Budget 2025: Demand for more allocation in the budget for the healthcare sector arose, these issues were placed before the Finance Minister

Healthcare industry body NATHEALTH has urged the government to address systemic gaps such as acute shortage of medical specialists, rising cost of cancer treatment and inadequate hospital infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population in the upcoming Union Budget. In its pre-budget recommendations, NATHEALTH has sought raising the budgetary allocation for the healthcare sector to over 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to address the growing burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, which is compounded by long-term challenges.

Work on these issues

“The upcoming Union Budget provides an unprecedented opportunity to address systemic deficiencies such as acute shortage of medical specialists, rising cost of cancer care and inadequate hospital infrastructure to meet the needs of a growing population,” NATAHLTH Chairman Abhay Soi said in a statement. “Expanding hospital capacity, viable reimbursement structures, reducing treatment costs, advancing medical education will not only address current challenges but also secure India’s position as a global healthcare leader. These efforts will ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all,” Soi, Chairman and Managing Director of Max Healthcare Institute Ltd, added.

reduce customs duty

He said India’s healthcare sector is at a crucial crossroads, presenting both complex challenges and transformational opportunities. NATAHLTH said that to reduce the cost of cancer treatment, there is a need to remove customs duty on ‘oncology’ radiation devices like LINACS and reduce GST to 5 per cent to expand cancer treatment capacity in underprivileged areas. The health body also suggested the government to allocate the proceeds from healthcare cess and the proposed 35 per cent GST on tobacco and sugar products to strengthen public health programmes.