Union Budget 2021 : Advantage Healthcare

Dr. Wasim Ghori is the Medical Director & Consultant Diabetologist, Heart & Diabetes Clinics, Mumbai.

As an expert in the field of Healthcare, Dr. Wasim Ghori, shares the key takeaways from the Union Budget 2021 presented by Honourable Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament.  With his vast experience, he is able to see the advantages in the building & strengthening of the healthcare infrastructure and benefits to the public accessing government healthcare facilities and services.  It will also lead to massive employment generation, there contributing to the country's economic growth.

Healthcare has received a huge fillip in India's Union Budget 2021 - it has recognized the importance of health in India's growth story! 

This year the focus of the world was squarely centered on the healthcare industry. Moreover, India’s efforts in managing the Covid-19 Pandemic has been exemplary - the country’s frontline workers and scientists have been working tirelessly to save lives and develop indigenous vaccines. 

The Union Budget 2021 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was all about prioritizing key issues like creating more jobs, ramping up healthcare spending and boosting economic growth.

Here are the top key takeaways on healthcare industry: 

Government of India’s holistic approach to healthcare with the proposed Rs.2,23,846 crores budget outlay for health and well-being for 2021-22, compared to Rs.94,452 crores in the current fiscal, registering a staggering increase of 137% over the previous outlay.

• The government’s increased allocation for the healthcare sector is a welcome move as it will provide access to medical care for all in the country, fuel job creation and boost economic momentum. 
• The increased healthcare spending indicates the realization of how a healthcare crisis like the current Covid-19 pandemic can quickly spiral into an economic crisis for the nation. 
• The increase in budget outlay for health and welfare by 137% as compared to the previous year will boost the public health and pharmaceuticals sector too.

Increased spending on COVID-19 measures and vaccines. 

• The government’s commitment for the COVID-19 vaccination program will accelerate the vaccination across the population. 
• The allocation of Rs.35,000 crores for COVID-19 vaccines and more if required will bring the much-needed stability to the public healthcare setup. 
• Increased focus on spending on COVID-19 measures and vaccines makes India stand tall as a model for the world. 

Prime Minister’s Aatmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana with a total outlay of Rs.64,180 crore over a period of next 6 years will boost the healthcare ecosystem. 

• The announcement of PM’s Aatmanirbhar Swasthya Bharat Yojana is the most overwhelming addition in the aftermath of the pandemic and shows that healthcare capacity building is now a key priority for the government. 
• The centrally funded scheme is the first step to boost rural health and keep the country ready for emergency handling of pandemic situations. 
• This in addition to the National Health Mission (NHM), will support and strengthen the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities even in the last miles of our nation. 
• The investment will aid in developing capacities of healthcare systems, develop institutions for detection and cure of new and emerging diseases. 
• It will also help in establishing critical care blocks in hospitals which is essential from our learning from the recent pandemic. 

Substantially increased allocation on Social Determinants of Healthcare with a special focus on Mission Poshan 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes for children. 

• The announcement of an all-inclusive approach through the launch of Mission Poshan 2.0 to improve nutritional outcomes for children across 112 aspirational districts is a praiseworthy move. 
• Along with this, the increased focus on cleanliness, solid and waste water treatment, source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution through Urban Swachh Bharat Mission  & universal drinking water supply through Urban Jal Jeevan Mission will subsequently bolster public health. 
• This increased allocation would not only improve the health outcomes, but also go a long way in the achievement of 5 out of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (Zero Hunger, Good Health & Well-being, Clean Water & Sanitation, Sustainable cities & Communities & Climate Action). 

Increasing access to Pneumococcal Vaccine.

• The pneumococcal vaccine is effective against potentially fatal pneumococcal infections like pneumonia, septicemia and meningitis and the decision to include it in the budget is a welcome decision. 
• The Pneumococcal vaccines, a Made in India product, is presently limited to just five states.
• However, it will now be rolled out across the country and will avert over 50,000 deaths annually in the country. 

Strengthening existing National Institutions and creating New Institutions. 

4 National Institutes of Biology to be established and will provide a thrust for the improvement of the healthcare sector in India, which is commendable. These include: 

• Strengthening of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and make India future ready for any further health crises
• Setting up of a National Institution for One Health 
• Bio-Safety Level III Laboratories, and 
• Regional National Institutes for Virology 

Setting up additional Rural &Urban Health and Wellness Centers along with Integrated Public Health Labs. 

• Incorporation of 17,788 rural and 11,024 urban health and wellness centers is a supportive move for better patient care and will pave way for more Public-Private Partnerships. 
• The decision to set up integrated public health labs in all districts and 3382 block public health units in 11 states along with critical care hospital blocks in 602 districts and 12 central institutions is creditable and rightly addresses the need to reach the last mile population. However, more might be required in a country where the patient-doctor ratio is abysmally poor. 
• Expansion of the Integrated Health Information Portal to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs is a step ahead towards digitalization and is a positive move. 

In Conclusion: 

Overall, the proposals made in the Budget 21-22, would make quality healthcare accessible and affordable, besides standardizing healthcare infrastructure across the country. Given the host of announcements made by the Finance Minister, it shows the commitment by the government to address not only the healthcare’s immediate and urgent needs but, fundamentally develop a program to strengthen Indian healthcare system. 

It is appreciable that the government has been very thoughtful regarding healthcare thereby focusing on curative and preventive health and well-being. The enhanced allocation along with the plan to look at healthcare holistically, including nutrition, sanitation, clean drinking water and pollution control, certainly augurs well for the country. 

Lastly, Union Budget 2021 will set the precedent for future budgets which will use this year's allocation as a baseline for future initiatives. 

I hope the government partners with private healthcare to hasten this process and strengthen health services across the country. On-ground implementation of the announcements made are now eagerly awaited.

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Sufian Ahmed's Success in Indian Civil Services Examination by Dr. M. Wasim Ghori

Sufian Ahmed's Success in Indian Civil Services Examination by Dr. M. Wasim Ghori

Sufian Ahmed

The Covid-19 pandemic delayed the results of the coveted Indian Civil Services Exam 2019 conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). Nonetheless, it has thrown up several stories of grit, motivation and inspiration with candidates from diverse backgrounds making it to India's elite administrative service. 

One such candidate is Sufiyan Ahmed whose success has been hailed as an inspiring story for youngsters in Nimbahera, Chittorgarh District, Rajasthan. He is an architecture graduate from Aligarh Muslim University with a Master’s degree from IIT Kanpur and hails from a well-educated family with two elder academically bright sisters and an equally brilliant elder brother too.  Father Imtiyaz Ahmed - a Retired School Principal of repute and Mother Shama Nasreen - a Retired School Teacher have always supported and encouraged him to do better in life.  Elder brother, Bilal Arshad, a QA/QC Pharmaceutical professional himself backed Sufiyan too all along his journey.

From zero knowledge and background in Civil Services to All India Rank 303, it has been one hell of a roller coaster ride for Sufiyan Ahmed.  Grandson of an Imam, it was at Aligarh that he first learnt that there was a career in Civil Services. “I used to participate in group discussions revolving between Power and Money and which of the two has the greatest impact on the communities.  Thus, I began nursing my dream of joining Civil Services,” said Sufiyan on phone from his hometown.  He joined Zakat Foundation of India-funded coaching and later the Residential Coaching Academy (RCA) at Jamia Millia Islamia and cracked the Civil Services Exam in third attempt.

 

Sufian Ahmed with his family

He first sat for the Civil Services Exams in 2017 and cleared both Prelims and Mains but couldn’t make it to the final list.  Surprisingly, he didn’t qualify even the prelims in 2018 and felt dejected. “I was devastated after two successive failures, but I analysed my mistakes and told myself that I can bounce back. Sometimes it doesn’t happen alone. You need someone to chip in with you in tougher times and for this no better than my uncle (mother’s brother) Dr. Wasim Ghori, a UK Alumni and Consultant Diabetologist in Mumbai who motivated me to attempt again,” said Sufiyan.

“Since Sufiyan was frustrated at the failure in second attempt in 2018, I invited him over to Punjab Bhavan, New Delhi with the sole purpose to re-instil self-belief and confidence so that he could start his exam preparations with a fresh perspective and a positive frame of mind.  Furthermore, I took him to an iftar invitation at the Parliament House Annexe so that he could meet and interact with Bureaucrats, Consul Generals and Ambassadors from different countries. The intention was to silently remind him of his vision for which he had opted for Civil Services in the first place,” recalled Dr. Ghori whose father Abdul Salim Ghori (Sufiyan’s grandfather) had a great influence in charting out the family’s course. 

“The biggest contribution of my Uncle (Dr. Ghori) in my life is that he motivated me to aim high in life.  For him being satisfied with small things when bigger things can be achieved is an injustice to one’s own talents and gifts,” said Sufiyan. “I am sure Sufiyan will attempt again and improve his rank next year.  He is a role model and the Roger Barrister of his hometown, Nimbahera.  He will certainly motivate and inspire many more students to take India's prestigious civil services examination in the years to come.” said Dr. Ghori.

Sufiyan also reflected that being a full-time resident at the RCA for two years has helped him meet students from diverse backgrounds and interacting with them has shaped his personality.  “I come from a small town in Rajasthan’s Chittorgarh district and understand the problems rural India face. But living with students from Manipur, Kerala and Kashmir, I understood the diversity of the problems and challenges the country faces and how issues are unique to a region,” he said.

Sufiyan added that the RCA is different from other coaching centres as it has an entrance examination and only those who are serious about the examination are admitted here.  “At a private coaching institute, anybody who can pay the fee is in your class and not everybody has the required dedication. I graduated from IIT – Kanpur after studying design and was the only person from my class that did not sit for placements and gave up on a job. This is how serious I was about serving the nation,” said Sufiyan.

On exam preparations, Sufiyan says, “The number of hours you have to study per day depends on the goal of your studies. If you decide a time of ten days to complete a book, then you will have to study daily according to it. I cannot study ten or twelve hours continuously. So, I had a schedule of five-five or six-six hours for myself”.

Speaking about his achievements, Sufiyan said “when the chips are down, talk to someone who will lend their ears to you. Keep your ego out and discuss with peers and seniors. Share knowledge and be inquisitive to gain knowledge and the more you do, the more it comes back to you. Surround yourself with people who are optimistic and are ready to have a healthy discussion with you”.

Sufian Ahmed - Third from left with Dr. Wasim Ghori, his Uncle on his left side

 

Sufiyan adds that the entire town and family are ecstatic with these developments and understandably so. His father Imtiyaz Ahmed says “I want my son to work with utmost honesty and integrity in whichever services he opts for”. The same sentiments were echoed by mother Shama Nasreen who is delighted at the success of her younger son and understandably so. 

Grand-father Abdul Salim Ghori had encouraging words to add too “Sufiyan has become a source of inspiration to many youngsters; I am sure that he will discharge his duties towards Nation-building with utmost dedication, commitment and sincerity and serve the under-privileged sections of our great country India to the best of his abilities”.

Grand-mother Zainab Ghori – an accomplished Mumbai-based Retired School Administrator extended her blessings to grandson Sufiyan as he looks forward to serving the nation in the coming years. She has urged students to have faith in hard work and to put consistent efforts for achieving their goals.

I give Sufiyan my blessings and wish to see him as a top ranking bureaucrat in the Government of India and a career full of success and achievements and that he may some day bring Glory to India and make us all proud.

Contributed by Dr. Wasim Ghori

 

Dr. M. Wasim Ghori, Medical Director & Consultant Diabetologist, Heart & Diabetes Clinics, Mumbai discusses the need to follow certain protocols that can help overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and not to stigmatise an individual, locality or a community.