increase the allocated amount depending upon the future requirement. These measures will help save more than 50,000 deaths annually, she added.

The pneumococcal vaccine is effective for pneumococcal infections that are potentially fatal, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and septicemia. For the time being, the Made in India pneumococcal vaccine is limited to only five states.

Sitharaman shared that currently there are two vaccines in India- Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, and Serum Institute's Covidshield. And soon two more will be launched, in order to protect the country from the COVID-19 infection.

The Finance Minister also stated that the government’s Aatmanirbhar packages of around Rs. 27.1 Lakh crore to deal with coronavirus and increase the pace of structural reforms.
In the first paperless Union Budget 2021, Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed to bring the Aatmanirbhar health program with an outlay of Rs. 64,180 crore, which will be an addition to the national health mission.

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