Budget Undershot?

When it comes to the healthcare sector, the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, no doubt, brings relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, rare and severe chronic diseases, with making 36 more life-saving drugs basic customs duty free and reducing the duty on six more drugs to concessional 5 per cent.

- Milind Kokje

The benefit will be passed on to even bulk drugs for the companies producing these drugs here. That will make the drugs available at a reduced rate, which is a major relief for suffering patients. Similarly, step in the right direction is exempting from the customs duty the drugs under patient assistance programme run by pharma companies if the medicines are provided free of cost to the patients and adding 37 more drugs and 12 new patient assistance programmes.

Cancer patients may find an equal relief announcement to set up 200 new cancer daycare centres in the next three years. However, experts find it impractical considering the specialised focused treatment that needs to be given. Additional 10,000 medical seats (75,000 in the next five years) is welcome. How many of them will turn to the public health system to serve is a question. For the healthcare system, a growing number of doctors will not make a substantial difference in bridging the demand-supply gap.