Union Budget 2025-26: Healthcare Initiatives
The Union Budget 2025-26 has made significant strides in positioning India as a leader in global healthcare and innovation. Key initiatives focus on enhancing medical infrastructure, educational opportunities, and global collaboration.
Healthcare Allocation and Infrastructure
- Budget Allocation: ₹90,958 crore dedicated to healthcare.
- Medical Seats Expansion:
- 75,000 additional medical seats over the next five years.
- 10,000 seats to be added in FY26 alone.
- Daycare Cancer Centres: Investment in 200 centres in district hospitals for better accessibility to cancer treatment.
Global Healthcare Initiatives
- 'Heal in India' and 'Heal by India' initiatives promote India as a global healthcare destination by:
- Streamlining visa processes.
- Enhancing hospital infrastructure.
- Fostering public-private partnerships.
- Training and deploying Indian healthcare professionals abroad to address global shortfalls.
Non-Communicable Diseases and Cost Reduction
- Acknowledgement of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
- Customs duty exemption on 36 life-saving drugs, making treatments more affordable.
- Introduction of 13 new patient assistance programs for better access to medications.
Innovation and Technology in Healthcare
- Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health:
- National Centres of Excellence for innovation in diagnostics, treatment, and research.
- Private and public hospitals' role in advancing healthcare technology, exemplified by Apollo Hospitals' Proton Therapy for cancer care.
National Growth and Development
The Budget highlights healthcare as a pillar of national growth, evolving from basic care to providing world-class treatment. The synergy of 'Heal in India', 'Heal by India', and innovation-driven care is setting new global benchmarks.