Budget 2019: Ayushman Bharat, FSSAI See A Whooping 150 Per Cent Increase In Allocation

More than doubling the 2018-19 allocation to Ayushman Bharat, union budget has put the estimate for Ayushman Bharat for 2019-20 at Rs 6,400 crore, reports Livemint.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare this year witnessed around 18.67 per cent increase in the total outlay with Rs 62,659.12 crore allocation compared to Rs 52,800 crore (Budget Estimates) in 2018-19. The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PM-JAY) has got a whopping 154.87 per cent increase.

AB-PM-JAY is touted as world’s largest health insurance scheme as it seeks to cover about 500 million poor and vulnerable people with a benefit cover upto Rs 5 lakh. It provides hospitalisation benefits involving over 1400 medical interventions and conditions whose premium is paid by the government. The beneficiaries would be able to avail cashless and free treatment from the empanelled government or private hospitals of their choice.

Allocations have also been made for strengthening health infrastructure in the country.

“As part of strengthening of the healthcare institutions, which form an integral pillar of health systems network in the country, the provision for Infrastructure Maintenance has been increased by 11.42 per cent, whereas for Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), an additional 4.58 per cent has been allocated in Budget Estimates 2019-20 over the previous financial year," said Harsh Vardhan, union health minister.

The government has also shown its focus on food safety. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has seen an increase of 154.24 per cent in budgetary allocation since last year for strengthening of food testing system in the country including provision of Mobile Food Testing Labs.

Additionally, a basic excise duty has been imposed on tobacco and tobacco products to deter their consumption.