We appreciate the government's decision to extend healthcare benefits to ASHA and Anganwadi workers under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. This expansion will extend healthcare services not only to frontline healthcare workers but also to the underprivileged communities.

The initiative to establish additional medical colleges using existing infrastructure will address the shortage of healthcare professionals, promising better healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Furthermore, vaccinating girls aged 9-14 years against cervical cancer is commendable, prioritizing prevention over prevention to improve public health.

However, we are disappointed with the absence of GST reductions on essential medicines and tax concessions on generic pharmaceuticals in the budget. Affordable healthcare is vital, and these measures reduce the burden on patients while encouraging innovation.

We urge the government to rethink these aspects to ensure equitable access to essential medicines.

Overall, these budget initiatives underline the government's commitment to healthcare. We look forward to collaborating to ensure their successful implementation to benefit all citizens."

• Dr. Gayatri Kamineni, COO, Kamineni Hospitals