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government spending on health

2021 Union Budget: Takeaways for health

Unsurprisingly, the COVID-19 pandemic took centre-stage during the presentation of the 2021 Union Budget by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. “The preparation of this Budget was undertaken in circumstances like never before,” she said in opening remarks to Parliament. “We knew of calamities that have affected a country or a region within a country, but what …

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Poverty: The scourge of the hour

During the COVID-19 pandemic, those living in poverty are among the most vulnerable. In India, where “the proportion of employed population below $1.90 purchasing power parity a day in 2019 is 10.7 percent” according to the Asian Development Bank, it is an issue that must be addressed. Earlier this month, the World Bank warned that …

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E-health growth fuelled by online pharmacies

The e-health segment in India continues to grow with online pharmacies leading the way.  Currently valued at US$1.2 billion, Bengaluru-based firm Red-Seer Consulting estimates the e-health sector to reach US$16 billion in the next five years with online pharmacies fuelling the increase in its value. Uptake is also projected to swell, with 57 million Indian …

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Union Budget: The main takeaways for health

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented India’s 2020 Union Budget over the weekend, her second. Whilst it has won praise from Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, some in the healthcare sector have expressed dissatisfaction.  How much did the Union Budget allocate the health sector? Among the main takeaways of the 2020 Union Budget for …

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Kota tragedy: IMA hits out at Government

The Kota tragedy, where more than 100 children have died in the space of a month at the government-run JK Lon Hospital in the Rajasthan city, is in the crosshairs of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The doctors’ body has hit out at the Government, critiquing their health policies as a contributing factor to the …

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Maharashtra government in the firing line from experts on health

The Maharashtra government is in the firing line for its performance on health indicator by experts, who claim that the outward appearance of progress belies the truth of the government’s performance.  “The last five years tell the story of lost opportunities as far as the health sector is concerned,” said Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (People’s Health …

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Health spending needs to increase: Vardhan to states

Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has urged state governments to increase their health spending in order to achieve government targets of a central boost to health spending.  “We together have achieved several health milestones, especially India being certified polio-free,” Vardhan said as he inaugurated the 13th Conference of the Central Council of Health and …

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Ayushman Bharat: One year in

Today marked the one-year anniversary of the launch of Ayushman Bharat, with reports indicating the scope of the initiative’s success – and plans for its future.  Officially known as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Ayushman Bharat offers health insurance coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family per year to economically vulnerable families – …

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Will India achieve the SDGs on health?

India’s aim to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Health seems likely to be unattainable by 2030, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said. The main reason it identifies behind this is India’s ability to achieve public health expenditure targets, as the country faces a relative dearth of data …

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Ayushman Bharat: High-value claims increase

High-value claims made by Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries are increasing, reports say. The scheme – officially the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) – offers insurance coverage to economically vulnerable families of up to Rs 5 lakh per family per year. Estimates project that, by the end of the year, high-value claims (those over Rs 30,000) will …

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