“Union Budget 2026 sets a strong direction for India’s healthcare future by backing innovation, advanced manufacturing, and global competitiveness. The focus on Biopharma Shakti for healthcare advancement, backed by an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years, support for biologics and biosimilars, and the vision to build integrated medical hubs in partnership with the private sector reflect a long-term commitment to addressing evolving disease patterns and positioning India as a trusted healthcare and medical tourism destination. The decision to exempt basic customs duty on 17 drugs used for cancer treatment is a highly welcome step that will make critical therapies more affordable.
While the policy push towards innovation and advanced healthcare infrastructure is encouraging, a stronger increase in public healthcare spending could have further strengthened last-mile healthcare access and infrastructure expansion, particularly in rural and underserved regions. Nonetheless, these measures collectively reflect a positive move towards inclusive, innovation-driven healthcare aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.”
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