Union Health Budget 2024: 3 Central Government Hospitals get minimal funding increase

New Delhi: The central government-run hospitals in the national capital received a slight increase in budget allocation in the recent union budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, compared to the previous year.  

On Tuesday, the minister announced the budget allocation of three central government hospitals including All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML), and Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC).

Among the three government hospitals, AIIMS Delhi secured a notable increase in its budget, marking a rise of approximately 8.7% from the previous year to Rs 4,523 crore. An increase of Rs 388.33 crore as compared to last year’s budget. The revised budget for the institute last year was Rs 4,278 crore. 

RML Hospital emerged as a significant beneficiary with a budgetary hike of 23%, totalling Rs 1,610 crore for the fiscal year 2024-2025. The revised budget for the hospital in 2023-24 was Rs 1,304.10. 

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Lady Hardinge Medical College and its associated Sucheta Kriplani Hospital witnessed an increase in the budget allocation for this year which is Rs 750 crore compared to last year. For the fiscal year 2023-24, the revised budget was Rs 625 crore.

Meanwhile, the Safdarjung Hospital and its associated medical college, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College saw a reduction in the budget allocation after it received a total of Rs 1,874 crore this year which is a 3% decrease compared to last year. For the fiscal year 2023-2024, the hospital was allocated Rs 1933.07 crore.

Speaking to The Indian Express, AIIMS official spokesperson Dr Reema Dada said, "The institute has got what it had asked for. The increase in budget is meant for technology upgradation, increased footfall of patients… and mainly for the salary of doctors and staff where almost Rs 2,500 crore goes. These are our main expenditures."

"The Budget is meant for salaries, and general expenses such as oil and transport expenditures, consumables, and office expenditures; machinery equipment like MRI and ultrasound machines, research PCR, real-time PCR, sonicators, and ultrasonicators; and major equipment for surgeries like surgery tables, high-end microscopes, SET facility, and various robotics. “For all the high-end equipment, the Budget we have got is good for meeting our demands,” said Dr Dada.

Medical Superintendent Dr Ajay Shukla of RML Hospital said, "The allocated budget will be spent on constructing a medical college building among other steps. Around 600 beds and 150 ICU beds will also be ensured for the same. We will also invest in strengthening the oncology department at RML and purchasing radiotherapy and Linac machines."  

In the 2024-2025 Union Budget, the Union Health Ministry has been allocated Rs 90,958.63 crore, an increase of 12.96 per cent over the Rs 80,517.62 crore 2023-24 revised estimates. 

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