This year’s budget is going to be special as it will test the government’s fiscal prudence towards key sectors like health, in times when the economy is struggling to come out of the pandemic. Even in the best of times, the country’s healthcare expenditure towards healthcare has been dismal and expecting the government to apply a magic wand in distress is asking for too much. This coupled with additional spending required for covid vaccination will leave little freedom for the government to spend towards long-term healthcare improvements.
M.K. Padma Kumar is involved in developing strategies and managing operations for the IPE Global Group.
He has over 25 years of experience in the development sector, working in civil society organisations and international development agencies like DANIDA and DFID. As the Head of State Partnerships at the DFID India, he was responsible for developing partnerships, programme design, management and strategic oversight of all programmes implemented in Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha. He has managed various development programmes. His expertise lies in driving operational, financial and programmatic transformations. Before DFID, he was associated with Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), Help Age and World Wildlife Fund.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Management with specialisation in Human Resource Management and Finance. He is extensively trained in Project Cycle Management, Grant Management, Performance Management, Leadership Skills and Change Management.
