Reassuring budget with thrust on healthcare, say industry experts

Bengaluru, Feb 1 : With no unpleasant surprises, the Union Budget was reassuring as healthcare and well-being received top priority and higher outlay, industry experts said on Monday.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the federal budget for the ensuing fiscal in Parliament on Monday.
“A reassuring Union Budget with no unpleasant surprises has buoyed the sentiment. Healthcare and well-being received top priority, with an overall outlay of Rs 2,23,846 crore, including Rs 35,400 crore for anti-Covid vaccination and Rs 64,184 crore for a new scheme to strengthen the primary, secondary and tertiary health infrastructure across the country,” said Biocon Ltd. Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw here.
Noting other positives in the budget proposals, including higher spending on infrastructure, push for bank privatisation, increased funding to strengthen the public sector research and development (R&D) and innovation ecosystem, Shaw said the increase in the FDI (foreign direct investment) limit to 74 per cent from 49 per cent in the insurance sector and monetisation of public sector assets, including land, were critical for speedy implementation.
Lauding the budget for special attention to the healthcare sector, with a 135 per cent increase in its outlay over fiscal 2020-21, city-based Manipal Hospitals Chief Executive Dilip Jose said the enhanced allocation augured well for the country, as it looked at the sector holistically, covering nutrition, well-being, sanitation, clean drinking water and pollution control.
“The budget has also focused on scaling infrastructure such as critical care capabilities along with primary and secondary care facilities through the ‘Pradhan Mantri Aatmanirbhar Swasth Bharat’ programme,” Jose added.