Manoj Jha Slams Government’s Health Budget for Ignoring Rural Areas and Poor Families

Anjali SinghMarch 18, 2025

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Manoj Jha, a member of the Rajya Sabha from the RJD (Rashtriya Janata Dal), sharply criticized the government’s health budget during Day 5 of the Parliament Budget Session. Jha argued that the budget does little to address the healthcare needs of India’s rural population, especially the poor families who face the brunt of escalating medical costs. According to Jha, the lack of investment in rural health services and the unavailability of essential medicines in public hospitals are pushing more people into poverty.

He pointed out the failure of the government’s initiatives to provide adequate health coverage to the marginalized communities, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed the vulnerabilities of the existing healthcare system. Jha’s speech urged the government to take more significant steps towards universal healthcare and address the widening inequality in healthcare access.

The article would delve into the specifics of Jha’s speech, including his proposals for increased funding for rural healthcare centers, subsidized medicine programs, and the introduction of universal health insurance. The debate on whether India should adopt a single-payer health system or continue with the current private-public mix would be discussed, alongside the challenges of implementing such reforms.