Union Budget 2017: Drugs, medical devices to get cheaper
1.5 lakh health sub centres will be converted to Health Wellness Centres, says Arun Jaitley.
New Delhi: Union health minister J.P. Nadda called it an “inclusive” Budget, and said that the increased health spending will help “attend tertiary care, human resources for health and medical eduation and to strengthen National Health Mission,” he said.
The minister also said that the government will amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to ensure availability of medicines at reasonable prices and also formulate new norms for the medical devices sector to bring in investments. “The government is committed to take necessary steps for structural transformation of the regulatory framework of medical education and practice in India,” Mr Nadda said.
Besides this, the finance minister also announced action plans to eliminate Kala Azar and Filariasis by 2017, leprosy by 2018, measles by 2020 and tuberculosis (TB) by 2025. He added that 1.5 lakh health sub centres will be converted to Health Wellness Centres. “For senior citizens, Aadhaar cards will be issued,” Mr Jailey added.