Since India is facing a growing health crisis with increasing burden of non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases, the health sector keeps a close watch on what Finance Minister Nirmala Sitarman will announce in Budget 2025-26 on 1 February.

With the main priorities of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with artificial intelligence and genome sequencing, experts shared what they expect from the upcoming budget 2025-26.

The budget allocation for the Union Ministry of Health in 2024-25 was Rs 90,658.63 crore, which marks a 12.59% increase in the budget of Rs 80,517.62 crore in the budget of 2023-2024.

While the health allocation is for about 2% of the Union Budget, experts recommend that the growth of 2.5 to 3% can help the industry move towards preventive medicine.

Sandeep Guduru said, “The country’s health services are increasing rapidly and there is a lot of pressure on our current infrastructure and resources. There is a need to increase spending at current levels and increase it to 2.5- 3%,” Sandeep Guduru Said, Sandeep Guduru said, CEO, Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology.

Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Dr. Sunita Reddy told India Today Digital that this year’s budget should be constructed on previous budgets, which reduce customs duty on essential medicines and focus on non-communicable diseases.

In February 2024, the government reduced GST (Goods and Services Tax) with three major cancer medicines: Tasteuzumab Deruxtekan, Osimrtinib and Duravalumba.

Dr. According to Reddy, this step should be expanded to advanced cancer treatment equipment such as radiotherapy machines and robotics along with targeted therapy drugs, most of which are approximately 37% in customs.

Dr. “Rugging the duty structure on these will help less the cost of cancer treatment in the country,” said Reddy.

Surajit Chakraborty, the chief financial officer of Medgenome, suggested that genomics could play a big role in changing healthcare in India. “Over the next 5 years, we estimate genomic testing that regular health will become an integral part of healthcare, carrying out early diseases and progressing in personal medicine,” he said.

With the fluff of medical tourism of India, Dr. Rajiv Badhankar, Medical Director, Holi Family Hospital, Bandra, Mumbai, recommended direct employment and making India the capital of the world’s medical tourism.

“The government should streamlin the visa procedures, develop special medical tourism areas, (similar to special economic areas) and intensify marketing efforts to attract international patients,” Dr. Buddha said.

He also suggested that the mental health program run by the government can reduce the burden of rural crisis and farmer suicides within the National Health Program.

In addition, Dr. Harminder Nagar, Managing Director Paras, Health, said that the allocation for AI-operated diagnostics, telemedicine and electronic health record Must be kept in mind. Cooperative cooperation.

He said that tax incentives could encourage adopting private health insurance among middle class for comprehensive healthcare access and financial security for families.

Senior Eye Surgeon and Director of Surya Eye Hospital, Dr. J Goyal said, “We are ready to expand insurance coverage for eye care under schemes like Ayushman Bharat. Mobile eye clinic and public-private partnership should be allocated more funds. OCT and AI-Inaculated Telemedicine Such as helpful in bringing state -of -the -art technology to rural and underscorce areas. “

Experts also wanted to highlight insufficient reimbursement rates for medical procedures under schemes like CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme).

“While the cost of a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) process is Rs 4.5 to Rs 5 lakh, CGHS only reimbursement of Rs 1.4 lakh, and CMCIS also provides less. Similarly, a appendix, which actually Rs 60,000 The cost of only Rs 20,000 is a reputation of Rs 20,000.

If India really aims to increase the quality of its healthcare to international standards, the government should modify the reimbursement rates for medical procedures to reflect actual costs.

Healthcare is the foundation stone of a rich society. Next to the Union Budget 2025-26, experts agree that it is time for the government to prioritize the sector and ensure that each stakeholder receives the equality of health resources.