Budget 2017-2018: Salient points for Healthcare

·         Action plan to eliminate Kala-Azar and Filariasis by 2017, Leprosy by 2018 and Measles by 2020; elimination of tuberculosis by 2025 is also targeted. 

·         Action plan has been prepared to reduce IMR from 39 in 2014 to 28 by 2019 and MMR from 167 in 2011-13 to 100 by 2018-2020. 

·         1.5 lakh Health Sub Centres will be transformed into Health and Wellness Centres.

·         Additional 5,000 Post Graduate seats per annum to be created.

·         Steps will be taken to roll-out DNB courses in big District Hospitals; strengthen PG teaching in select ESI and Municipal Corporation Hospitals; and encourage reputed Private Hospitals to start DNB courses.

·         Two new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will be set-up in the States of Jharkhand and Gujarat.

·         Amendment of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules proposed to ensure availability of drugs at reasonable prices and promote use of generic medicines.

·         New rules for regulating medical devices will also be formulated to reduce the cost of such devices.

·         Structural transformation of the Regulatory framework of Medical Education and Practice in India.

·         Safe drinking water to 28,000 arsenic and fluoride affected habitations in the next four years.

·         Aadhaar based health cards will be issued for senior citizens.

·         Digi Gaon will be launched to promote tele-medicine and education

·         500 rail stations to be made differently abled-friendly by providing lifts and escalators

Full budget speech available HERE