“As healthcare demand shifts beyond metros, Union Budget 2026 must focus on enabling hospital-led growth through affordable capital access, faster clearances, and realistic reimbursement structures. Delays in payments under government schemes restrict reinvestment and slow capacity creation. Targeted incentives for infrastructure development, workforce expansion, and digital health adoption can strengthen execution, improve efficiency, and ease cost pressures for both providers and patients.

Mid-size and secondary hospitals play a critical role in India’s healthcare delivery, yet policy support often remains skewed towards tertiary care. Union Budget 2026 should address this gap through higher healthcare allocation, GST rationalisation on medical inputs, and predictable reimbursement timelines under PMJAY. Clear frameworks for affordable financing, land access, and approvals will improve operational viability, support measured capacity expansion, and help contain rising patient costs amid persistent medical inflation.”