Budget 2024 Wish List: More Doctors, Better Rural Care - Investing in Medical Education and Infrastructure

Budget 2024 Expectations: India's next budget, scheduled to be presented on February 1, 2024, generates significant expectations in the healthcare sector. While it is an interim budget due to the upcoming general elections, the healthcare industry still has high hopes for positive changes. It is important to note that these are only expectations, and actual budget allocations and measures remain to be seen.

Here are some key expectations:

Ravi Ramaswamy, Chair, Healthcare Working Group, IET Future Tech Panel, suggests the following;

1. Encourage shifting the burden of diagnostics to FLHWs by using technology solutions in line with ICMR and CDSCO guidelines and at the same time facilitate the collection, integration and leverage of health data while allowing rapid screening, diagnostics and delivery and at the same time increase FLHW earnings.
2. Facilitate adoption of very large annuity model based commercial pilots for technologies that leverage last mile delivery of primary health care (especially for NCDs) through policy, direct funding allocation and incentives.
3. Encourage private sector participation in technology-based healthcare delivery through development of digital infrastructure under annuity models
4. An outcome-based incentive model for healthcare research on high performance products with direct demonstrable impact on primary healthcare delivery
5. Incentives for the development of personalized drug delivery models with a focus on NCDs
6. Drive the implementation and adoption of Health Stake. Bring policies in terms of consistency for standardization and interoperability to help facilitate portability of patient data.
7. Revised GST rates and reduced import tariffs for the diagnostic industry
8. Allocate resources to increase pandemic preparedness, including stockpiling essential medical supplies, strengthening testing and surveillance infrastructure, and investing in research and development for vaccines and treatments.
9. Invest in building and upgrading healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics and primary health centers, especially in underserved areas.
10. Promote the development and implementation of digital health solutions to improve healthcare delivery, telemedicine services and health data management.
11. Increase funding for medical education and training to address the shortage of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.
12. Emphasize preventive health care by allocating resources to public health programs, immunization campaigns, and awareness initiatives to reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
13. Allocate funds to improve healthcare services in rural areas including establishment of new healthcare facilities and deployment of mobile healthcare units. Case in point: management of chronic kidney diseases, autonomous mammograms for breast cancer screening and the like
14. Stimulate local manufacturing of medical devices through PLI schemes
15. Explore partnerships with the private sector to leverage their expertise and resources in expanding healthcare services.”

Healthcare costs and medical tourism

Yatharth Tyagi, Director, Yatharth Group of Hospitals said, “We expect 2.5% more healthcare expenditure of GDP to expand access and infrastructure. Backed by technology and innovation, schemes promoting medical tourism and digitization can position India as a healthcare hub for the world, creating jobs for our youth.”

Budgetary incentives for private players

Tyagi highlighted that progress on GST for affordable equipment and zero rates on essential services will further drive affordable treatment measures and inclusion in healthcare.

"Increased budgetary incentives for private players to strengthen healthcare in aspirational districts will make the slogan of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas' a reality," Tyagi said.

Public-Private Partnerships

Joseph Pasangha, Group COO, Sparsh Hospital said, “Strategic allocation of resources, along with tax benefits and incentives for both innovation and infrastructure development, will not only enhance the quality of patient care but also strengthen the entire healthcare ecosystem. To make healthcare more reasonably affordable, the sector needs relief. We expect clear and efficient procedures for the selection, implementation and monitoring of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).”

Rural health care

Barkha Amin, Trustee, Bhailal Amin General Hospital, Vadodara said, “While India continues to grow as a global healthcare destination, there is a significant vacuum in Gujarat and India's rural front when it comes to healthcare infrastructure. As an industry, we seek an allocation of 3% of GDP for the upliftment of the medical and healthcare ecosystem, especially among the rural counterparts."