Jaipur: Rajasthan’s health sector is set to benefit from the Union Budget, with experts citing promising initiatives aimed at strengthening biopharma and improving healthcare services throughout the state. The Central govt has allocated Rs 10,000 crore for biopharma initiatives, which is anticipated to stimulate growth in manufacturing, research, and the development of skilled healthcare professionals in the region. Health specialists predict that patient care will improve markedly, particularly as the affordability of cancer and rare disease medications is expected to rise. Additionally, district hospitals, which have struggled with inadequate facilities, are poised for significant upgrades. Experts assert that these improvements will enhance geriatric care and give a considerable uplift to Rajasthan’s medical tourism sector. “Rajasthan will experience a boost in healthcare facilities, as indicated in the Union Budget. The scheme to assist states in establishing five regional medical hubs will greatly benefit Rajasthan and enhance its medical tourism prospects,” said Dr SS Agarwal, former president of the Indian Medical Association. Dr Agarwal added that the planned establishment of emergency and trauma care centers is set to increase district hospitals’ capacity by 50%. This expansion aims to relieve the pressure on tertiary hospitals and improve response times for accidents, thereby broadening access to vital stabilisation and referral services in areas struggling with inadequate infrastructure. In a related health development, the decision to increase excise duties on cigarettes and other tobacco products has been welcomed by the medical community in Rajasthan. The Rajasthan State ENT Association (RSEA) has noted that excise duties on these products will rise from 28% to as high as 40%, a measure intended to deter tobacco consumption. Dr Pawan Singhal, secretary of RSEA and head of the ENT department at Sawai Man Singh Hospital, highlighted that tobacco use remains a leading cause of preventable deaths, calling for sustained public awareness efforts to combat its usage.
