Budget 2018: Need paradigm shift in access, goals, funding of healthcare

In Union Budget 2018-19, FM Jaitley should look at raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP in a time bound manner, besides health policy 'sick-care to wellness'

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s Budget 2018 needs to bring a paradigm shift in healthcare services in the country in terms of access, goals, financing and modality. It should focus on a comprehensive look at the health policy ‘sick-care to wellness’, prevention and health promotion, financial protection, stronger partnership with the private sector and raising public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the GDP in a time bound manner. There has to be a concrete proposal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) that guarantees free, cashless health services to all citizens. This is what was completely missing before in terms