Union Budget 2017-2018 plays safe

The much-awaited Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had some convincing propositions and schemes for taxpayers and small businesses. Combining the rail and union budget for the first time, it made some bold and controversial suggestions like the bearer bond for electoral funding and painted a bright future for India with huge investments in the public sector. However, a deeper look revealed its true nature as financially neutral, rural investment-heavy, with little focus in important assets — education and healthcare.

The FM claimed this budget was for the poor, which he proved by dedicating majority of the infrastructure, skill-based, and agriculture-based schemes towards the rural sector. However, the budget still failed in providing a bigger picture for the healthcare sector. Only healthcare-related schemes that conveniently fit into the government’s plans for the empowerment of rural India were touched upon, while the diagnostic industry remained largely irrelevant.

Peering hard to find the positive aspects of the budget, we understand that the diagnostic side of healthcare will benefit from the new rules aimed at reducing the cost of medical devices. Lower technology cost will make it possible for laboratories to offer quality diagnostic tests at a more affordable rate. The proposed amendment to the drug and cosmetic policy will hopefully ensure reasonable prices of essential drugs.

An interesting proposition was the investment of Rs 4,814 crore to achieve 100 per cent village electrification which will result in better healthcare facilities and services in rural areas.

The launch of DigiGaon, a government run telemedicine service facilitating the improvement of national healthcare goals, is another ambitious plan. We will see an evolution in the e-health space in terms of technology. Through ease of access to information and health services, people from remote locations can also have access to quality healthcare.

The plan of converting 1.5 lakh health sub-centres into Health Wellness Centres is a smart move to improve health standards. The budget’s only noteworthy contribution in the education segment is the proposed framework for medical education in India. Along with an increase in the number of post graduation medical seats per annum (25,000 new seats), the budget confirmed the plan to set up two new AIIMS campuses. Investing in improving access to medical education may lead to a long-term impact on the number of medical professionals. 

Senior citizens only benefit from Aadhaar-based smart cards reflecting their health details, making it easier to execute appropriate healthcare.

Ameera Shah, MD & Promoter at Metropolis Healthcare Ltd