|
The Parliamentary Panel on Health and Family Welfare has recommended to the Ministry of Ayush to create a dedicated Ayush Infrastructure Fund with multi-year capital option for institutional upgradation, modern drug testing and quality control infrastructure, among others.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, in its 174th report on Demands for Grants 2026-27 of the Ministry of Ayush, while appreciating the Ministry's efforts to expand infrastructure in the sector through scheme-based interventions, observed that sustained sectoral growth of Ayush services requires a more predictable and strategically designed separate capital investment framework at the Ministry level.
"The preponderance of aspiration to position Ayush as a global leader in traditional medicine would require a budgetary architecture that moves beyond a predominantly revenue-driven framework, as durable growth depends upon sustained asset creation in institutions, laboratories, testing facilities and digital infrastructure," said he Panel headed by Member of Parliament Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav.
"The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry progressively enhance identifiable capital expenditure so that it constitutes about 5-7 per cent of the total Budget Estimates over the next three financial years," it added.
It further recommended for creation of a dedicated Ayush Infrastructure Fund with multi years capital option for institutional upgradation, modern drug testing and quality control infrastructure, national research and clinical networks, and digital integration including Ayush Grid 2.0.
Additionally, future Demands for Grants should consider annexing a consolidated statement of capital formation across direct budget heads, the National Ayush Mission, Research Councils, and Autonomous Bodies to reflect level of capital intensity and support structured long term investment planning, added the Panel.
Considering the expanding mandate of the Ministry and its long-term aspirations for enhanced global positioning and global leadership, the Committee recommends that sustained expansion of Ayush services, research capacity and global engagement would require enhanced and consistent budgetary allocation in its share within the national health envelope.
At least 10% of the total health sector budget should be earmarked progressively for the Ministry of Ayush for "effective pluralistic healthcare model," it added.
Noting the vision of the Ministry under Ayush@2047, it recommended that the Ministry of Finance should consider undertaking a phased and calibrated enhancement of the budgetary allocation for the Ministry of Ayush so as to progressively strengthen its fiscal position within the overall Union expenditure framework.
"The Committee is of the considered opinion that a structured medium-term fiscal roadmap, aligned with measurable expansion in institutional capacity, research, education and service delivery, would be essential to ensure that the Ministry’s budgetary positioning adequately reflects its evolving policy mandate and long-term developmental objectives," further added the Panel.
The Ministry should undertake enhanced pre-budget consultations and adopt a strategic financial planning approach to improve predictability in allocation flows and minimise the extent of mid-year rationalisation so that projects are implemented as per originally conceived vision.
|