Budget 2012: Prevention finds a better lure

NEW DELHI: Preventive healthcare scored a high in this year’s Budget — be it pushing people to go for an early diagnosis or protecting children against known killers like pneumonia by ensuring vaccine security.
Now, undergoing a preventive health check-up will help a consumer save tax up to Rs 5, 000. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee also pushed for setting up of the new Integrated Vaccine Unit near Chengalpattu (Chennai) at an estimated cost of Rs 594 crore.
The unit will produce six important vaccines like Hepatitis B, pentavalent vaccine, Japanese Encephalitis, measles, HIB and anti-rabies for the Universal Immunization Programme that targets 2.7 crore infants and 3 crore pregnant women every year. The FM explained that the move would not only enhance vaccine security but also insulate vaccine prices from arbitrary escalation.
Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) that affects 71 million Indians and the leading cause of mental retardation, received particular mention.
The minister proposed a concessional basic customs duty of 2.5% along with reduced excise duty of 6% on iodine. Every year 13 million children are born in India unprotected from brain damage caused by iodine deficiency. Plans are afoot to bring down prevalence of IDD below 5% across India by 2017.
Probiotics — a relatively new concept where good bacteria available in the form of fermented milk helps maintain the natural balance of microflora in our intestines — too got a surprise push. The basic customs duty on probiotics will be reduced from 10% to 5%.
Overall, fund allocation for the health sector recorded a paltry 14% increase in 2012-13 to Rs 30, 477 from Rs 26,760 crore.
The National Rural Health Mission, touted as UPA’s flagship programme, saw a hike in its allocation from Rs 18, 115 crore to Rs 20, 822 crore. Allocation for department of health and family welfare was increased from Rs 23, 560 crore to Rs 27, 127 crore.
The department of AYUSH (Indian traditional systems of medicine) and human resources saw an overall increase of 10%, while the allocation for India’s National Aids Control Organization (NACO) remained stagnant at Rs 1, 700 crore. Basic customs duty on soya protein concentrate and isolated soya protein reduced from 30% or 15%, respectively, to 10%. Excise duty on all processed soya food products reduced to 6% to combat protein deficiency among women and children.
Budget 2012
Budget News 2012