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• Budget affects our daily life in many ways.
• An increase in the health budget helps make government hospitals, primary health centers and rural health services more efficient.
• As the budget increases, more diseases are covered and the chances of getting free or affordable treatment increases.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is presenting the new budget of our country for the year 2026 today. Whenever a country’s budget is presented, people tend to focus more on taxes, inflation and salaries. However however you know? A country’s budget directly affects many things in our lives, from your diet to your health. The central government’s budget also determines how the country’s hospitals will run, how accessible treatment will be, whether drugs will be affordable or expensive, and how much financial relief the common man will get during illness. That is why we should keep in mind that this budget is to the health of you and your loved ones. So let’s know in detail how budgeting is to our health.

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Health Budget and Government Hospitals

Funding given to the Ministry of Health in the general budget determines whether the number of doctors in government hospitals will increase, whether new equipment will be introduced, and whether health services will reach rural areas. An increase in the health budget strengthens primary health centres, district hospitals and medical colleges, thereby providing better treatment to common citizens at affordable prices. Budget cuts have a direct impact on the quality and availability of treatment.

Ayushman Bharat and Health Insurance Scheme

It is also clear from the new budget whether the scope of schemes like Ayushman Bharat will be increased or not. Under this scheme, free medical facilities and treatment are provided to lakhs of poor and middle class families. A higher budget allocation for this scheme will cover more diseases and open the doors of treatment in private hospitals, thereby reducing the burden on the pocket of the general public.

Cost of medicines and treatment

The budget also decides the amount of tax and GST to be levied on medicines, medical devices and health technology. Reducing this tax can reduce the cost of medicines and treatments. Meanwhile, encouraging domestic pharmaceutical and medical device industries is likely to provide affordable and quality treatment in the country.

Nutrition, clean water and sanitation

Our health is not only about hospitals but also depends on our daily life. In the budget, budgetary provisions for nutrition programmes, mid-day meal, anganwadis, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Jal Jeevan Abhiyan are fixed for the health of children, women and the elderly. The budget takes important decisions to reduce and prevent malnutrition, dirty water and poor sanitation, which pose health risks.

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Mental health and lifestyle diseases

Currently, problems like stress, depression, diabetes and heart disease are increasing rapidly. The budget determines whether to increase funding for mental health services, counselling, digital health platforms and prevention programs. Increasing this fund can help solve the problem. Mental illness is increasing day by day and from this one can know how much attention is being paid to it in the budget.

Medical Education and Health Personnel

The budget allocates funds for the establishment of new medical colleges, nursing institutes and training programmes. This helps in bridging the shortage of doctors and health workers. Having trained doctors in the country will make access to treatment easier and help solve the health problems of the people.