Kolkata – The Finance Minister unveiled the economic vision of the Modi Government. While the budget had several key announcements, the measured pace with which the government aims to convert them into action reflect the current economic realities. It is good to see prioritisation of issues to be tackled by the government.
While presenting his third Union Budget, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, announced nine pillars of his Budget — Agriculture and farmers’ welfare, rural sector, social sector including healthcare, education, skills and job creation, infrastructure, financial sector reforms, ease of doing business, fiscal discipline, tax reforms to reduce compliance burden.
“It should be noted that healthcare is one of the pillars in the Budget as the rise of a new India has to be built on the foundation of a healthy India. Countries all across the world have kept healthcare at the core of their economic development,” said Dr Alok Roy.
Also read: Budget Highlights
This budget provisions to enhance both financial and physical access of healthcare for the country. Government’s plan to make significant changes in the FDI policy in health insurance will help increase financial accessibility of population. Going forward, this will help the patients.
Free drugs and cheaper diagnostics for all, sounds potentially promising for patients. We will have to see more details on this, Dr Alok Roy said.
A new health protection scheme for health cover upto 1 lakh per family is also mulled. Senior citizens will get additional healthcare cover of around Rs 30,000 under the new scheme. On the other hand government is also planning to strengthen PM Jan Aushadhi Yojana and open 3,000 generic drug stores.
“Making quality medicines available at affordable prices has been Akey challenge. We will reinvigorate the supply of genericdrugs. 3,000 Stores under Prime Minister’s Jan Aushadhi Yojana will be opened during2016-17,” Jaitley said.
The Budget’s primarily focus on stimulating growth is doubtlessly commendable. “Government to provide health insurance of up to Rs. 1 lakh per family is a good step,” said Dr Alok Roy.
“2.2 lakh renal patients added every year in India. National Dialysis Service Programme with funds through PPP mode to provide dialysis at all district hospitals. Basic dialysis equipment gets some relief, “Jaitley said.
Commenting on National Dialysis Service Programme, Dr Roy said that the aim of providing medical facilities like national dialysis service programme under Public-private partnership (PPP) model is also laudable.
A proposal of around Rs. 9,000 crore for Swachch Bharat Abhiyan will lead to clean and healthy India, noted Dr Roy.
Overall, the third budget of the Government appears to be a more comprehensive exercise to kick start the Indian economy once again when global economy is in a serious crisis. It lays down the path on which Modi government wants to traverse over the medium to long term. It has not been tempted to play to the galleries and announce “big bang” reforms. This measured approach should bring in a longer lasting rejuvenation of the economy, said Dr Roy.
Overall, I feel it is a balanced budget as this Budget seems to be a good continuation towards the economic development agenda of the government. Some good initiatives were announced in the budget across capacity and infrastructure building. It was a rural infrastructure budget and good that the government is trying to uplift the rural India. Superspecialties and global healthcare and healthcare for all are some of the important points to be looked at in the future, said Dr Alok Roy.
(Medica Hospitals Pvt Ltd is one of the fastest growing chain of hospitals in eastern India with footprints in Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha and Assam. Medica Superspecialty Hospital is a Kolkata-based 500-bed hospital housing eight superspecialties and other support services. Views expressed by Dr Alok Roy, chairman, Medica Hospitals)
