Budget 2025: Why a forward-looking approach is imperative for India’s healthcare industry

As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, the healthcare industry looks forward to transformative measures that will bolster India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047. This indeed highlights the need for a forward-looking approach that prioritises primary and preventive care, invests in digital healthcare infrastructure, and addresses the critical challenges of affordability and accessibility.

By leveraging India’s burgeoning digital adoption and healthcare data analytics capabilities, the nation has the potential to emerge as a global healthcare leader. Below are  some of the key expectations for the industry. 

As India embarks on its journey towards becoming ‘Viksit Bharat’, a healthy population is not just a social imperative, but crucial for economic prosperity. To achieve this ambitious goal, a strong emphasis on primary and preventive care is crucial with increased budgetary allocations for public awareness campaigns on lifestyle diseases, initiatives for early disease diagnosis, and significant improvements to primary health centers.

These investments will not only reduce long-term healthcare costs but also improve overall health outcomes for our population. 

Additionally, the rapid growth of digital healthcare demands significant government support. Allocations should be directed towards developing robust digital infrastructure and incentivising innovation in health technology. This will enhance access to quality healthcare for all citizens. Furthermore, addressing the twin challenges of affordability and accessibility in healthcare.

 Lastly, with India’s population and burgeoning digital adoption, we have the potential to become a global leader in healthcare data analytics. This data can be utilised to develop innovative solutions that address critical health challenges not only within India but also on a global scale.

By fostering a thriving ecosystem for digital health solutions, India can solidify its position as a leading global healthcare hub, attracting medical tourism and driving economic growth.

—The author, Abhinav Lal, is Co-founder of Practo, one of India’s toponline healthcare service companies. The views are personal.  

(Edited by : Unnikrishnan)

First Published: Jan 20, 2025 4:40 PM IST

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