Interim Budget 204: Healthcare Sector Demands Expansion Of Ayushman Bharat To Middle Class Family

Healthcare sector also expects the government to establish the separate healthcare infrastructure fund.

New Delhi: The healthcare sector has put forth its demands before the finance ministry that includes accessibility of healthcare services in rural india, establishing a separate healthcare infrastructure fund, strengthening the healthcare value chain.

Jasdeep Singh, Group CEO, CARE Hospitals Group said that the industry is hoping the government will consider the healthcare industry as a focus in this year's union budget.

"The government must prioritize enhancing infrastructure, especially in non-metro areas, ensuring that individuals can readily access healthcare when required. This initiative will not only benefit local communities but also contribute to the overall improvement of healthcare services on a global scale," Singh said.

Ankur Gigras, CEO and Co-founder, HexaHealth said that there should be emphasis on innovative medical technologies like artificial intelligence, which may improve the quality of life for patients during operations, speed up insurance claims for required procedures, and raise the efficacy of healthcare delivery overall.

Shrey Srivastav, GP, Sharda Hospital demanded the expansion of Ayushman Bharat or similar scheme to middle class family and increase in tax deductions on preventive healthcare checkups from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per family. 

"The budget should prioritize healthcare infrastructure across city tiers and heavily invest in skill development for a trained talent supply and service standardization," Sudheer VS, CEO, Maxivision Super Specialty Eye Hospitals said.

"With an alarming 80-85% dependence on imports, resulting in a massive import bill of over ₹ 63,200 crore, it's crucial for the government to catalyze domestic manufacturing. This not only reduces the financial strain but also propels India towards self-reliance in medical technology," Chandra Ganjoo, Group CEO, Trivitron Healthcare said.