Budget 2026: Cancer Drug Duty Waiver, Biopharma Shakti, NIMHANS 2.0 Hailed; Execution Key
India
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Moneycontrol•01-02-2026, 17:31
Budget 2026: Cancer Drug Duty Waiver, Biopharma Shakti, NIMHANS 2.0 Hailed; Execution Key
- •Union Budget 2026-27 healthcare announcements, presented by Nirmala Sitharaman, receive mixed reactions from experts, welcoming affordability and capacity but stressing execution challenges.
- •Exemption of basic customs duty on 17 cancer drugs and 7 rare diseases for duty-free personal imports is lauded as a patient-first reform, improving affordability and access to life-saving therapies.
- •The proposed Biopharma Shakti program, with Rs 10,000 crore over five years, aims to strengthen India's biopharma ecosystem, promoting domestic research, innovation, and manufacturing of advanced therapies.
- •Establishment of a second NIMHANS in North India and upgrading institutions in Ranchi and Tezpur addresses the long-awaited need for improved mental health infrastructure and capacity building.
- •Other welcome initiatives include creating a 1.5-lakh geriatric caregiver workforce and expanding emergency/trauma care capacity at district hospitals, crucial for senior citizens and overall healthcare access.
Why It Matters: Budget 2026's healthcare proposals are strong, but their impact hinges on effective execution and sustained funding.
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