Over the past twenty years, Gujarat has made remarkable strides in enhancing its public health infrastructure, driven by a concerted effort from the state government to bring high-quality medical services to all regions. This commitment is evident in the 2023-24 state budget, where healthcare has been allocated a significant Rs 15,182 crore, a notable increase from the previous year’s Rs 12,240 crore.
The state’s Finance Minister, Kanubhai Desai, made a significant announcement in the latest budget, proposing to augment the insurance coverage under the revised Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana-Mukhyamantri Amrutam (PMJAY-MA) scheme, increasing it from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Reflecting on the state’s healthcare growth, there has been a 41% rise in primary health centres and a 37% increase in community health centres over two decades, from 2001-02 to 2021-22. Presently, Gujarat boasts 319 Community Health Centres (CHCs), 1,463 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), and 6,575 sub-centres. Furthermore, the number of medical colleges has escalated impressively from nine in 2001 to over 30 in 2023.
In a global healthcare milestone, Gujarat inaugurated the world’s first WHO-Global Centre for Traditional Medicine in 2022, establishing the state as a pivotal hub in global healthcare. As per the World Health Organisation, this centre is envisioned as a knowledge epicentre, merging ancient practices with contemporary science for the betterment of human and planetary health.
The government has also allocated Rs 643 crore to enhance diagnostic facilities in state-run hospitals. Additionally, the “Srestha Gujarat” initiative is receiving a substantial Rs 350 crore, supported by a Rs 4,200 crore contribution from the World Bank. A significant focus is on women’s health, with Rs 324 crore allocated to women-specific health schemes. Urban health services are bolstered with an additional Rs 250 crore, and Rs 71 crore is earmarked for new healthcare facility constructions.
In the medical services domain, Rs 270 crore is dedicated to the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. This central scheme is aimed at addressing health infrastructure gaps and establishing robust health surveillance and research, particularly in managing pandemics and health crises in both urban and rural areas.
Furthermore, medical education and research are receiving a substantial investment of Rs 3,997 crore, which includes plans for new medical and nursing colleges.
Given these extensive efforts and initiatives, experts opine that Gujarat is on a transformational path towards a healthier and more prosperous future for its citizens.
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