Budget 2021: Health is wealth?

Apart from National Health Mission, the Budget 2021-22 focussed on PM Atmanirbhar Swastha Bharat Abhiyaan by providing an investment of Rs 64,180 crore, which will be invested in the next 6 years to improve primary, secondary & tertiary healthcare. 

The overall health outlay would be used to establish critical care units and hospital blocks. Under this, 15 health emergency centres would be established. 17,000 rural and 11,000 urban health and wellness centres to be set up.

Also, Mission Poshan 2.0 would be launched. The Urban Swachh Bharat Scheme would be implemented wherein, investment of Rs 1.4 lakh crore would be provided for the next 5 years, starting from 2021. For the clean water initiative under the Jal Jeevan, Rs 2.87 lakh crore would be invested. 

For controlling the air pollution crisis across the country, Rs 2,217 crore has been allotted. 

For the COVID-19 vaccine drive, the Budget has allotted Rs 35,000 crore. Vaccines will be rolled out across the country. This will prevent over 50,000 child deaths annually. 

Meanwhile, the Budget outlay for health and welfare is Rs 2.23 lakh crore in 2021-22 Budget. This is a 137 per cent increase. 

BSE Healthcare index is trading lower from its previous close of 20,628.17. Companies like Suven Lifesciences, Hester Biosciences, Shalby Ltd are trading 5 per cent higher each. Dr Reddy’s, Vimta Labs, Torrent Pharma are trading lower by more than 3 per cent.