TS Governor hails Union budget boost to healthcare sector

HYDERABAD: Stating that the Union Budget was a game changer with its allocations for the healthcare sector, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan opined that this will transform the sector to significant levels.

She was speaking at a discussion on health sector initiatives and allocations proposed in Union Budget 2023-24 at Raj Bhavan here on Thursday. Officials from CCMB, AIIMS, Bibinagar, NIN, ESIC Medical College and medical professionals participated in the deliberations.

She welcomed the decision to increase medical colleges and the push for health insurance and telemedicine.

“The enhanced allocation for Ayushman Bharat will boost investments in the sector. The Rs 6,500 crore allocation will help states and UTs to establish new medical colleges, upgrade district hospitals, strengthen nursing services and establish pharmacy schools or para-medical institutions,” she added.

She said that the unified Skill India digital platform and healthcare skilling courses were the need of the hour.

The Governor added that India will emerge as the third-largest economy in the coming decade. The country is on the right path with its massive infrastructural and qualitative boost to the medical and healthcare sector, she said.

The other participants said that it would be in the fitness of things if the resources reach pregnant and lactating women in time considering that these reach the women too late in the day. They sought a bigger push for health literacy, more government cancer treatment centres and the urgency to contain private hospitals from charging heavily.