Budget 2026: NATHEALTH urges higher healthcare spending, flags rising NCD burden
With the Union Budget 2026 set to be presented on February 1, the healthcare industry body NATHEALTH has urged the government to raise public healthcare spending to over 2.5 per cent of GDP and take urgent steps to address the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).In its pre-Budget recommendations, NATHEALTH said the roadmap aims to strengthen healthcare delivery, foster innovation and expand insurance and preventive coverage. It called for a balanced mix of fiscal support, structural reforms and public-private collaboration to build a future-ready health system.
Focus on infrastructure and preventive health
NATHEALTH has sought a declaration of the healthcare sector as ‘core infrastructure’ and proposed the creation of a Rs 50,000 crore healthcare infrastructure fund, citing limited access to long-term, low-cost capital for hospitals and diagnostic networks, reported news agency PTI. It said healthcare projects have long gestation periods and require flexible mid-term financing.Highlighting the sharp rise in chronic illnesses, the industry body noted that non-communicable diseases now account for nearly 65 per cent of all deaths in India. To improve early detection, NATHEALTH recommended tax deductions of up to Rs 10,000 for individuals for preventive health check-ups, citing low uptake of screening.The body also asked the government to increase healthcare public spending to over 2.5 per cent of GDP, compared with 1.9 per cent in 2023-24, according to official data.
Innovation, labs and long-term vision
Among other proposals, NATHEALTH suggested setting up a national network of accredited reference laboratories with an outlay of Rs 1,000 crore and an innovation fund of Rs 5,000–7,000 crore for deep-tech and provider collaboration, noting the fragmented innovation ecosystem.Summing up the recommendations, NATHEALTH President Ameera Shah said healthcare must be recognised as a strategic pillar of nation-building to achieve the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, as per PTI. Senior vice president Sangita Reddy said Budget 2026-27 should be a launchpad for bold, long-horizon investments to build a resilient, future-ready healthcare system.
