Budget 2025: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will announce Budget 2025 on 1 February 2025. Amid the growing impact on climate change on human health, various health experts have highlighted the importance of priortising climate change and public health.
Currently, climate finance in health care remains woefully inadequate. A mere 0.5 percent of global climate finance reaches the health sector, leaving a massive gap between needs and resources, as highlighted in the United Nations Environment Programme’s Adaptation Gap Report 2023.
“To address this, a continuum of capital approach is critical recognizing that social investing spans a spectrum of financial instruments, from philanthropy and blended finance to impact investing. This continuum ranges from impact-only investments to those that blend social and environmental returns with financial gains,” Madhavika Bajoria, Executive Director, Health Impact, AVPN told Financial Express.com.
She said that beyond financial capital, it also integrates human capital (technical assistance, mentorship) and intellectual capital (research, knowledge sharing), facilitating the flow of these resources across various stages of an organization’s life cycle.
This integrated approach breaks down silos and promotes a collaborative model to maximize impact, addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and health care.
To strengthen the healthcare system against the impacts of climate change, a multi-pronged strategy is essential:
- Policy and regulatory frameworks: Governments must develop policies that incentivize investment in climate-resilient healthcare solutions.
- Investment priorities: Resources must be strategically allocated to areas with the highest climate-health impact, such as resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and climate-resilient health technologies.
- Collaboration: Synergistic efforts in research, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement are crucial for amplifying adaptation efforts.
- Metrics integration: Including healthcare metrics in climate funds and vice versa will support more holistic climate action planning.
“The climate crisis poses significant risks to health care in India. By prioritizing adaptation strategies and aligning financial resources, we can build a resilient healthcare system that safeguards the health and well-being of millions across the country,” she added.
Meanwhile, Shrirupa Sengupta, Director, Centre for Strategic Communications for Public Health at Swasti highlighted that the upcoming Indian health budget should prioritize investments that address the dual challenges of climate resilience and health communication.
“Protecting public health infrastructure against climate impacts is critical for economic stability and long-term sustainability, but this must go hand-in-hand with community-centric solutions. Empowering local populations to lead climate adaptation efforts ensures sustainable systems that address immediate and long-term health needs. Equally vital is investing in the well-being of healthcare workers, particularly those at the frontlines of climate change,” Sengupta told Financial Express.com.
According to her, robust support systems, targeted capacity building, and mental health resources are essential to equip these responders to safeguard community health effectively.
Finally, health communication strategies must evolve beyond traditional IEC approaches to actively combat the infodemic. “Simplifying complex health messages, utilizing trusted community voices, and leveraging local and digital platforms can ensure health information is accessible, relatable, and actionable. By prioritizing these areas, the health budget can drive resilience, equity, and trust in healthcare systems across the nation,” she added.
