Union Health Minister JP Nadda highlighted significant progress in India’s healthcare sector during a Lok Sabha discussion on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s 2024-25 budget. Since 2014, the number of medical colleges in India has surged from 387 to 731. This expansion has also led to a substantial increase in medical education opportunities, with undergraduate seats rising from 51,348 to 112,000, a 118% increase, and postgraduate seats growing by 133%.
Nadda emphasized that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India’s health sector has seen major improvements, including the largest health scheme globally and a 164% increase in the health budget. The budget has grown from Rs 33,278 crore ($4 billion) in 2013-14 to Rs 90,958 crore ($11 billion) today.
Additionally, Nadda pointed out that before the NDA government, there was only one AIIMS in the country. Since then, six AIIMS were established during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee administration, and the Modi government has approved 22 new AIIMS, with 18 already operational and four under construction.
Under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, about 120 million families—over 550 million people—have received free treatment coverage up to Rs 5 lakh ($6,000). This initiative, which includes free medicines and health services, has also reduced out-of-pocket expenses from 62% to 47.1%.
