Sanjiv Navangul, CEO, BSV ( A Mankind Group Company), said, "The Union Budget 2026 provides much-deserved momentum for India’s biopharma journey. We welcome the government’s intent to strengthen the biopharma ecosystem, and the Biopharma Shakti initiative is an encouraging step in this direction. The focus on building scale across strategic and frontier sectors creates the right environment for long-term improvements in health outcomes. The initiative recognises the need for innovation and research while creating a conducive ecosystem for good health through knowledge sharing and technology.
Alongside this, the emphasis on driving research by setting up new National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research will not only build talent but also augment the research capabilities of the country.
Strengthening the regulatory landscape through a robust biopharma-focused network, including enhanced capacity and faster approval timelines, will further support innovation and improve patient access.
Further, the proposed investment of Rs 10,000 crore over five years, along with the emphasis on domestic production, will go a long way in strengthening supply security and reducing dependence on imports. This aligns with the vision of BSV, as we remain committed to making in India for India and the world.
Additionally, the Budget’s proposal to promote India as a global hub for sports goods is also encouraging. Improved access to quality sports equipment can help drive wider participation of women in sports while supporting healthier lifestyles.”
Sheetal Arora, Promoter & CEO, Mankind Pharma, stated, " “The Union Budget makes a clear and timely choice by placing biopharma at the centre of India’s next manufacturing wave, alongside other frontier sectors. As India’s disease burden shifts towards diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders, and advanced NCD therapies gain wider adoption globally, the focus on biologics and biosimilars is both relevant and necessary. The Bio Pharma Shakti initiative recognises that longevity, quality of life, and affordability will define healthcare outcomes going forward.
The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, has reinforced the Viksit Bharat vision through a ₹10,000 crore commitment to build a strong domestic biopharma ecosystem, strengthen institutions, upgrade the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization to global standards, and enable faster, predictable approvals. The full BCD exemption on 17 cancer drugs and targeted relief for rare diseases will further improve patient access while supporting innovation in high-need areas.
Over the coming years, the alignment of these reforms with the evolving **European Union–India trade framework will help Indian pharma move from scale to leadership, attract global investment, and strengthen India’s position as a trusted manufacturing and innovation partner in advanced therapies.”
Dr Harsh Mahajan, Mentor, FICCI Health and Services Founder & Chairman, Mahajan Imaging & Labs said, "The Union Budget’s initiatives signal a strong and forward‑looking direction for India’s healthcare ecosystem, and there is clear relevance for diagnostic service providers. The push for Biopharma Shakti with a Rs. 10,000 crore allocation over five years to boost domestic manufacturing of biologics and biosimilars underscores the government’s intent to strengthen advanced treatment availability in India. This will not only help patients access critical therapies but also increase demand for high‑quality diagnostics to guide and monitor those treatments.
In addition, the Budget’s plan to establish five regional medical tourism and integrated healthcare hubs in partnership with the private sector, featuring advanced diagnostics, research and rehabilitation facilities provides new opportunities for labs to expand services and strengthen collaborations with hospitals and care centres.
The focus on expanding and upgrading the allied health workforce, including training one lakh allied health professionals, reinforces the critical role of skilled diagnostic personnel in delivering accurate and timely patient care across regions. Together, these measures support the diagnostic labs' mission to scale specialised testing, improve patient access across the country, and contribute to a more resilient and responsive healthcare system in India."
Ankit Modi - Founding Member & Chief Product Officer, Qure.ai, stated, “The ₹10,000 crore allocation under Biopharma Shakti reflects a clear recognition that India’s biopharma ambitions will be shaped not only by manufacturing scale, but by the strength of its clinical and regulatory foundations. The plan to create over 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites and strengthen regulatory review is a key step toward improving the quality and credibility of clinical research, especially as biologics and biosimilars become more important in treating diseases such as cancer, diabetes and autoimmune disorders.
The budget also highlights artificial intelligence as a national priority and proposes the creation of five regional medical hubs that integrate care, diagnostics and research. Together, these measures point to a more connected healthcare system where reliable clinical and diagnostic data will be essential.
For Qure.ai, this direction reinforces the need to build diagnostic and data systems that work reliably at scale and support India’s credibility in global biopharma research, without adding complexity to already stretched health systems.”
Joy Chakraborty, COO, P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, emphasised, “The Union Budget 2026-27 gives much needed structured clarification to healthcare delivery. From an operational perspective, the plan to establish 1,000 accredited clinical trial sites. Combined with duty exemptions on life-saving drugs, reduced costs of diagnostic equipment, and faster access to advanced therapies through a stronger biopharma ecosystem, the budget enables hospitals to plan capacity expansion, technology adoption and patient-centric care delivery with greater operational certainty and affordability at the core.
Special focus has been given in this budget on developing a strong healthcare ecosystem for Senior Care. To support the requirements of elderly care, access to relevant training programs will be critical to upskill healthcare workforce to cater to this growing patient pool in the country. At the same time, making assisted devices available in the market is equally important. Focus and thrust on AI and technology can help provide practical and cost-effective solution to several unsolved problem for elderly.
The proposed NIMHANS-2 and new All India Institutes of Ayurveda further strengthen specialised and integrated care pathways. Initiatives such as district-level day-care cancer centres, a 50% capacity increase in district hospitals through emergency and trauma care centres, and the creation of five regional medical hubs will significantly decongest tertiary hospitals while strengthening emergency care system. Faster clinical trial approvals and strong domestic biopharma ecosystem also mean quicker access to newer biologics and more predictable supplies.
Crucially, the budget outlines a wide spectrum of structured career pathways, particularly in health and care services. In the healthcare sector, Allied Health Professional (AHP) education will be expanded across 10 selected disciplines, including optometry, anaesthesia technology, applied psychology and behavioural health. Additionally of 1 lakh allied health professionals and training of 1.5 lakh caregivers directly addresses one of the most pressing operational challenges strengthening the healthcare workforce pipeline and continuity in care, which is critical for sustaining quality outcomes throughout.”
Srikanth Kandikonda, Chief Financial Officer, ManipalCigna Health Insurance, emphasised,“The Union Budget 2026 reflects the government’s continued focus on strengthening India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Key announcements such as the ₹10,000-crore BioPharma Shakti initiative, strengthening of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation through faster scientific approvals, exemptions on select cancer and rare disease drugs, and continued investments in medical education, rural healthcare, hospital capacity, and digital health platforms are positive steps towards improving access, quality, and affordability of care. The expansion of allied health professionals, creation of advanced mental health institutions including NIMHANS 2.0, and support for traditional systems of medicine through upgraded AYUSH infrastructure further strengthen the overall healthcare delivery ecosystem.
From an industry standpoint, the Budget provides an enabling environment for health insurers to enhance affordability, encourage wider adoption of health insurance, and support the broader goal of healthcare security for all.”
Anand K., Managing Director & CEO, Agilus Diagnostics Ltd, said, “The Union Budget’s proposal to establish regional medical hubs is a forward-looking step towards building an integrated, patient-centric healthcare ecosystem. By co-locating AYUSH systems with advanced diagnostics and post-treatment rehabilitation, these hubs will strengthen the continuum of care—enabling early detection, holistic treatment and structured recovery. The emphasis on evidence-based diagnostics alongside traditional systems will not only improve patient outcomes but also ease the growing burden on tertiary care hospitals. Importantly, these hubs will act as significant employment engines, creating opportunities across clinical, diagnostic, research, wellness and allied health services, and supporting the growth of a future-ready healthcare workforce. I thank Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for her vision in prioritising integrated healthcare and long-term system strengthening in this year’s Budget.”
Dr Shravan, Managing Director, BPL Medical Technologies, emphised" “The Union Budget 2026–27 reinforces the Government’s commitment to strengthening India’s healthcare ecosystem through sustained investments in infrastructure, domestic manufacturing and technology-led innovation. The continued focus on expanding access to diagnostics, critical care and advanced medical technologies is a positive step towards building a resilient and inclusive healthcare system.
For Indian medical technology manufacturers such as BPL Medical Technologies, the emphasis on indigenous production, research and development, and capability building across the healthcare value chain is encouraging. Support for manufacturing depth, skill development and improved access in Tier II, Tier III and underserved regions will be critical in advancing the Make in India vision and positioning India as a trusted global hub for high-quality medical technologies. We also look forward to continued momentum on earlier healthcare commitments, including the expansion of oncology infrastructure, which will be vital in addressing India’s growing cancer burden.”
Dr Rajiv Chhibber Joint Forum Coordinator, AIMED, stated, “The Union Budget 2026 sends a clear and strong signal that India is ready to lead global healthcare manufacturing through Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat and technology-led innovation. Flagship announcements such as the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti initiative, expansion of research institutions, creation of national clinical research infrastructure and strengthening of CDSCO towards global regulatory benchmarks will directly enhance India’s credibility as a high-quality, innovation-driven MedTech and life sciences manufacturing destination. Policy steps such as rationalisation of duties on critical therapies including cancer drugs and increased focus on assistive and patient-centric technologies further reinforce the government’s commitment to accessible and advanced healthcare.”
“At a time when India is deepening global economic engagement through FTAs with key regions including Europe and other strategic partners, this Budget provides the domestic manufacturing strength required to fully leverage these trade opportunities. For the medical devices sector, this is a decisive moment to scale exports, strengthen supply chains and position India as a trusted global partner in cardiovascular, diagnostic, implantable and high-technology medical devices. With continued policy-industry alignment, India is well positioned to transition from import substitution to global MedTech leadership while supporting national healthcare priorities and global health security.”
Bhargav Kotadia, MD & CEO Sahajanand Medical Technologies Ltd, said" The Union Budget 2026 sends a strong and forward-looking signal for India’s healthcare and MedTech ecosystem. The launch of the ₹10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti scheme to build India into a global biopharmaceutical manufacturing hub is particularly significant, especially as the nation’s disease burden shifts towards non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and autoimmune disorders. Along with this, the expansion of NIPER infrastructure, creation of a nationwide network of 1,000 clinical trial sites, and strengthening of CDSCO to global standards will significantly improve India’s quality research, regulatory and innovation competitiveness. These measures will not only strengthen India’s healthcare security but also create strong upstream demand for advanced diagnostics, implants, and medical technologies.
From a medical devices perspective, the Budget reinforces the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and accelerates India’s journey towards Viksit Bharat 2047. Investments in research infrastructure, clinical ecosystems, workforce development including allied health and caregiver training, and the development of integrated medical hubs will create a strong domestic demand environment while boosting global export competitiveness. The policy direction clearly positions India as a trusted global partner in advanced healthcare manufacturing and innovation, and will catalyse deeper industry–academia collaboration, faster technology adoption, and stronger integration of MedTech into India’s evolving NCD care continuum."
Madhur Singhal, Managing Partner and CEO – Consumer and Internet, stated, “The Union Budget 2026 reinforces consumption as a long-term growth engine through large-scale investments in urban infrastructure, connectivity, and tourism. The introduction of City Economic Regions with allocations of nearly US$600M per region, alongside seven high-speed rail corridors, expanded freight networks, and tourism digitisation initiatives, will materially enhance market access and consumer demand. These measures are expected to drive sustained growth across retail, travel, e-commerce, and digital consumer platforms.”
Rishubh Gupta, Managing Director – India and Neighbouring Markets, Roche Diagnostics India Pvt Ltd, stated, “The Union Budget 2025–26 takes meaningful steps to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem while preparing it for evolving patient and system needs.
Stronger regulatory frameworks, faster approvals, and the expansion of healthcare capacity through regional medical hubs beyond metros—along with a skilled allied healthcare workforce—will help improve access to advanced care at scale, strengthen clinical decision-making, and enhance patient outcomes.
As national institutions, including mental health services, are strengthened, robust diagnostics and equitable investment in screening remain critical to enabling early, accurate diagnosis and effective disease management.
Together, these measures reinforce India’s ambition to emerge as a trusted global healthcare hub as it advances toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
Dr. P N Arora, Chairman & Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, stated, “The Union Budget 2026–27 presents a growth-oriented roadmap to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem and position the country as a global hub for medical value tourism. Proposals such as regional medical hubs and new Ayurveda institutes highlight the transformative potential of public-private collaboration across healthcare and allied sectors.
While the ‘Heal in India’ initiative received a strong push in the previous Budget, it finds limited explicit mention this year. We are hopeful that during the rollout and implementation phase, greater emphasis will be placed on strengthening and scaling this important initiative to further advance India’s global healthcare standing.
It is equally encouraging to see a strong focus on workforce development, Biopharma Shakti, upgraded research institutes, and digital health. Coupled with capital investment, structural reforms, AI and robotic surgery, the SME Growth Fund, and Semiconductor Mission 2.0, these measures, in my view, will not only enhance care delivery, drive innovation, and advance healthcare research, but also boost allied industries, foster employment, and build a resilient ecosystem aligned with the vision of a Viksit Bharat.
The reduction of the fiscal deficit to 4% is also a positive signal of fiscal prudence and long-term sustainability, reinforcing confidence in India’s growth trajectory while maintaining macroeconomic stability.”