IndiGlobal Media Bureau
Budget for the healthcare sector offers no incentives for healthcare infrastructure, reduction in customs duty and other incentives for the industry which are important for smooth functioning.
HEALTH is a STATE Subject in India and spending on healthcare by states matters the most when examining healthcare spendings according to the Economic Survey 2020-21 which was presented in the Parliament ahead of the Budget presentation.
A National Tele Mental Health Programme and digitization of Healthcare Records is welcomed by all due to the increasing burden of mental health challenges, changing healthcare delivery systems and telehealth consultations becoming the need of the hour.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna will be implemented by Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. This will help to create a robust database of Government Hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies and other centres. This will pave the way for Universal Healthcare Systems.
D V S Soma Raju, Executive Director, SLG Hospital:
The pandemic is not over yet and existing healthcare machinery has stood up to the challenge and done its best. Levying ‘Health and Education Cess’ for the Year 2022-23 by the government does not specify where this additional money will be utilized. Government must directly invest or encourage more private investments in the healthcare sector to ensure semi-urban and rural sectors receive quality healthcare facilities.
Meena Ganesh, Managing Director and Chairperson, Portea Medical:
No clarity on healthcare allocation in infrastructure, management of chronic diseases and elderly healthcare. The out-of-hospital expense are also very high and there is no mention in the form of allocations. No clarity on GST related matters of the healthcare industry. No allocation for hygiene or vaccination methods in the future. We must not assume that pandemic is over as we would want to. Budgetary allocations for critical emergency areas were required but are not there.
The positive aspect is the helpline for Mental Health and the National Digital Health Mission which has become the need of the hour as the people shift to digital platforms.
Runam Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, HealthCube
There will be 23 tele-mental health centres of excellence providing mental health counselling which is a very welcome and appropriate step. An open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem consisting of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity and universal access to health facilities will be rolled out. The spending on public health infrastructure is not encouraging and there was hope that it would be increased.
Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, Association of Indian Medical Device Industry:
Indian Medical Device Industry has again been cold-shouldered in the Union Budget 2022. The industry expected reforms and conducive measures to boost the manufacturing of medical devices but that has not happened. The exemptions on customs duty are not there and there are no strategic measures to boost the domestic manufacturing industry.
Nilesh Aggarwal, CEO, IJCP Group, founder Medtalks and eMedinexus:
Focus on e-learning and exploring digital mediums for continued education is a welcome step. Support of the Government on digital upskilling will go a long way in the medical world as it will help professionals and also empower the public. However, the bigger focus on Health due to the Covid 19 pandemic in terms of investments are not there and we had hoped that they too would be addressed.
Dr. Dilip Kamat, Senior Medical Administrator, Amrita Hospital, Kochi:
Expectations were for an increase in the health budget due to the impact of the pandemic but the percentage of allocation has not changed. Focus remains on aligning various other sectors to achieve public health goals. The development of public health infrastructure and skilled healthcare professionals is the need of the hour which has not found its way in the budget.