Pre budget expectation, Gautam Allahbadia

Healthcare expenditure still remains at one per cent of the GDP as against what was promised in the UPA government’s common minimum programme. Insurance coverage is very limited and better packages have to be designed to meet the needs of people living below the poverty line. The budget needs to allocate more funds to tackle diseases that are coming up in a big way. These include hypertension, cancer, heart diseases and kidney ailments. Despite assurances in the past, infrastructure and sanitation in rural areas is one area that has been neglected. Services need to be improved at the primary health sector and the government needs to spend more in terms of prevention of the diseases. Nothing has been done to address mental health needs and emergency medical services in the country. The range of guaranteed services is very narrow and despite grand plans, a lot needs to be done at the rural level.