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transferred to M/s Bharat Forge Ltd and M/s UFLOW automation. They have supplied 1.5 lakhs such
systems to Government hospitals across the country.
Anti-COVID Drug: An anti-COVID-19 therapeutic application of the drug 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-
DG) in collaboration with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Hyderabad was formulated. Based on results of
Phase-II and Phase-III clinical trials, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) granted permission
for Emergency Use of 2-DG as adjunct therapy in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients. The drug
comes in powder form in sachet, which is taken orally by dissolving it in water. DRDO has transferred
its patented process technology to 13 major Pharma industries.

TRENDS IN SOCIAL SECTOR EXPENDITURE

10.15 Government’s spending on social services increased significantly during the pandemic. In
2021-22 (BE), Centre and State governments earmarked an aggregate of ` 71.61 lakh crore for
spending on social service sector [Table 1]; an increase of 9.8 percent over 2020-21. Last year’s
(2020-21) revised expenditure has also gone up by ` 54,000 crore from the budgeted amount.
In 2021-22 (BE), funds to the sector increased to 8.6 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
(8.3 percent in 2020-21). During the last five years, social services accounted for about 25 percent
of the total Government expenditure (Centre and States taken together). In 2021-22 (BE), it was
26.6 percent.

10.16 Although, the pandemic has affected almost all social services, yet the health sector
was the worst hit. Expenditure on health sector increased from ` 2.73 lakh crore in 2019-20
(pre-COVID-19) to ` 4.72 lakh crore in 2021-22 (BE), an increase of nearly 73 percent. For the
education sector, the increase during same period was 20 percent.

10.17 In addition to the National Health Mission, Union Budget 2021-22, announced Ayushman
Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme, with an outlay of
about ` 64,180 crore in next five years to develop capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary
care Health Systems, strengthen existing national institutions, and create new institutions to
cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases. Besides, Union Budget 2021-22
provided an outlay of Rs 35,000 crore towards COVID-19 vaccination.

10.18 The National Health Policy, 2017 envisaged to increase government’s health expenditure to
2.5 percent of GDP by 2025. In keeping with this objective, Central and State Governments’ budgeted
expenditure on health sector reached 2.1 percent of GDP in 2021-22, against 1.3 percent in 2019-20.