Budget 2025 Prioritizes Healthcare with ₹98,311 Cr Allocation

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025, emphasizing healthcare development, medical tourism, and improved access to medical services. The government allocated ₹98,311 crore for the healthcare sector, marking an increase from ₹90,658.63 crore in the previous fiscal year. Key announcements included customs duty exemptions on life-saving drugs, expansion of medical education, cancer care initiatives, and enhanced connectivity for healthcare services.

Key Takeaways from Budget 2025 Healthcare Allocation

1. Healthcare Budget Allocation

• ₹98,311 crore allocated for healthcare in FY2025-26.
• Increase from ₹90,658.63 crore in FY2024-25.
• ₹2,445 crore set aside for the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to boost the pharmaceutical industry.

2. ‘Heal in India’ Initiative for Medical Tourism

• New program to promote medical tourism in collaboration with the private sector.
• Aim: Position India as a global medical hub by leveraging its affordable and high-quality healthcare services.

3. Customs Duty Exemptions on Life-Saving Drugs

• 36 critical medicines for cancer and rare diseases fully exempted from basic customs duty.
• Expected to reduce treatment costs for patients suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

4. Expansion of Medical Education & Cancer Care

• 10,000 new medical seats to be created in the next year.
• Target: 75,000 additional medical seats over the next five years.
• 200 cancer daycare centers to be established across districts within three years.
• Gig workers to receive healthcare benefits under the PM Jan Arogya Yojana.

5. Enhancing Connectivity & Healthcare Access

• Government secondary schools and primary healthcare centers to receive broadband connectivity.
• Objective: Strengthen telemedicine, e-learning, and digital health services in rural and remote areas.

6. Economic Survey 2025: Mental Health & Lifestyle Choices

• Highlights the role of lifestyle choices in mental well-being.
• Healthy habits like avoiding ultra-processed foods and staying active improve mental health.
• Sedentary lifestyles (desk jobs, social media overuse) linked to mental health decline.
• Calls for preventive strategies to promote better mental health, particularly among India’s youth.