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India Boosts Health Budget 10%, Trains 2.5L Professionals, Pushes Ayush Globally

The government has announced a 10% increase in the Health Ministry's budget, with initiatives focused on expanding the allied health workforce by training 2.5 lakh professionals. Key measures include a full customs duty exemption on 17 new cancer drugs and establishing new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to meet global demand. The budget also aims to upgrade the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar to strengthen Ayush's international position. This comes as the government addresses the growing challenge of Non-Communicable Diseases, which now account for 57% of deaths in India.

Key Points: India Expands Health Workforce & Global Ayush Push in New Budget

  • 10% budget hike for Health Ministry
  • Customs duty exemption on 17 cancer drugs
  • Training 2.5 lakh health professionals & caregivers
  • Establishing new Ayurveda institutes & upgrading WHO centre
  • Tackling rise of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
2 min read

Govt targets expanded health allied workforce, global push for Ayush

Union Budget hikes health spending, funds 2.5 lakh allied professionals, exempts cancer drugs, and aims to elevate Ayush on the global stage.

"The rising government expenditure demonstrates strong commitment toward universal healthcare and medical research innovation - Official Statement"

New Delhi, March 30

The Union Budget lays the framework to expand the allied health workforce, strengthen infrastructure and elevate Ayush on the global stage, the government said on Monday.

The recent budget raised allocations for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare by 10 per cent from 2025-26 to over Rs. 1,06,530 crore, and initiatives span global AYUSH integration, NIMHANS-2 establishment in North India etc, an official statement said.

The allocation for the ministry also marks a 194 per cent rise over 12 years, while The Department of Health Research has been allocated Rs 4,821.21 crore. This rising government expenditure demonstrates strong commitment toward universal healthcare and medical research innovation, the statement noted.

The government highlighted 100 per cent customs duty exemption on 17 new cancer drugs adding that the budget targets training 1 lakh allied health professionals and 1.5 lakh caregivers over the next five years.

Further, Budget proposed establishing three new All India Institutes of Ayurveda to meet growing global demand and upgrade the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre in Jamnagar.

The initiatives for AYUSH sector aim to strengthen education, clinical training, and research capacity for both domestic healthcare delivery and international engagement, while raising regulatory standards and certification ecosystems to position Indian AYUSH products in global markets that demand scientifically validated solutions.

Funding for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri‑Jan Arogya Yojana has been rising, with the scheme providing up to Rs. 5 lakh annually per eligible household and covering over 12 crore vulnerable families.

"While the nation has achieved significant progress in tackling maternal and child health and increasing life expectancy from 49.7 years in 1973 to 70.3 years in 2023, it now faces a rising health challenge: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancers," the statement noted.

NCDs accounted for 57 per cent of deaths in the country in 2021-23. To counter this, the government runs the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases to systematically identify high-risk individuals and link them to appropriate care and treatment.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good to see the budget increase, but the real test is implementation. Will these new professionals be deployed in rural areas where the need is greatest, or will they all cluster in cities? Also, hoping the customs duty exemption on cancer drugs actually translates to lower prices for patients.
A
Arjun K
Pushing Ayush globally is a fantastic idea. We have so much traditional knowledge in Ayurveda and Yoga. If it gets proper scientific validation and global standards, it can be a huge soft power export for India. Jamnagar centre upgrade is key.
S
Sarah B
The numbers look impressive on paper – 194% rise in 12 years is no joke. But as a taxpayer, I want to see where this money is going. More transparency on how these crores are spent at the district hospital level would build more trust. The intent is good though.
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Meera T
Ayushman Bharat covering 12 crore families is a lifeline for the poor. My own aunt got her surgery covered. The expansion of the health workforce should support this scheme further. But we must also focus on preventive care through diet and exercise to fight NCDs. 🏥
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Vikram M
NIMHANS-2 in North India is a much-needed move. Mental health services are severely lacking, especially outside metros. Training caregivers is also crucial for our aging population. A balanced approach between modern medicine and traditional systems could be our strength.

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