The Indian Medical Association is the largest national organisation of doctors and they like the rest of us will be waiting to see what the Finance Minister has up his sleeve for the health sector. Perennially neglected for long, the health sector will hope that they're finally given a shot in the arm. Talking to TheHealthSite.com, Dr Ajay Gambhir of the IMA told us: 'I had written to the ministry that 3% of GDP should be allotted to NRHM and maternal and child health. But according to the feedback I have received, this number might be a shade lower than what we want. It also seems that they might invest in the private sector as well.'
We also asked him about whether government will be allotting funds for public health (maternal and child health) this year, to which he said, ' Funds were allotted last year, but they have not been utilised completely. And since a new budget allocation is based on the amount of money used in the previous allotment, this amount will be seen as surplus. Therefore I doubt it. But the government is looking at increasing the presence of NGOs like AASHA centers, empowering a CDC and CBHI (Central Bureau of health investigation) and will invest in technology and information. In my view these aspects should be there in the budget, but that will be seen tomorrow.'
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