Union Budget: Experts for boosting digital health infra, higher GDP allocation

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Higher GDP allocation for healthcare and advances in digital health infrastructure is imperative, said experts ahead of the Union Budget.

The Union Budget 2024 is slated to be presented on July 23 by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

"There is an urgent need to advance digital health infrastructure, particularly in tier II and III cities and rural areas, to enhance health coverage and support existing facilities,” said Jyotsna Govil, Chairperson Indian Cancer Society.

Govil also called for boosting reforms in cancer care by prioritising funding for personalised medicine and immunotherapy.

This, she noted, will make the therapies more accessible to a large number of patients.

While India’s current public healthcare spending remains low with just 1.6 to 1.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the experts stressed the need for higher allocation.

“A higher percentage of GDP allocation to healthcare is obviously a long pending demand, I hope it will be met in good measure in this budget,” said Dr. BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman, HealthCare Global Enterprises.

He noted that over the years, the government has taken many measures towards making healthcare affordable and accessible for the deprived sections of society.

“However, schemes like Ayushman Bharat are unflinchingly focused on subsidised treatment; the quality aspect is yet largely ignored,” Dr. Ajaikumar said.

He also called for an “effective universal health care model” that can bring out real transformation in the health sector.

In the interim budget, in February, the government had encouraged vaccination for girls in the age group of 9 to 14 years for prevention of cervical cancer.

Dr. Ajaikumar urged for bringing down the cost of vaccinations to prevent cervical cancer.

Health expert Dr. Sameer Bhati stressed the need to provide more facilities for manufacturing medical equipment in India.

“Medical equipment like CT Scan to a large extent, are imported. It will be better if these are manufactured in India,” Bhati said.

He said that boosting digital health can play a big role in better health services in villages.