The Fineprint: How Nirmala Sitharaman's 'Get Well' Budget Achieved Doubled Healthcare Spending FOLLOW US ON: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s budget has vastly increased spending for healthcare in the next financial year, but a closer look at the budget document shows that some of it has been achieved by clubbing the outlay for health ministry with that of schemes from other ministries. In light of the pandemic that put immense pressure on the healthcare system, all eyes were on the Union Budget 2021 with hopes for a bigger allocation for the Health Ministry. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday allocated a budget of Rs 2,23,846 crore in budget estimate of 2021-22, as against the 2020-2021 budget estimate of Rs 94,452 crore — a whopping overall increase of 137 per cent. It included Rs 35,000 crore for immunisation with Covid-19 vaccines.