The Union Budget for the year 2014-15 has been released and as per the reactions we have come across, not everyone likes the Finance Minister's plans for the country. While he has raised the excise duty on cigarettes, tobacco, gutka, pan masala and colas (making them dearer to its consumers) he has also taken a step towards empowering women, sensitizing the society towards their plight and ensuring their safety. But when it comes to the health care sector, has the Fin Min really satiated the industry stalwarts? Well, here is a comparison between their expectations and what really panned out.
What they wanted:
What they got:
Unfortunately the Finance Minsiter seems to have forgotten the healthcare sector. He not only ignored the need in India for a solid healthcare system, but has tried to do a half-hearted job of including the aspect into the budget.
According to Mr Amol Naikawadi, JMD, Indus Health Plus, 'Overall, the health market players may not be too happy since there isn't any major reform announced for the entire health industry. We were looking at promotion of local medical devises in the industry to bring the cost of healthcare industry down. But it seems like we have failed to make our government realise that it is important to address the health issues. Various lifestyle/ non communicable/ communicable disease are quickly taking toll on people and this is affecting the nation's health and productivity as well. Because of this situation, employment generation too may get affected.'
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