The Union Government’s flagship health insurance programme Ayushman Bharat has seen a 12.28% growth in budget allocation at Rs 7,200 crore.

While the allocation for Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) to Rs 7,200 crore in the current budget up by Rs 788 crore, the Finance Minister allocated Rs 646 crore has been for the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).

The government placed a demand of Rs 2,980 crore for the Department of Health Research against the revised estimates for 2022-23 at Rs 2775 crore.

However, it is below the 2022-23 budget estimates of Rs 3,200 Crore, data released by the Union Finance Ministry revealed.

Allocation for medical and public health has been kept at Rs 2769.04 Crore against the revised estimates of Rs 2632.65 Crore for 2022-23.

For the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Union Finance Minister has asked for a grant of Rs 5,300.34 under capital expenditure.

For capital outlay in the northeastern states, the government has allocated Rs 50.03 crores against the revised estimates for 2022-23 at Rs 50 Crores.

However, the demand for grants for capital outlay on family welfare was Rs 4.21 crore against the revised estimates for 2022-23 at Rs 8.58 Crore.

However, the budget failed to lift the market sentiments, with the BSE healthcare sector index registering a fall of 71.44 points and closing at 22,420.19, which was 0.32% less than the previous day’s close.