Although the overall allocation for the health sector remained unchanged in the 2021-2022 Budget at 4% (₹11,908 crore) of the total Budget, a few proposals specific to Bengaluru had indicated that the State had made substantial investments in critical care.
Despite the economic despair created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus was on strengthening curative services, which according to experts is justified. However, a year on, many proposals have remained on paper.
One such instance is the budgetary proposal to set up two labs (one each in Bengaluru and Ballari) to detect hereditary metabolic disorders among neonates. State Health Commissioner D. Randeep said the file is pending with the Department of Commerce and Industries for release of district mineral funds for this project. “It will be pursued as an ongoing scheme this year,” he said.
