Parl panel raises concern on health budget allocation

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its latest report tabled in Parliament on Wednesday expressed concern over the budget allocation to health and said that India's health care needs to improve faster to meet global standards.

- Rhythma Kaul

NEW DELHI:

"The committee notes that a sum of ₹95,957.87 crore has been allocated to the Department of Health and Family Welfare for 2025-26, representing 1.89% of the total Union Budget estimate and 0.27% of GDP (at current prices). A review of past trends indicates that actual expenditure has often fallen short of the budgeted allocation, remaining at just 0.27% of GDP in both 2022-23 and 2023-24," read the report.

"The committee notes the 10.83% increase in the Budget Estimate for 2025-26 as compared to the Revised Estimate for 2024-25, but the committee expresses concern over trend of the health sector's budget allocation, as a percentage of GDP and the total Union Budget that has been consistently declining since 2022-23," it added.

The report said that there is a need to spend more on health.