Mumbai: The Indian diagnostics industry awaits the unveiling of the interim Union Budget for 2024. Personalised, precision medicine is paving the way for the future of healthcare delivery, and early detection is going to play a pivotal role in shaping India’s healthcare landscape.
As India’s landscape evolves, with persistent challenges posed by infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the diagnostics sector stands as the lynchpin in the continuum of patient care. Interacting with ETHealthworld, leaders from the diagnostics industry share their expectations for the Union Budget 2024.
Prioritising access to affordable diagnostics can revolutionise healthcare, saving lives and enhancing well-being
Dr Rishubh Gupta, Managing Director, Roche Diagnostics India, said, “India has made commendable strides in fortifying its healthcare system over the past few decades. The government’s unwavering commitment to addressing major diseases like cancer, tuberculosis, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while striving for universal health coverage underscores its dedication to public health. To sustain this momentum, strategic investments and partnerships are crucial for expanding healthcare access.
The push towards advancing universal health coverage (UHC) and health equity in India aligns seamlessly with the 2023 World Health Assembly resolution focused on bolstering diagnostics capacity. Emphasising increased investment in research and development for diagnostics, the resolution aims for affordable, accessible, and context-specific tests for low-resource settings. Acknowledging the pivotal role of quality assurance and certification processes is vital in ensuring the precision and reliability of diagnostic tests. Tailoring national diagnostic strategies to align with the unique needs and resource capacities of our nation is essential. Prioritising access to affordable diagnostics can revolutionise healthcare, saving lives and enhancing well-being.
Additionally, augmenting public-private partnerships (PPPs) in healthcare can significantly amplify resources and efficiency. In the realm of preventive healthcare, I advocate for the inclusion of population screening within the Ayushman Bharat scheme to manage NCDs and other diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and cervical cancer. Recognising the critical importance of early detection for effective treatment, a national initiative in this direction would save numerous lives. This can be achieved through a framework of centralised and decentralised testing infrastructure, including near-patient testing, self-tests, drive-through centres, and sample collection by community health workers, among other methods.”There’s a collective yearning for a substantial escalation in tax benefits for preventive health checkups
Dheeraj Jain, Founder, Redcliffe Labs, shared, “As we await the forthcoming budget, there’s a collective yearning for a substantial escalation in tax benefits for preventive health checkups—a potential shift from Rs 5,000 to Rs 15,000 per family. This envisioned fiscal adjustment not only signifies economic prudence but also holds the power to recalibrate individual health behaviours, fostering a proactive stance towards well-being.
In the delicate interweaving of technology and health, the proposed increase in tax benefits emerges as a beacon, steering citizens towards proactive wellness. Besides reflecting economic acumen, this fiscal adjustment anticipates a profound impact on public health dynamics. By incentivising a broader population towards preventive health checkups, our aim is not only to foster early detection but also to cultivate a paradigm shift in individual health perspectives.
The augmented tax benefits act as a strategic instrument in redirecting focus from illness to wellness, encouraging individuals to prioritise preventive healthcare measures. This shift becomes especially pivotal in addressing India’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The envisaged tax deductions incentivise citizens to reorient their health choices, fostering a cultural shift where wellness takes precedence over illness. This transformative approach can potentially alleviate the burden of NCDs, sparking a positive ripple effect on overall public health.”
We express the need for increased budgetary allocations towards research and development in diagnostic technologies
Venkata Suman Cherukuri, Chairman and MD, TRUSTlab Diagnostics, said, “In this Union budget 2024, the diagnostic industry is eagerly anticipating a set of expectations focused on fostering innovation, subsidiaries for health startups, accessibility, and sustainability. We express the need for increased budgetary allocations towards research and development in diagnostic technologies. We hope for financial incentives to spur innovation, making cutting-edge diagnostic solutions more accessible to the masses. The diagnostic industry also seeks government-backed startups through low-interest loans with government co-guarantees to foster innovation and sustainability.
Furthermore, there is a collective desire for the government to promote public-private partnerships, creating an environment that encourages collaboration between the industry and research institutions. The industry emphasises the importance of leveraging digital technologies to enhance diagnostic capabilities, expecting the budget to include provisions for the adoption of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and other emerging technologies.
Accessibility remains a key concern, and industry experts are looking for measures to bridge healthcare gaps in remote and underserved areas. This includes potential tax incentives or subsidies for diagnostic facilities in these regions, ensuring that advanced healthcare services are available across the country.”
