BUDGET SPECIAL
18 JULY 2019 [ ehealth.eletsonline.com ] The Largest Portal on Healthcare Innovations in Asia and the Middle East
What Healthcare Experts
Decoded from Union
Budget 2019-
innovation fund,” he said.
Gautam Khanna, CEO, P D
Hinduja Hospital & MRC, said,
“Although there have been no direct
mentions for the healthcare industry,
the proposed Rs 100 lakh crore
investment in infrastructure in the
next 5 years could pave way for a
boost in the healthcare segment.”
“The government’s objective to
move towards building a healthy
India with the continuity of the
Ayushman Bharat scheme and the
proposal to expand the Swachh Bharat
mission by means of sustainable
waste management and building of
more toilets thus aiming India to be
open defecation free by this year, is a
worthy objective,” he further stated.
“National Research Foundation for
higher research will help indigenous
research in pharmaceutical industry,
bio-medical industry, innovation in
indigenous treatments modalities,”
said Dr Rajeev Boudhankar-CEO,
Bhatia Hospital.
Amol Naikawadi, Joint ManagingU
nion Budget 2019-
aimed at creating new
India with major focus on
infrastructure, development and
technology. Though, there was no
major announcement pertaining
to healthcare sector, except
mentioning of creating healthy
society via Ayushman Bharat in the
budget present by Union Finance
Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in
the Parliament, it took into account
holistic approach to build empowered
and prosperous India.
The Government allocated
Rs 62,659.12 crore outlay for the
health sector including Rs 6,
crore earmarked for the Ayushman
Bharat, the highest in the last two
financial years.
A section of experts believes that
there is no clear cut mention of the
plan in the budget on how the funds
would be utilised to facilitate accessible,
affordable care under the gamechanger
scheme of Ayushman Bharat.
Dr H Sudarshan Ballal, President,
NATHEALTH, termed the budget
as comprehensive, wide-ranging and
balanced with many positives for the
economy.
“The government needs to revisit
unfinished agenda such as ‘Priority
Sector’ status to healthcare for smooth
credit flow, mandatory universal
health insurance, tax incentives
for capacity building, creation of
a dedicated infrastructure andDirector, Indus Health Plus, said, “The
government’s continuous focus on the
Ayushman Bharat scheme will further
help in providing extensive medical
care and reinforce the commitment to
universal healthcare for all citizens. In
addition, the announcement to boost
Artificial Intelligence will strengthen
the usage of technology in the field of
healthcare.”
Jitendra Haryan, CEO, Jaslok
Hospital and Research Centre, said,
“The union budget was less inclined
towards popularity and focussed
on reforms. It was evident from
the budget that the government is
systematically giving significant
importance to digitalisation and the
growth of infrastructure.”
“It’s a nice budget for startups
but it’s mostly incremental and
not revolutionary. Government is
determined to save startups from the
draconian angel tax and IT scrutiny
but has still stopped short of scrapping
the Angel Tax altogether,” said Pawan
Gupta, Co-Founder, Curofy.