Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the expenses on public health will be raised and health restructuring would be implemented to support hospital and laboratory infrastructure at the grassroots level subsequently to be prepared for pandemics in coming future.

This reformation will involve in creating committed infectious diseases hospital blocks in all districts and setting up government diagnostic laboratories till the block level. The government said that more focus would be on increasing health and wellness centres in villages.

At present, India spends approximately 1.3% of GDP on public health, which is the lowest amongst the rest of the world. As the Centre had set an objective of spending 2.5% of GDP on health by the year 2025, the year-on-year rise has been very low till now.

The Indian Council of Medical Research will also assist in building a national institutional platform to boost research initiatives. The execution of the national digital health blueprint would be accelerated for making better use of technology to deliver healthcare services in the country.

Also, the health ministry has released Rs 4,113 crore for coronavirus activities of the Rs 15,000 crore funds, which were allocated by the Centre. Essential items worth Rs 3,750 crore and testing laboratories and kits worth Rs 550 crore are also been distributed.

Source: ET Healthworld