2018 Budget Expectations – Huzaifa Shehabi, COO, Saifee Hospital

“During the Budget 2018, we are hopeful that the government will continue to carefully examine taxation and pricing policies, to ensure that we strike the right balance between what is feasible for the healthcare sector and what is best for the consumer, to deliver quality healthcare.

We are also expecting the government to encourage greater holistic investment in the healthcare sector where funds are prioritised towards research & development, medical institutes – which should include partnerships with established academic institutions, and in primary public healthcare centres.

As a solution to some of the issues plaguing the healthcare sector, the government has to take on a more techno-administrative approach, part of which could be to create a grievance redressal body for the sector which will create a conducive atmosphere for all stakeholders, amicably resolve issues and also assist in relieving stress on our judicial system.”