The decision to waive customs duty on 17 essential cancer drugs is a welcome move- Dr. Somnath Chatterjee
Kolkata: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the ninth consecutive Union Budget 2026-27 on Sunday, announcing the setting up of five regional medical hubs for giving a boost to medical tourism in India.
The medical hubs will comprise diagnostics infrastructure, post-care rehabilitation, and Ayush centres, offering considerable employment opportunities for medical service providers and professionals. Further drug testing labs and Ayush pharmacies will be upgraded, including the WHO Traditional Medicine Centre at Jamnagar, Gujarat. She also proposed the establishment of three new All-India Institutes of Ayurveda to fulfil the global demand for Ayurveda.
INR 10,000 crore has been committed towards setting up of a strong domestic biopharma ecosystem under the Biopharma Shakti Initiative, upgrade the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation to meet global standards, augment institutions, enabling predictable and quicker approvals. Patient access will further be improved by the complete BCD exemption on 17 cancer drugs, along with targeted relief for rare diseases, coupled with support for high need areas.
Speaking on the Union Budget 2026-27 for the healthcare and diagnostics sector, Dr. Somnath Chatterjee, Chairman & Joint Managing Director, Suraksha Clinic & Diagnostics, shared: “The focus on mental health is absolutely timely. Also the reduction of duty on oncology drugs is commendable. Private participation in health care could have been addressed better”
It was announced that existing institutions for allied health professionals will be upgraded, along with the setting up of new AHPI institutions in public and private sectors, under the second Kartavya, which is to meet the aspirations and dreams of the citizens of India, building their capacity, turning them into strong alliances in the path of India towards prosperity. 10 selected disciplines, such as radiology, optometry, OT technology, anaesthesia, behavioural health, and applied psychology, will come under these. The government also announced that nearly 1 lakh allied health professionals will be included in the upcoming five years. Moreover, it was announced that a strong care system covering allied and geriatric sectors will be set up.
It was proposed that a range of National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) aligned programme for training multiskilled caregivers, amalgamating allied skills and core care, including yoga, wellness, and meditative assistive devices, will be formed.
A premier mental health institute in North India – NIMHANS 2.0 will be set up, besides strenghtening the capacity of district hospitals by nearly 50% through new trauma and emergency care centres, enhancing access to critical care.
