Union Budget 2022: Reactions from healthcare experts

'The proposal to roll out a national tele mental health programme is a timely one'

Pramod Kutty, CEO & Founder of a health tech start-up,Connect2MyDoctor

The proposal to roll out a national tele mental health programme is a timely one. The fact that the Union Budget has decided to come up with such a move, is reflective of how the Centre is in sync with the times. Mental health has been a key area of concern for many in the country. Students, teachers, doctors, nurses, other medical professionals, start-up founders, corporate executives, hospitality and airline workers have been under a lot of mental pressure during the pandemic. I would say the plan to have a tele mental health project that will focus on offering quality mental health counselling is just what a doctor would have prescribed.

The plan for a National Digital Health Ecosystem is another key initiative that needs to be lauded. The National Digital Health Ecosystem will formulate digital registries of healthcare providers and health facilities and that’s something that the general public would appreciate during this health crisis. As a start-up founder in the healthcare space, I am eagerly looking forward to the successful implementation of these initiatives, so that India becomes a leading digital healthcare provider globally, in times to come.

'The announcement on National Tele Mental Health program will address a lot of mental health issues'

Abhishek Goel, CEO & Co-founder, CACTUS

The pandemic has revealed a crisis in mental health, as well as the need for access to mental health professionals. The announcement of the National Tele Mental Health program will hopefully address a lot of these issues and provide people across the country with access to quality mental health care.

'The government has accelerated efforts to develop a digital health ecosystem'

Ravi Chanda, CEO, MedPay

The announcements made in the Union Budget 2022-23 by the Honourable Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman present a roadmap for India’s digital future. We want to thank the government for extending financial support for digital payments which will continue in the fiscal year and this step will go a long way in promoting better, economical, and user-friendly digital payment platforms for financial inclusion. The government has accelerated efforts to develop a digital health ecosystem in the country and the announcement of digital registries of health providers and health facilities, unique health identity, and universal access to health facilities is the need of the hour. Most importantly, the Union Budget has taken a very progressive step to check the rising number of mental health cases in the country by announcing a National Tele Mental Health program. This will be a great help for those who are seeking support for their mental health problems such as depression, stress, anxiety, and other related disorders.

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Hello readers, in the Union Budget 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made a slew of announcements outlining the economic growth for India over the next 25 years. Here's what the healthcare sector experts are saying about the Union Budget 2022. Stay tuned for updates.