"The Union Budget 2026-27 builds on to the government’s focus on strengthening India’s healthcare system and adopts a broad based and people centric approach. This year the focus has been clearly on improving affordability, expanding workforce, enhancing infrastructure and building emerging care needs.

The announcement to add 1 lakh Allied Healthcare Professionals over the next five years by upgrading existing and establishing new institutions will help in addressing critical gaps in diagnostics, peri-operative care, mental and behavioural health, and rehabilitation. With government targeting to train 1.5 lakh caregivers will go a long way in creating a comprehensive geriatric and allied care system and is timely given India’s increasing elderly population. This futuristic measure will help in easing the lives of our senior citizens and help create necessary infrastructure and workforce to assist them in leading healthy lives.

Hon’ble FM’s proposal to support states in establishing regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector will give a huge boost to India’s medical tourism industry and strengthen our potential to deliver quality services at scale. These hubs will integrate all medical services with diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation, education and research under one hub.

The exemption of Basic Customs Duty on 17 drugs and medicines used in cancer treatment alongside the extension of import duty exemptions to drugs, medicines and Food for Special Medical Purposes for seven additional rare diseases is one of the most impactful measures. This will provide much needed financial relief to patients and their families and reduce high out of pocket expenses for long term and lifesaving treatment.

These initiatives and critical announcements will help lay a strong foundation to improve access, affordability, build and skilled workforce. Strengthening trauma care infrastructure by establishing Emergency and Trauma Care Centres across district hospitals and increasing existing capacities is a welcome move however, it would have been more encouraging for further infrastructure development by providing simplified access to long-term financing in smaller towns and rural areas beyond the major urban areas. It will also be exciting to see how the healthcare workforce skilling programs integrate digital healthcare modalities for enhanced access to affordable and quality healthcare services.

Overall, the budget has signaled a balanced approach addressing immediate healthcare needs and at the same time investing in building capacity for the future.”