Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Union Budget has increased expenditure for the National Health Mission (NHM) by about Rs 4,000 crore and also proposed digital public infrastructure (DPI) at a population scale.
The Budget ncreased spending from Rs 31,550 crore to Rs 36,000 crore for FY 2024-25 under the NHM.
NHM is a Centre-sponsored scheme that primarily caters to primary and secondary healthcare service delivery in the country. With the increase, the government aims to invest in primary and secondary public healthcare facilities and reduce the public’s out-of-pocket expenditure.
Further, the Budget also proposed the development of DPI applications which will boost sectors, including credit e-commerce, education, health, law and justice, logistics, MSME services, delivery, and urban governance.
The Budget has also proposed to develop 100 weekly haats or street food hubs in select cities to revive local economies and enhance the street food experience.
These initiatives are in addition to the exemption of customs duty on three additional cancer medicines – Trastuzumab Deruxtecan, Osimertinib, and Durvalumab – aimed at improving the affordability of these drugs.
