Union Budget 2023: What health and nutrition sectors want this year

Here's what voices from healthcare & nutrition sector are expecting from Union Budget

The Budget last year allotted Rs 86,200.65 crore for spending on "health", an umbrella government term that includes expenditure on ‘Medical and Public Health’, ‘Family Welfare’ and ‘Water Supply and Sanitation’.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget last year announced a National Digital Health Ecosystem for facilitating digital registries of health providers and facilities, unique health identity, consent framework and universal access to health facilities. It launched the National Tele-Mental Health Programme that includes a network of 23 centres of excellence.

India’s public healthcare spending stands far below its stated target of 2.5 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP).