Budget reaction: Dr KM Cherian, CEO & Chairman, Frontier Lifeline Hospital

The budget is a great boost for the healthcare sector receiving double the allocation. The 137 per cent increase will aid the sector and also help in creating more jobs especially taking into account the effect of the pandemic. However, most of these funds are allocated towards the COVID-19 vaccine drive and water and sanitation. While we have to tackle the pandemic, I have time and again emphasised on the importance of innovation and R&D in medical sciences, which has not happened. There also needs to be in the PPP (public private partnerships) in the health sector to ensure the progress of the industry along with transparent governance. It is the need of the hour and the government must introduce policy initiatives for the same in future.