No provision for distributing free drugs in govt hospitals

The Central government has increased the allocation for the health sector by almost 30 per cent in the 2013-14 Union Budget, but did not spell out measures  to provide free medicines in government hospitals as part of universal healthcare.

With barely any funds for the much delayed National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), meant to provide healthcare facilities to urban slum dwellers, uncertainty hangs on its future as well as the proposed National Health Mission (NHM).

Presenting the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said he allocated Rs 37,330 crore for the health ministry. The lion’s share goes to the department of health and family welfare, which gets Rs 33,278 crore. This is an increase of Rs 7,351 crore from the last financial year’s revised estimate of Rs 25,927 crore.

The increase is marginal for health research and AIDS control. The minister sanctioned Rs 1,069 crore for mainstreaming Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy for their inclusion in the NHM.

Out of the total allocation for the health department, Rs 21,239 crore has been allocated for the NHM which will club the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and NUHM at a later date. But with the Union Health Ministry and the Planning Commission differing on the contours of the NHM, it remains unclear when these missions will be realised.

“The budget is real short for the health sector as there is very little focus on social security issues like health care for all,” said consumer activist Bejon Mishra.

The healthcare sector has been shortchanged more than other sectors as the allocations for NRHM have come down from Rs 30,000 to Rs 21, 239 crore, which also includes the NUHM, commented Shyamali Gupta, president of All India Democratic Women’s Association.

Besides, the finance minister allocated Rs 4,727 crore for medical education, training and research. The six tertiary care hospitals cum medical colleges, which are being set up on the lines of AIIMS, Delhi, received Rs 1,650 crore to expand their activities. Located in Raipur, Bhopal, Bhubaneshwar, Jodhpur, Patna and Rishikesh, these institutes  admitted their first batch of students in September 2012.

The national programme for the health care of elderly that is being implemented in 100 districts of 21 states has received Rs 150 crore.

Meanwhile, excise duty on cigarettes has been increased by 18 per cent. The anti-tobacco activists were unhappy as they demanded a much higher levy so that the price acts as a deterrent.

The government has allocated close to Rs 350 crore on a national programme to prevent and control incidences of cancer, diabetes and heart attack.

More than Rs 1,000 crore has been sanctioned for nursing colleges, pharmacy and paramedical schools as well as facilities in district and state hospitals.