So the budget for 2013 has been announced and if are you wondering what Mr. P. Chidambaram has in store for all of us when it comes to health, then here's your answer, simplified. 

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has proposed a hike in India's health budget by over 28 percent in 2013-14 to Rs.37,330 crore (Rs.373 million), with special focus on medical education, training and research.

He announced that the new National Health Mission which involves rural mission as well as urban mission will get Rs 21,239 crore ( Rs 212 million). This makes it a hike of 24.3 per cent over the revised estimates.

When it comes to health, Chidambaram said the focus of the government was "health for all".

In rural mission the goals will be to provide better health facilities to people living in remote places, the proposed urban mission plans to provide health amenities to those in shanties in cities and towns.

He further proposes to provide Rs 4,727 crore (Rs 42 billion) for medical education, training and research.

The national programme for the healthcare of the elderly was being implemented in 100 select districts of 21 states. Besides, eight regional geriatric centers are being funded for the development of dedicated geriatric departments. For this programme, Rs 150 crore (1.5 billion) will be allotted.

The government would also mainstream the department of AYUSH - Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Sidddha and Homoeopathy - through the national health mission. For this programme Rs 1,069 crore, will be allotted. 

Besides, six All India Institute of Medical Sciences-like institutions had admitted their first batch of students in the academic session that commenced September 2012, for this programme Rs.1,650 crore will be allotted. 

*Images courtesy Reuters pictures

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