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The union budget this time has a lot to offer to the medical sector, but did our FM really cover all the aspects that was needed to address the issues of public health and uplift the healthcare sector in general? Here is what some doctors and experts have to say about the budget.
'The Union Budget 2014 has been a disappointment for the healthcare sector. We were looking forward to certain reforms and provision for the sector on which the finance minister did not deliver anything concrete. A few positive steps taken by the Central Government include declaration of four more AIIMS with immediate effect, 12 more government medical colleges and two new national institutes for tuberculosis. An increase in the count of national medical institutes would ensure more number of qualified doctors and dentists serving the country. The government envisions of establishing AIIMS in every state in the long run is also a good idea. Another positive announcement has been the 'Health For All' approach that would provide free diagnostic and medication services to the needy,' said Dr Rajeev Boudhankar, Vice President, Kohinoor Hospital.
But the flipside is that like other union budget even the current one doesn't have enough provision for the National Rural Health Mission and National Urban Health Mission that have been the soul of India's healthcare system. 'Uncertainty looms over their future with government not announcing any new schemes either. Also, a 10-year tax holiday under section 80-IB for private healthcare providers was expected as it forms the backbone of India's health sector. 72 per cent of rural healthcare is carried out by private players and not gratifying them is a setback. Moreover, no decision on providing priority infrastructure status to healthcare industry that would have stimulate private investment in the, especially, for tier-II and tier-III cities,' said Dr Boudhankar.
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Also, there haven't been any major reforms announced for the healthcare sector, 'Market players in the health sector might not be too happy with the budget. But the other reforms like an initiative to introduce more number of AIIMS like hospitals in the country sound promising. However this approach can only solve the crisis sectorially as the national concern for healthcare cannot be addressed with this number, says Dr Amol Naikawadi, JMD, Indus Health Plus. Further commenting on the huge demand and supply gap he said that, 'Having 12 new medical colleges in the country is an optimum step but the government should have thought for a larger number. Promotion of local medical devices in the industry is needed to bring down the cost of healthcare and tax benefit offered in general is surely going to help the disposable income earners,' he said.
So does that mean we are heading to be a healthier and fitter country soon? Probably we still have time for that, 'We have again failed to make government realize that it is important to address the health issues. Various lifestyle conditions, non communicable, communicable disease taking toll on the common people does affect the nation's health as well. Because of this situation, employment generation too can get affected,' he said.
Though correcting public health by giving attention to communicable disease would have been a big step, but even steps taken to concentrate on a fast spreading disease like TB will actually help to nail a part of the public health crisis and promise better care to the public in general. 'The much desired and timely focus on quality diagnosis and treatment of TB is a welcome step. Also, the strong focus on infrastructure is very evident with proposed setting up of state drug laboratories and four new AIIMS in this fiscal year. The proposed 'Indian Customs Single Window Project' would benefit the industry by reducing time spent in interfacing with governmental agencies and also bring down the cost of doing business,' said Mr Varun Khanna, Managing Director- BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), India.
The budget also has something for the hospital industry to rejoice too. 'REIT's entry in the real estate space may indirectly ease the woes of hospital industry, and e-visas would be a hassle-free tool for medical value travel. While saying this, there have not been mentions of any SOPs for the healthcare industry, or under National health Assurance Mission. Government could also have promoted health insurance coverage for citizens by bringing it in the negative list for Service Tax. We still have to analyse if the healthcare spends suggested in this budget have achieved a desirable level of percentage of GDP. The healthcare industry would also have been overjoyed, if it was included in the list of Infrastructure sector, as it would have then availed several pushes designed in this budget,' said Ms. Zahabiya Khorakiwala, Managing Director, Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd.
But seems like not everyone is complaining about the pitfalls, Mr Shubham Bardhan, CEO, Sunrise Hospital, Mumbai said, 'This budget has been positive and directional for the healthcare space. The multiple AIIMs is a good indicator for progress in this sector. Governments interest in improving the infrastructure, PPP and FDI indicates some opportunities can be expected in the same line for healthcare. This has been very motivating for individual employees. Allocating budgets for new Innovative Venture for SME's is a unique and novel initiative.'
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