Union Budget 2022: Sitharaman doles out a dose of dopamine

Photo for representational purpose

In what could cheer citizens, particularly amid the COVID pandemic, Finance Minister included mental health in the Union Budget 2022.

"The pandemic has accentuated mental health problems in people of all ages. To better the access to quality mental health counselling and care services, a National Tele Mental Health programme will be launched," she said.

The minister announced that 23 tele-mental health centres would be launched with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) as the nodal centre. The Indian Institute of Technology Bangalore will provide tech support for the mental health programme, she added.

As she began her speech on Tuesday, Sitharaman expressed "empathy for those who had to bear adverse health and economic effects of the pandemic."

However, a few healthcare industry experts rued that the Budget did not offer much on other essential service in the healthcare sector, including the crucial medical device industry.

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