Indian Government’s Healthcare Spending Plan for 2019 – Part 2
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In February 2019, the ruling government announced a 16.65 percent increase in its allocation for the health sector as part of the Interim Budget 2019, seeking Parliament’s approval for expenditure totalling to Rs 96,139.27 crore on healthcare. Let’s have a 10-point overview of the government’s healthcare spending plan for the year: 
- In delivering the budget speech in Lok Sabha at Arun Jaitley’s place, Piyush Goyal said that under Ayushman Bharat, about 10 lakh people have so far used free treatment. The total cost of treatment of Rs 3,000 crore was estimated.
- Goyal also announced the establishment of the 22nd All Indian Medical Sciences Institute (AIIMS) in Haryana by the government. He said 14 of the 21 AIIMS have been announced since 2014 that are either operational or are being set up.
- The budget speech also included the vision of the government for the decade to come. Health has been defined as one of the visionary dimensions. “We’re going to aim for a healthy society with a health insurance environment and supporting the necessary health infrastructure,” Goyal said.
- “We will work towards a trouble-free health care and a functional and comprehensive wellness system for all by 2030. Such a healthy India built with the participation of women with equal rights and concern for their safety and empowerment,” he added.
- Health Research Department received an outlay of Rs 3,374.65 crore, up from the government’s spent Rs 3,190.58 crore in 2018 – 19.
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