In a recent meeting convened by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, discussions were centered around the ambitious plan to double the expenditure on public health. The proposal was met with anticipation, as it implied a potential improvement in the state’s healthcare infrastructure. However, a closer inspection of the state’s budgets over the past three years paints a concerning picture.
Despite the Chief Minister’s stated commitment to enhancing public health services, the budget allocations for this critical sector have experienced a notable decline. According to the analysis of the state’s financial records, the allocation for public health has seen a significant decrease, plummeting from 5.09% of the total budget in the 2021-22 fiscal year to a meager 4.01% in the current financial year
This downward trend in health budget allocations is raising significant concerns, particularly in light of recent events. Government hospitals across various cities, including Nanded, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and even in Shinde’s hometown, Thane, have been marred by reports of patient deaths. The simultaneous decrease in funding and the surge in patients seeking treatment at government facilities have ignited criticism against the state government.
The meeting, where Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar were present, underscored the urgent need for measures to enhance the public health system. However, the existing challenges, including the declining budget allocations, have added to the complexities faced by the state’s healthcare sector.
Presentation
“In 2021-22, the state budget size was ₹4,53,546.83 crore. Of this, ₹18,802.80 crore was allocated for the public health department and ₹4,265.61 crore was allocated for the medical education department, which put together constituted 5.09% of the budget. Out of a budget of ₹5,47,449.98 crore in the 2023-24 financial year, ₹17,386.39 crore was given to the public health department and ₹4,553.84 crore was allocated for the medical education department. Put together, the percentage earmarked for public health stood at 4.01,” the presentation said.
On the other hand, there is a rise in patients at the government hospitals. “In 2021-22, a total of 1,66,66,626 patients took treatment in the outpatient department (OPD) and 19,51,308 patients were admitted to hospitals. The figure for OPD jumped to 2,62,28,044 in 2022-23 while the number of patients admitted went up to 25,05,519. In the current financial year, 1,14,67,977 visited OPD in the first five months (up to August-end) and the number of admissions was 10,20,699,” the presentation stated.
“We have pointed out that the number of patients taking treatment in government hospitals has been increasing in the last few years. However, the allocation for public health has been going down. We have also asked for more funds to the tune of ₹2,278 crore,” an official from the public health department said (reports).