Press Release
Geetam Acharya
Center for Human Dignity and Development (CHDD), Center for the Study of Finance and Economics (CSFE), Generation Alpha Data Center (GenAlpha DC) IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, hosted an interactive panel discussion on the topic of population, Health, and Union Budget 2024-25. On 25th July 2024, under the IMPRI 5th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of Union Budget 2024-25, as part of IMPRI #WebPolicy Talk.
The budget panel discussion was chaired by Dr Manorama Bakshi, Director and Head of Healthcare and Advocacy, Consocia Advisory; Founder and Director, Trilok Raj Foundation (TRF); Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI. To start, Dr. Bakshi provided an overview of the budget, acknowledging the focus on social determinants of health, and emphasizing the need for equitable access and improvements in nutrition and education for better health outcomes.
The first panelist, Prof Pradeep K. Panda, Professor and Dean, School of Public Health, Asian Institute of Public Health (AIPH) University, Bhubaneswar, highlights that the budget for 2024-25 aims for aggressive fiscal consolidation while reducing the fiscal deficit target, which is essential for economic stability and attracting foreign investment. He argues that The budget also allocates resources fairly between growth and welfare expenditures, but raises concerns over insufficient health sector funding.
He lamented that despite a nominal increase in health budget allocation, it remains insufficient at 0.28% of GDP, failing to address chronic issues like high out-of-pocket expenses and resource shortages. The government must prioritize health funding to improve public health outcomes. Moreover, He informs that Changes in customs duty for medical devices aim to reduce costs and improve local manufacturing in the healthcare sector. This initiative will encourage innovation and self-reliance among healthcare startups.
Dr. Shoba Suri, Senior Fellow, Health Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), New Delhi, emphasizes the need for improving funding and implementation of health programs targeting women and children, particularly in maternal and child health. She acknowledges the significant challenges and resource allocation issues that remain, requiring urgent attention to enhance health outcomes. She highlights the importance of enhancing infrastructure and human resources in primary health centers. This is crucial for providing adequate care, especially in rural and marginalized communities. Lastly, she emphasized that investment in grassroots healthcare services is essential to improve health outcomes for children and adolescents. Increased allocation and effective utilization of funds are crucial for job creation in the health sector.
The next panelist, Mr Abhijit Mukhopadhyay, Consulting Economist, The Secretariat, throws light on the declining Health budget allocation reaching only 1.9% of the total budget in 2024-2025, which raises concerns about prioritization. With increasing elderly population projections, effective healthcare funding is crucial for addressing future needs. He informs that by 2050, it’s projected that 20% of India’s population will be senior citizens, necessitating improved healthcare access. Policymakers must consider free healthcare options for this vulnerable demographic. He acknowledges that Investment in health infrastructure is crucial for India’s future, especially in light of past pandemics.
Prof Sanghmitra Sheel Acharya, Professor, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, the next panelist, criticizes the budget allocation being largely inadequate despite some exemptions for essential cancer drugs. There is a pressing need for increased funding to address prevalent health issues. The rising incidence of cancer cases in India necessitates a reevaluation of budget priorities. Addressing both cancer and other prevalent diseases should be a focus for future allocations, argues Prof Sanghmitra Sheel Acharya.
She argues that high dependence on the insurance model in India’s healthcare system is detrimental to equity and long-term sustainability.
Lastly, the chair and moderator, Dr Manorama Bakshi lamented that improving maternal and child health requires coordinated efforts between ministries and community organizations to raise awareness and provide necessary counseling. She acknowledges that this is crucial for enhancing health outcomes and addressing issues like anemia and breastfeeding practices.ASHe argues that The interconnectedness of human health, animal health, and the environment is crucial in addressing health challenges effectively. This relationship emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to health policy and funding.
To sum up, the panel discussion on the Union Budget 2024-25 highlighted the inadequacy of current healthcare funding, urging for an increase to at least 1% of GDP. Experts emphasized the need for improved healthcare infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, and advocated for universal health coverage to reduce financial burdens on families. The interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health was underscored, promoting a One Health approach. Additionally, the importance of public-private partnerships in enhancing healthcare innovation and addressing maternal and child health issues, including malnutrition and anemia awareness, was stressed.
IMPRI’s 5th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of Union Budget 2024-25
IMPRI’s 5th Annual Series of Thematic Deliberations and Analysis of Union Budget 2024-25
Watch the event at IMPRI #Web Policy Talk
Population, Health, and Union Budget 2024-25
Acknowledgement- This article was written by Geetam Acharya, a Research Intern at IMPRI and an undergraduate student at Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi with a keen interest in Political Science and International Relations.
