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Experts are happy with focus on healthcare

Experts are happy with focus on healthcare

Pradeep Dadha, CEO and Founder of Netmeds.com

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Budget 2017 got some good news for the healthcare sector. The government has prepared an action plan for health, especially for poor. Jaitley announced the target was to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. Under various proposals made during the Budget, 1.5 lakh health sub-centres will be transformed into health and wellness centres. Two new AIIMS hospitals were proposed, to be set up in Gujarat and Jharkhand. Also, to increase the number of doctors in secondary and tertiary care, the government is making structural reforms in medical education and practice. Jaitley also stated that they will encourage several reputed hospitals across the country to start courses. There were mixed reactions when it came to healthcare in budget but mostly people are happy. Here’s what experts have to say

Ravi Virmani, MD & Founder, CrediHealth

The Union Budget 2017 has taken a step towards making healthcare not just affordable but structurally robust as well. However, technology could prove to be a disruptive factor in assuring that the healthcare reaches out to those who have been hitherto isolated from it. But, unfortunately the budget has completely overlooked the health-tech startups which are changing the landscape of healthcare industry in India. With a focus on transparency and reach, they have been deprived of an opportunity to make an dent in healthcare ecosystem.

Nilaya Varma, Partner and Head, Healthcare, KPMG in India

Many of the targets set by the Government for healthcare is very welcome and so is the focus on wellness, creating more clinical staff and leveraging existing assets. However, we need to see what is the real extra allocation for making these announcements happen… would have appreciated comment on plan for universal healthcare and infrastructure status.

Rajesh Mundra, Founder & CEO, Truworth Wellness

There is a good news for startups as the 3 years profit window has been raised from 5 to 7 years and also the MAT carry forward has been increased to 15 years from 10 years. Also the reduction of corporate tax to 25% for companies with turnover upto 50 Crores is cheerful.

Kaushik Murali, President - Medical Administration, Sankara Eye Foundation

Healthcare was among the 10 focus areas of the budget. They appear to have consolidated on schemes announced earlier. The visible allocation has been to maternal and child health and primary health care, an impetus with healthcare having infra status or to spur device manufacturing is not immediately evident. In the long term the programs on skilling, sanitation could improve overall healthcare. With most healthcare being out of pocket MNREGA allocation may also help increase access.

Amaresh Ojha, CEO & Founder, Gympik

Budget 2017 has been positive for the startup sector, the increase in window will give more time to start-ups to reach a stage when they start earning profits before they exercise their option for income tax exemption. This will be a good news for the companies which are in hyper growth mode. This tax reduction was much needed for smaller companies. A lot of attention has been put in the healthcare and wellness domain. We are just expecting the government to implement all the plans and policies effectively for the coming financial year.

Farmers and rural sector take the spotlight in this Budget.