IMA Goa hails Union Healthcare Budget for FY25-26 as a positive step toward reforms in public healthcare system

Goa Khabar : The Indian Medical Association’s Goa Unit has welcomed the Union Healthcare Budget for FY25-26, describing it as a significant step towards the much-needed reforms and a robust public healthcare system in the country.

In a media statement, IMA Goa President Dattaram Desai and former IMA Goa President Dr. Shekhar Salkar expressed pride in the Indian government’s allocation of Rs 99,858.56 crore for healthcare in FY25-26, which marks a 9.78 per cent increase from the previous year.

The key allocations in the budget include:

• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: ₹99,858.56 crore
• Department of Health & Family Welfare: ₹95,957.87 crore
• Department of Health Research: ₹3,900.69 crore
• Pharmaceutical Industry (PLI Scheme): ₹2,445 crore

Major Programs funded under the budget:

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY): ₹9,406 crore
• Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PMABHIM): ₹4,200 crore
• National Health Mission (NHM): ₹37,226.92 crore
• National Tele Mental Health Programme: ₹79.6 crore
• National Digital Health Mission: ₹340.11 crore
• Autonomous Bodies: ₹20,046.07 crore
• AIIMS, Delhi: ₹5,200 crore
• ICMR: ₹3,125.50 crore

Key Initiatives:

• 200 daycare cancer centres will be established in FY25-26, with district hospital-based centres planned over the next three years.
• 36 life-saving drugs will be added to the list of medicines fully exempted from basic customs duty.
• Introduction of the “Heal in India” programme to promote medical tourism and simplify visa procedures for international patients.
• Expansion of medical education with 10,000 additional seats in medical colleges and hospitals in the next year, targeting 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years.
• Vaccination for girls in the 9-14 year age group for the prevention of cervical cancer.
• Over the past decade, 1.1 lakh new medical seats have been added, reflecting a 130% increase.

The IMA also noted the significant boost to health research in the budget, with an allocation of ₹20,000 crore to support private sector-driven Research, Development, and Innovation initiatives. This initiative aims to catalyze the next generation of startups and promote technological research in prestigious institutions like IITs and IISc.

Additionally, the establishment of a National Centre of Excellence in Artificial Intelligence for Education, with an outlay of ₹500 crore, is expected to contribute to advancements in healthcare research and innovation.

The government’s plan to add 10,000 new medical seats in colleges and hospitals will not only increase the number of healthcare professionals but also enhance research capabilities in the medical field.

While the budget does not provide a direct comparison to the previous year’s allocation for health research grants, these initiatives indicate a substantial investment in promoting research, innovation, and development in healthcare.

Overall, the healthcare budget focuses on infrastructure, research, public health programs, and medical education, significantly enhancing India’s healthcare system.