On budgeting for health in India

Union Budget's health allocation, sodium reduction, Guillain-Barré update in Pune, US foreign aid suspension impact on global health.

On the Union Budget’s allocation for health, the need to reduce our sodium consumption, an update on the Guillain-Barré situation in Pune, what the United States suspension of foreign aid means for global health and more

Every year, public health activists look forward to the Union Budget, hoping for increased allocations for the health sector, a boost for primary health, a focus on prevention to help keep the population healthy and the strengthening of State-run healthcare institutions. And nearly every year, there is disappointment: once again this year, India will not be spending even 2.5% of the GDP on health. The Budget allocation this year, is ₹99,858.56 crore for health, an almost 10% increase over the previous financial year, but, adjusted for inflation, the increase is negligible.

While there are several welcome health-related schemes that have been announced, including health cover for gig workers under the Centre’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), exempting 36 life-saving drugs from custom duties, the addition of 75,000 undergraduate medical seats over the next five years and the setting up of daycare cancer centres at all district hospitals, an approach towards transformative health reforms that would substantially help decrease out-of-pocket expenditure on health and increase public use of government facilities, is missing.

Our experts break this down for you: Priyadarshini Singh points out that the National Health Mission, a government programme that covers urban and rural health, has had only a meagre 3.4% increase in allocations from 2024 (RE). Dr.J. Amalorpavanathan says more doctors (from more medical seats) does not automatically mean better public health. Unless the government plans to absorb a substantial number of doctors into public health — and there is no such indication — this will only help the private sector with a steady supply of cheap labour. ProfK. Srinath Reddy emphasises that overall, the Budget focuses more on delivering curative care than on health promotion and disease prevention. Christianez Ratna Kiruba and Kinshuk Gupta ask why there was no mention of disability in the Budget.  

For a quick visual glimpse of what the Budget offers in health, do watch Bindu Shajan Perappadan’s video summary here.

Moving on to other health-related news from the week, the World Health Organization has recommended the use of lower sodium salt substitutes, to reduce sodium intake to less than 2 g a day. Why is salt important, and why has salt again become a vehicle to bring about sweeping public health behaviour change? Ramya Kannan has the answers here. How we eat has become increasingly important today -- and if you need any convincing on that front, do read this analysis that found one in every two people in the country had a lifestyle disorder. It’s no wonder that the Economic Survey 2024-25 highlighted the need to levy higher taxes on ultra-processed food.

Here’s a quick recap of the situation in Pune, where a large cluster of Guillain-Barre cases has erupted: cases have risen to 163 as of February 3, while the number of suspected deaths stands at five. Water samples are being tested in all affected areas and the Union Health Ministry is reviewing the situation, even while Telangana and West Bengal have reported suspected cases. For an explainer on what this rare, autoimmune neurological condition is, do listen in to mypodcast on the subject, read our editorial, and also take a look at Monojit Debnath and Madhu Nagappa’srevelations from research on this subject.