Experts declared in advance of the Union Budget that increased GDP allotment for healthcare and advancements in digital health infrastructure are essential.
The presentation of the Union Budget 2024 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled for July 23.
“Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson Indian Cancer Society, stated that there is an urgent need to advance digital health infrastructure, especially in tier II and III cities and rural areas, to enhance health coverage and support existing facilities.”
Additionally, Govil advocated for strengthening cancer care reforms by giving financing for immunotherapy and personalized treatment first priority.
This will enable a greater number of patients to receive the medicines, she pointed out.
Despite the fact that public healthcare spending in India is currently relatively modest, accounting for about 1.6% to 1.8% of GDP, experts emphasized the need for increased funding.
“I hope this budget will meet in good measure the long-standing demand for a higher percentage of GDP allocation to healthcare,” stated Dr. BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman of HealthCare Global Enterprises.
He pointed out that the government has implemented numerous policies over the years to lower healthcare costs and increase access for the underprivileged.
But programs like Ayushman Bharat, according to Dr. Ajaikumar, “are unwaveringly focused on subsidised treatment; the quality aspect is yet largely ignored.”
In order to actually bring about change in the health sector, he also advocated for a “effective universal health care model.”
In order to prevent cervical cancer, the government promoted vaccination for girls between the ages of 9 and 14 in the interim budget that was released in February.
Dr. Ajaikumar advocated for vaccine costs to be reduced in order to prevent cervical cancer.
Dr. Sameer Bhati, a medical specialist, emphasized the importance of expanding India’s capacity for producing medical equipment.
“A lot of medical equipment, including CT scans, is imported. “Manufacturing these in India would be preferable,” Bhati stated.
Improving digital health, according to him, can have a significant impact on improving village health services.
