Budget 2018 Expectations – Neeraj Lal, Cluster Head & Vice President-Bangalore Operations, Rainbow Children’s Hospital

Budget 2018- Expectations of the healthcare sector.

• Subsidized healthcare insurance for children and elders with better and broader coverage.
• Better services and availability of diagnostic services at Primary Healthcare Centre
• Setting up of new multi-specialty hospitals at Taluka level in rural India.
• Better allocation of funds for care of pregnant woman (providing nutritious food and medicine during pregnancy)
• Income tax rebates for private hospitals which are empanelled for govt. schemes and for those involved in CSR activities regularly.
• Better funds allocation and appointment of doctors to create health awareness in rural and urban areas. Awareness especially on hygiene, early diagnosis of diseases.
• Adding of post-graduation medical seats as the existing numbers are very less.
• Better and quicker care for BPL patients for cancer and heart related diseases.
• Rationalizing the cost of chemotherapy and radiation therapy costs similar to stent cost.
• To run massive immunization programs for all vaccines similar to Polio vaccine.
• To include physiotherapy, and other similar rehabilitation therapy and wellness programs like Yoga in all Government hospitals.
• To provide better training programs to Primary health care workers to focus more on prophylactic care and promoting healthy lifestyle among the individuals.
• To balance the demand and supply of generic medicines at Government hospitals and Pharmacies.
• To focus and allocate more funds to Research and Development in Healthcare Sector.