Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday allocated Rs 600 crore for nutritional support to tuberculosis (TB) patients in India.

In his budget speech for the fiscal 2018-19, Jaitley said: "A sum of Rs 600 crore has been allocated for the nutritional support of the TB patients."

"Rs 500 will be provided to each of the TB patients in the country undergoing treatment," said Jaitley. A total of 24 new government medical colleges have also been announced as part of the new initiative for health by the government.