Union Budget Lauded by Health Experts, Promises Major Relief for Cancer Patients

New Delhi: The Union Budget 2025-26 marks a crucial step forward for India's healthcare sector, particularly benefiting cancer patients, according to health experts.

Presenting her eighth consecutive budget, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman unveiled key healthcare initiatives, including the addition of 10,000 medical college seats and the establishment of daycare cancer centers in all district hospitals. She also announced full exemptions on basic customs duty for 36 life-saving drugs, benefiting patients battling cancer, rare diseases, and other chronic conditions.

Abhay Soi, President of NATHEALTH, highlighted the budget’s emphasis on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and ease of doing business. “This budget reinforces the importance of private sector collaboration in strengthening healthcare and aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat,” he told IANS.

Cancer remains a major health challenge in India, with head and neck cancers, breast cancer, and gynaecological cancers accounting for nearly 70% of the disease burden. Dr. D S Rana, Chairman of the Trust Board at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, welcomed the focus on daycare cancer centres. “First-line chemotherapy for most of these cases can be effectively administered in well-equipped daycare facilities. This approach will help manage a significant portion of India’s cancer burden,” he stated.

Raj Gore, CEO and Lead of the FICCI Cancer Task Force, emphasized to IANS that the exemption of customs duty on 36 life-saving drugs, including cancer medications, would lower treatment costs and improve accessibility. “This will be a game-changer for cancer patients,” he added. Gore also praised the decision to establish daycare cancer centres at district hospitals, calling it a vital move to enhance accessibility, especially in rural and remote regions.

Public health expert Dr. Sabine Kapasi welcomed the addition of medical seats but stressed the need for enhancing quality standards and optimizing existing healthcare infrastructure for long-term impact.

However, the medical devices industry expressed disappointment. The Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD) criticized the budget for not addressing investment promotion measures for the sector, which remains 70% import-dependent. “The lack of any concrete steps to support domestic manufacturing is disappointing,” said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator, AiMeD, while acknowledging the positive macroeconomic direction of the budget.

Meanwhile, the budget’s initiatives for simplifying visa procedures for medical tourists were well received. Pavan Choudary, Chairman of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTai), stated that these reforms would enhance India’s medical tourism sector by facilitating cross-border patient flow and expanding healthcare markets.

The healthcare announcements in the budget are expected to have a significant impact on accessibility, affordability, and overall healthcare infrastructure, particularly in cancer treatment.