The Andhra Pradesh state Budget for 2024-25, released on Monday, November 11, has allotted Rs 18,421 crore for the health sector. This a considerable increase from the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP)’s Budget Estimate of Rs 15,882 crore (a 16% rise) for the fiscal year 2023-24. The Revised Estimate (2023-24) for health, however, was Rs 14,926 crore.

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav in his budget speech stated that the increase was introduced keeping in mind the aim of ‘Health for All.’

“In view of the increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease, the government planned to start STEMI Program by providing necessary equipment and manpower training. A comprehensive cancer screening program has been started across the state. Additionally, under the school health program, Anganwadi children and school students up to 18 years will be screened for 4Ds – defects at birth, deficiency, developmental delays and disabilities,” he said.

Keshav also spoke of the TDP-led government’s flagship programs such as Dr NTR Vaiduya Seva Trust, and family welfare programs under National Health Mission, which he assured would be implemented comprehensively.

The increased allocation in health budget comes two days after the Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV), a NGO focused on public health, appealed to the dtate government to consider increasing the budget on health to 6% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and allocate funds for health infrastructure, personnel, and medicines.

In a letter to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supremo and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, PAV general secretary T Kameswara Rao and president MV Ramanaiah said that the NGO conducted medical camps in rural, urban and tribal regions of the state and learnt that the health status of people was “abysmal”.