Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced recently that health expenditure will be increased and investment at the grassroots level will be ramped up for health and wellness centres.
She added that all districts will have an infectious disease block in hospitals and public health labs will be set up at block levels. Unveiling the fifth and final tranche of the government’s Rs 20 lakh crore, special economic stimulus package, FM Sitharaman said that the Centre has committed Rs 15,000 crore for health-related measures so far to contain COVID-19 outbreak. She stated that this includes Rs 50 lakh insurance per person for health professionals under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY)
The finance minister further said that over Rs 4,113 crore in healthcare expenditure has been released to the states so far.
