Dr. Anand K., Managing Director & CEO, Agilus Diagnostics Ltd said, “The Union Budget’s proposal to establish regional medical hubs is a forward-looking step towards building an integrated, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem. By co-locating AYUSH systems with advanced diagnostics and post-treatment rehabilitation, these hubs will strengthen the continuum of care—enabling early detection, holistic treatment and structured recovery. The emphasis on evidence-based diagnostics alongside traditional systems will not only improve patient outcomes but also ease the growing burden on tertiary care hospitals. Importantly, these hubs will act as significant employment engines, creating opportunities across clinical, diagnostic, research, wellness and allied health services, and supporting the growth of a future-ready healthcare workforce. I thank Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her vision in prioritising integrated healthcare and long-term system strengthening in this year’s Budget.”

Dr Jothi Neeraja, Founder and Managing Director of People Tree Hospitals and Maarga Mind Care said, “The Union Budget 2026 takes a constructive step in recognizing that healthcare capacity is not just about beds and buildings, but about depth of care, and it is encouraging to see mental health receive structural attention through the proposed NIMHANS 2.0. India’s mental health burden remains significant and inadequately addressed, and expanding advanced, specialised institutions into newer geographies — particularly the North-East, where addiction-related disorders are a growing concern and access to quality mental healthcare remains limited — is both necessary and timely as it will help decentralize expertise, training, and research. The real opportunity now lies in integrating such centres with district-level systems, digital counselling networks, and community screening so that early intervention becomes the norm rather than the exception. The parallel push to develop regional healthcare hubs for medical travel is also timely. India already has strong clinical capability and cost competitiveness; building integrated hubs that combine diagnostics, rehabilitation, and research can move the conversation from episodic treatment to holistic recovery journeys. If implemented with quality standards and continuity-of-care frameworks, these hubs can serve both international patients and domestic populations while generating skilled employment across clinical and caregiving roles. Together, these measures indicate a shift toward a more comprehensive and future-ready health ecosystem.”