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Budget 2026's Healthcare Boost: ₹10,000 Crore Bio Pharma Shakti & Mental Health Hubs

Dr Devi Prasad Shetty has lauded the Union Budget 2026 for its strategic focus on strengthening India's healthcare ecosystem. Key initiatives include the ₹10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti scheme to boost domestic production of advanced biologics and biosimilars. The budget also proposes developing regional medical hubs and significantly enhancing emergency trauma care and mental health infrastructure. These measures are seen as a coherent, long-term approach to improving healthcare access and quality across the country.

Key Points: Budget 2026 Healthcare Focus: Bio Pharma Shakti & Mental Health

  • ₹10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti for biologics
  • Regional medical hubs to boost medical tourism
  • 50% increase in district hospital trauma care
  • New NIMHANS and mental health centres
2 min read

"Healthcare has received thoughtful and well-directed attention in Budget 2026" - Top Expert

Expert Dr Devi Prasad Shetty praises Budget 2026's ₹10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti initiative, medical hubs, and mental health expansion for strengthening India's healthcare.

"Healthcare has received thoughtful and well-directed attention in this year's Budget - Dr Devi Prasad Shetty"

New Delhi, February 2

The Union budget 2026 focuses on strengthening the healthcare system, according to Dr Devi Prasad Shetty, Founder and Chairman, Narayana Healthcare.

"Healthcare has received thoughtful and well-directed attention in this year's Budget, reflecting the Government's recognition that a strong healthcare system is integral to India's economic and social resilience. We appreciate the Finance Minister's measured focus on strengthening healthcare as a long-term national priority. The ₹10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti initiative marks an important step towards building domestic capabilities in biologics and biosimilars, with the potential to improve access to advanced treatments for cancer and rare diseases," he said.

On developing medical hubs and mental healthcare, he said, "The proposal to develop regional medical hubs in partnership with the private sector can reinforce India's position as a global medical value destination while strengthening preventive, rehabilitative and continuum-of-care models within the country. Strengthening district hospitals through a 50% increase in emergency and trauma care capacity, alongside the establishment of a second NIMHANS and regional mental health apex centres, addresses critical gaps in last-mile and mental healthcare."

"Measures to upgrade allied health institutions and expand training across critical disciplines will strengthen clinical capacity and support high-quality care delivery, while rationalising TCS on medical remittances eases access for patients and families. Taken together, these measures reflect a coherent and forward-looking approach to strengthening India's healthcare ecosystem," said Dr Devi on training healthcare professionals.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
₹10,000 crore for Bio Pharma Shakti sounds impressive, but will it actually make cancer treatment affordable for the common man? We've seen big announcements before with little change on the ground. I'll believe it when I see the prices of medicines come down.
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Aditya G
Finally, serious attention to mental health! A second NIMHANS and regional centres are long overdue. The stigma is real, and access to care outside major cities is nearly zero. This could be a game-changer for millions of families.
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Sarah B
As someone who works in public health, the emphasis on training allied professionals is the unsung hero of this budget. You can have the best infrastructure, but without enough skilled nurses and technicians, the system collapses. Good move.
K
Karthik V
Rationalising TCS on medical remittances is a small but very thoughtful step. When a family member is sick abroad, the last thing you need is tax complexity blocking funds. It shows they are listening to real pain points. Good.
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Meera T
While the intent is good, I have a respectful criticism. The budget still seems very hospital-centric. What about primary healthcare in villages? We need more sub-centres and ASHA workers with better resources to prevent illnesses before they become emergencies.
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Vikram M

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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