Budget reaction: Dr Alok Khullar, CEO, Gleneagles Global Health City, Chennai 

The budget’s focus to strengthen the Indian healthcare infrastructure is welcoming as it will help us to be well-prepared to handle disease outbreaks/pandemic. This move will reduce the burden on the healthcare workers and ensure increased accessibility for receiving critical and emergency care. Initiatives to promote fitness and sanitation will help in preventing lifestyle issues and reduce the probability of disease outbreak among the rural areas. The budget has given a major thrust to the healthcare sector with increased importance in comparison to its previous years which is appreciated. With high allocation for implementation of COVID-19 vaccines, we look forward to a smooth roll-out of the largest vaccination drive in India.