A total allocation of Rs 33150 crores for health will not make universal healthcare a reality.
Positives in the budget
- Including yoga as charitable activity, which is applicable for exemption under the income tax act, will promote Yoga in the country.
- Separate budget for age related disability is a welcome step
- IMA hopes that the money collected from the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan will be used for health purposes.
- Increasing the health insurance exemption limit to 25000 from 15000.
- Opening five more institutions like AIIMS. However the government should have in one stroke announced that there will be a similar institutions in every state and should have strengthened the existing ones
Negatives in the budget
- Rise in service tax to 14 per cent is not in the interest of the common man.
- IMA also hopes that the service tax exemption in the health sector is not taken away
- No provisions have been made in the budget for free drugs, investigations or emergency care.