Health cos quite happy

New Delhi, Feb. 1: The healthcare industry on Saturday welcomed the initiatives announced by the government in the budget to improve the access to medical care across the nation. “Budget 2020 is a definitive step forward in the government of India’s commitment to making India healthier and a model for the world to emulate,” Apollo Hospitals group chairman Prathap C. Reddy said. In addition to initiatives announced to improve access to medical care across the nation and boost human health resources, it was encouraging that vital determinant of good health which includes wellness, nutrition, clean drinking water, and sanitation were at the forefront of this Budget, he added. Calling it a farsighted budget, Dr Reddy said the finance minister has announced “innovative initiatives that will enhance ease of living, improve the health quotient and boost opportunities for education and job creation, for all sections of our society and meet the expectations of an aspirational India.” In similar vein, NATHEALTH president H. Sudarshan Ballal said the budget accorded priority on capacity building by improving health infrastructure in tier II & III cities and rural areas. “Setting up hospitals on private public partnership with the provision of viability gap funding in 112 aspirational districts in the country go a long way in creating a robust health infrastructure especially in areas where Ayushman Bharat benefits have not yet reached especially to the weaker section,” he added. Calling it a directionally sound budget, Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw said: “I am happy to see the government’s focus on reviving economic growth.”