New Delhi: Ahead of the Union Budget 2024-25, which is to be presented on 23rd July 2024 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, experts say higher GDP allocation for healthcare and advances in digital health infrastructure is imperative.
“There is an urgent need to advance digital health infrastructure, particularly in tier II and III cities and rural areas, to enhance health coverage and support existing facilities,” said Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson of the Indian Cancer Society.
Govil also called for boosting reforms in cancer care by prioritising funding for personalised medicine and immunotherapy, a move that could significantly improve the outlook for cancer patients.
This, she noted, will make the therapies more accessible to a large number of patients.
While India’s current public healthcare spending remains low, at just 1.6 to 1.8 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the experts stressed the need for higher allocation.
“A higher percentage of GDP allocation to healthcare is a long pending demand; I hope it will be met in good measure in this budget,” said Dr BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises.
He noted that over the years, the government had taken many measures to make healthcare affordable and accessible for the deprived sections of society, such as implementing the Ayushman Bharat scheme and establishing more primary healthcare centres.
“However, schemes like Ayushman Bharat are unflinchingly focused on subsidised treatment; the quality aspect is largely ignored,” Dr Ajaikumar said.
He also called for an “effective universal health care model” to bring about a real transformation in the health sector, a necessity for comprehensive healthcare for all.
In the interim budget, in February, the government encouraged vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for the prevention of cervical cancer.
Dr Ajaikumar urged for bringing down the cost of vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer.
Health expert Dr Sameer Bhati stressed the need to provide more facilities for manufacturing medical equipment in India.
“Medical equipment like CT Scan to a large extent, are imported. It will be better if these are manufactured in India,” Bhati said.
He said that boosting digital health can play a significant role in better health services in villages.
Under the newly elected Modi 3.0 government, Nirmala Sitharaman will deliver her 7th Union Budget, setting a record for any Finance Minister. Although inflation has severely hurt the average person’s finances, it remains to be seen to what extent the common man will benefit from this budget.
- IANS
