Zoom News : Feb 01, 2021, 12:34 PM
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharman on Monday informed that the budget outlay for health increased to Rs 2,23,846 crores in 2021-22, an increase of 137 per cent in comparison to the previous year's budget.She also said the central government has provided Rs 35,000 crores for the COVID-19 vaccine in 2021-22."I have provided Rs 35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccine in this year 2021-22. I am committed to providing more funds, if required. So the budget outlay for health increased to Rs 2,23,846 crores in 2021-22, an increase of 137 per cent relative to previous year's budget," Sitharaman said during her third budget speech in Lok Sabha.The Minister further informed that the pneumococcal vaccine, limited to only 5 states at present, will be rolled out across the country. "This will avert more than 50,000 child deaths annually," she said.She announced a new Centre-sponsored scheme with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore to boost healthcare infrastructure across the country amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.She said the Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana will develop the capacity for primary, secondary, and tertiary care health systems in the country.