The Lok Sabha has taken up discussion on demands for grants related to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for 2024-25. Initiating the discussion in the House, Tariq Anwar of Congress stressed on availability of medical facilities to the common people. He alleged that sufficient budgetary allocation was not made in this years’ budget to improve basic health facilities in the rural areas. He also pointed towards higher prices of medicines alleging that people are unable to afford medicines.

Dr Sanjay Jaiswal of BJP said, the government is paying special attention towards the education and health sector. He said, in 2014, there were only 387 medical colleges in the country which now increased to 706. Mr Jaiswal said that there were only around 51 thousand medical seats in 2014 which have now increased to more than one lakh. He said the government started Ayushman Bharat Yojana to provide health facilities to the people. He said, more than three crore people have taken benefit of this scheme so far. Mr Jaiswal said, in this years’ budget three cancer medicines have been exempted from customs duty, which will benefit 27 lakh cancer patients in the country. Lalji Verma of Samajwadi Party said, health budget was decreased as compared to financial year 2023-24. He said, the number of medical colleges in the country increased but they lack basic facilities. Dr Sharmila Sarkar of TMC also raised the issue of insufficient funding towards the health sector. She stressed on the need for dedicated funding for mental health service. The discussion is underway.