After Covid, govt hikes health allocation to over 17k crore

Kolkata: In the backdrop of Covid pandemic, the state has increased the health Budget from Rs 16368.38 crore in 2021-2022 to Rs 17,567.90 crore for 2022-23. Sources said projects including setting up of medical colleges, enhancing hospital infrastructure and manpower and various health schemes will be of prime focus.

With Covid being the topmost priority, the Bengal government had pumped in Rs 1,913 crore into prevention and management of Covid since onset of the pandemic. In 2021-22, Rs 760 crore was spent in Covid purpose till December 2021.

“There has been a marked improvement in health infrastructure in the wake of Covid. Number of Covid beds in government hospitals which was 3,280 on April 1, 2020 had gone up by 870% to 32,081. During the same period, number of Covid CCU and HDU beds had increased to 4,200 from 387, out of which 1,200 CCU and HDU beds were earmarked for paediatric patients. For Covid-affected neonatal cases, 350 SNCU beds have been earmarked,” said Chandrima Bhattacharya, MoS finance during the budget session in the state assembly.

The state has already got approval for six new medical colleges which will give an additional 600 MBBS seats. Other upcoming projects include six more trauma care units and a centre of excellence for mental health under Calcutta National Medical College.

“The Budget of the department has substantially risen over the years to over Rs 18,081 crore in 2021-2022 from Rs 3,584 crore in 2010-11,” said Bhattacharya.

She spoke on universalization of Swasthya Sathi where more than 2.2 crore families been enrolled as on December 31, 2021. “Since inception, around 24.9 lakh beneficiaries have availed of treatment under this flagship scheme amounting to Rs 3,212.7 crore,” the minister said.