Pre-Budget Meeting: Health and Education Focus
Health and education experts met with Union Finance Minister to discuss several pressing issues ahead of the budget announcement.
Cancer Care Equipment
- Customs Duty Reduction: Experts emphasized the importance of reducing customs duty on imported radiation machines like linear accelerators, as they are crucial for cancer care and not available domestically.
- Expansion of Cancer Care: Discussions included expanding cancer care services to regional areas, though medical education was not discussed.
National Education Policy (NEP), 2020
- Implementation: Experts urged the government to expedite NEP 2020 implementation, focusing on vocational education and teacher training, especially in Anganwadis.
- Technology in Education: Leveraging technology, artificial intelligence, and digital education to increase the gross enrollment ratio and raise education allocations was discussed.
Health and Research Initiatives
- Health Expenditure: Increasing health spending and research on non-communicable diseases was emphasized by attendees from various departments.