New Delhi: In its bid to tone up medical and healthcare facilities, the Union Budget made the provision to set up 157 new nursing colleges in co-location of all existing medical colleges that were sanctioned since 2014 across the country.
Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced launch of sickle cell anemia elimination mission, which will entail awareness creation, universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas, and counseling through collaborative efforts of central ministries and state governments.
ICMR labs available for R&D
To promote research in medical sector and innovation, the finance minister said that facilities in select Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) Labs will be made available for public and private medical college faculty and private sector R&D teams.
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Research & innovation in pharma sector
A new programme to promote research and innovation in pharmaceuticals will be taken up through centers of excellence, Sitharaman announced. “We shall also encourage industry to invest in research and development in specific priority areas”, she added.
Dedicated multidisciplinary courses for medical devices
Highlighting importance of futuristic medical technologies and high-end manufacturing in medical sector, Sitharaman stated that dedicated multidisciplinary courses for medical devices will be supported in existing institutions to ensure availability of skilled manpower for futuristic medical technologies, high-end manufacturing and research.
Health sector hails budget
Pritika Singh, chief executive officer (CEO) Of Prayag Hospitals Group says “We welcome FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement regarding establishing 157 new nursing colleges in core locations. In addition, the proposal for a multidisciplinary course for medical devices for skilled manpower is also praiseworthy. The dedicated multidisciplinary course for medical devices will be supported in existing institutions to ensure the availability of skilled manpower for futuristic medical technologies and high-end manufacturing and research. The health budget has been increasing yearly, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic.”
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She further said that in the Union Budget 2022-23, ₹86,200 crore rupees were allocated to the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, a 16.5% increase over the previous year. Apart from that, we also laud the new program for pharma research proposed by the FM. The program will be formulated and the industry will be encouraged to invest in research. The pharmaceutical industry has been asking for incentives to promote R&D investments.
