Union Budget 2025: Strengthening Healthcare and Pharma Sectors!
The Union Budget 2025 unveils transformative measures for the Healthcare and Pharma sectors, focusing on infrastructure, education, and affordability.
The Union Budget 2025 unveils transformative measures for the Healthcare and Pharma sectors, focusing on infrastructure, education, and affordability.
Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure and Access
A significant initiative is the establishment of Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals, with 200 centres set to open in 2025-26, enhancing cancer treatment accessibility. The government has increased medical education capacity by adding 1.1 lakh UG and PG seats over the past decade, a 130 per cent rise. An additional 10,000 seats will be introduced next year, with a target of 75,000 seats in the next five years. Furthermore, the Bharatnet project will ensure broadband connectivity for all government primary health centres in rural areas, enhancing telemedicine services. Importantly, gig workers on online platforms will now be covered under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana, expanding healthcare coverage.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
To make treatments more affordable, 36 life-saving drugs, including those for cancer and rare diseases, are now fully exempt from Basic Customs Duty (BCD). Additionally, six life-saving medicines will attract a reduced 5 per cent customs duty. Pharmaceutical companies can also import 37 new medicines duty-free and implement 13 new patient assistance programs. The end-use period for imported inputs has been extended from six months to one year, offering industries more flexibility in planning imports.
Continued Nutritional Support
The Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 program will continue, providing enhanced nutritional support to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, with updated cost norms to ensure adequate nutrition.
Boost to Medical Tourism and AI in Education
The government aims to promote Medical Tourism through the Heal in India initiative, partnering with the private sector and simplifying visa processes. Furthermore, a Rs 500 crore Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence will be established to advance education and research in medical technologies.
Disclaimer: The article is for informational purposes only and not investment advice.
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