Health Ministry urges states to increase healthcare spending by at least 8 pc of budget

Inaugurating the 13th Conference of the CCHFW, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday urged the states to increase healthcare spending to a minimum 8 per cent of the budget so as to achieve the targeted public health expenditure of 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025.

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday urged the states to increase healthcare spending to a minimum 8 per cent of the budget so as to achieve the targeted public health expenditure of 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025.

Inaugurating the 13th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW), Vardhan said, "From the first CCHFW meeting to today, together we have achieved several health milestones, especially India being certified Polio-free. This has been possible because of our collaborative efforts. If all health ministers come together for a cause, no task can be impossible."

Health Ministers from 13 states attended the conference.

Vardhan stated that the purpose of the CCHFW meeting is to build a consensus on the national health priorities like Universal Health Coverage (UHC) through Ayushman Bharat, eliminating tuberculosis and other priority agenda such as strengthening medical infrastructure.

"This can be achieved by a collective increase in healthcare spending by the states/UTs to meet the goals of healthcare spending of National Health Policy 2017---2.5 pc of GDP by 2025," he said.

"Health needs to become a social movement across India and the 'Eat Right and Fit India' movements need to be taken up by states and UTs in a synergised manner to ensure a healthy and robust India," Vardhan said.

The Minister also urged the Health Minister of Uttar Pradesh, who is also the Finance Minister of the state, to increase the health budget of the state and set an example for the rest to emulate.

Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan said that the Health Ministry is dedicated to the cause of effective, affordable, quality and accessible healthcare.

"Without the political leadership and commitment of the states and UTs, healthcare cannot be effective," she stated.

She added that the CCHFW is integral to the achievement of health goals of the country.

At the inaugural session, Vardhan along with the other ministers launched a new initiative Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN)' for zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, its website and the grievance redressal portal.