The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on
healthcare systems across the globe and exposed
areas of improvement within the system. Post-pandemic, all nations across the globe, including
India, have taken concrete steps to restructure and
rejuvenate their healthcare system. The Indian
healthcare sector has come out of the pandemic
stronger, more resilient, and more patient-focused
than ever. The Government of India (GoI) has been a
proactive stakeholder by providing all the tools
necessary for the sector to continue its growth
trajectory. One of the significant instruments of GoI
support has been the annual budget. The GoI has
been consistently increasing allocation for the
healthcare sector over several years, although it has
still not reached its target of 2.5% of the GDP. In
addition to the budget announcements, the GoI has
also taken policy initiatives such as the Production
Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, the Promotion of
Research & Innovation in Pharma/MedTech (PRIP)
scheme, and scaling its flagship Aayushman Bharat
Initiative. Furthermore, the newly introduced policies
including the New Medical Device Policy 2023 and
the Draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy,
showcase the GoI’s clear vision for the sector.
