New Delhi: The Union Budget is just a financial document for the year ahead, but a launchpad for India’s healthcare system to emerge as a global leader, Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals said on Saturday. The addition of 75,000 seats over the next five years, coupled with the launch of Centers of Excellence in AI, will foster innovation in health tech and expand R&D investments, Reddy said in a statement.
The announcement to promote medical tourism through private sector partnerships will enhance the capacity to attract global patients and position India as the go-to destination for affordable, world-class medical care under the ‘Heal in India’ mission, he added. “With support for capacity building and streamlined visa processes, this initiative will ensure India not only heals its citizens but also helps heal the world.”
The setting up of 200 Daycare Cancer Centers in district hospitals and the inclusion of critical medicines for rare diseases, cancer, and severe chronic conditions under custom duty exemptions are commendable steps, he added. The focus on skilling healthcare professionals in emerging technologies through the establishment of National Centers of Excellence and 50,000 Atal Tinkering Labs will empower the next generation of medical innovators and startups, Reddy added.
Kamineni Shashidhar, MD of Kamineni Hospitals, in a separate statement said increasing medical seats is a welcome move as it is aimed at filling the healthcare professionals gap in the country. It has been observed that sudden increase in medical colleges in the past two to three years has created a significant vacuum related to good teaching and infrastructure in new colleges which is affecting the quality training of students being trained, Shashidhar said.
“It would be pertinent to say that we need to focus on budgeting on research and infrastructure development in medical education and health care, so that our students are well equipped with skills and knowledge required to provide quality health care. Only then we can truly reap the benefits of increased medical seats,” he added.
The announcement to promote medical tourism through private sector partnerships will enhance the capacity to attract global patients and position India as the go-to destination for affordable, world-class medical care under the ‘Heal in India’ mission, Prathap C Reddy, Founder and Chairman, Apollo Hospitals stated. Health Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
