Budget 2023: FM announces 157 nursing colleges, aims to eliminate sickle cell anemia by 2047

Presenting the Union Budget 2023 in Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that 157 nursing colleges will be set up in the country and work to eradicate sickle cell anemia by 2047.

The government has allocated Rs 89,155 crore to the Minister of Health and Family Welfare. An allocation of Rs 86,175 crore has been made to the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Rs 2,980 crore to the Department of Health Research.

During his address, the Finance Minister said that more than 157 nursing colleges will be established at key locations along with 157 medical colleges established since 2014.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that a plan to eradicate sickle cell anemia by 2047 will be launched this year. He said the program would include “awareness creation, universal screening for 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in affected tribal areas” and counseling sessions through joint efforts of central ministries and state governments.

To promote collaborative research and innovation, facilities at selected ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) laboratories will be made available for research by public and private medical college faculty and private sector research and development teams, he said.

Apart from this, the new drug program will be carried out through centers of excellence to promote research and innovation in the pharmaceutical sector. “We will encourage industry to invest in research and development in specific priority areas,” the finance minister said.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said specialized multidisciplinary courses for medical devices will be supported in existing institutes to ensure availability of “skilled manpower for future medical technologies, high quality manufacturing and research”.

Budget 2023 is ‘Amrita Kal’s First Budget’ and a blueprint for India in 100. The seven priorities or ‘Sabtarishi’ listed in the budget are inclusive development, last mile, infrastructure and investment, unlocking potential, green growth, youth and financial sector.