Much has been written and spoken about India’s healthcare system, its creaking facilities, its shortage of doctors, its lack of insurance coverage and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. In a nutshell, India’s healthcare system needs a systematic process of reform and renewal that will take more than a few budget announcements to achieve. However, a budget serves to provide a direction to a sector and lays ground for the government to position most of its initiatives and measures (taken round the year) towards this direction. In many ways the budget 2017 announcements on the healthcare front have displayed a continuity of thought on the part of the government towards achieving greater affordability and accessibility for all. A series of measures spoken of by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his budget speech are aimed at furthering the government’s motto of healthcare for all.

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