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The Union Budget 2026 places healthcare firmly at the intersection of technology, talent, and long-term capacity building. With the INR10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti programme, expanded investments in advanced pharmaceutical R&D, and a major push to train 1.5 lakh caregivers, the Budget signals a dual focus on innovation-led growth and strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The Tech Panda asked healthtech leaders what these measures mean for India’s evolving healthcare ecosystem.
Sakshi Shah, Founder, Goodlives
“The positive market response, with the Nifty Pharma and BSE Healthcare Index rising by 1.7 – 2%, reflects strong confidence in the government’s vision of positioning India as a global bio-pharma development hub. Beyond capital markets, the proposal to train 1.5 lakh caregivers is a critical step toward strengthening healthcare delivery at the grassroots level. A skilled caregiver workforce is essential not only to address the growing burden of chronic and age-related conditions but also to provide much-needed support for mental health care, where early intervention, empathy, and continuity of care are crucial. Together, these measures signal a balanced approach that combines innovation, investment, human capital development, and mental well-being, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reinforcing the long-term resilience of India’s healthcare ecosystem.”
Sandeep Nailwal, CEO & Co-founder, Polygon Foundation and Philanthropist & Founder, Blockchain For Impact (BFI)
“The Union Budget takes a clear step towards positioning India as a technology and service led economy on the path to Viksit Bharat@2047. The emphasis on emerging technologies such as AI, the creation of a high powered committee to strengthen the service sector, and continued investments in research and innovation reflect a recognition that growth, jobs, and inclusion must move together.
“The renewed focus on healthcare is particularly encouraging. Initiatives spanning mental health infrastructure, allied health professionals, caregiver training, medical value tourism, and the INR10,000 crore Biopharma Shakti programme signal a long term commitment to building both healthcare capacity and domestic innovation. Strengthening biomedical manufacturing, clinical research networks, and regulatory systems will be critical as India responds to non-communicable diseases.
“From medical tourism hubs and AYUSH institutions to service led employment and technology enabled delivery, this Budget recognises healthcare as both a social priority and an economic opportunity. The next phase will depend on effective execution and sustained collaboration between government, private capital, philanthropy, and mission driven entrepreneurs to translate these initiatives into affordable, scalable impact for India and the world.”
Dr Sajeev Nair, Founder & Chairman, Vieroots
“The 2026–27 Union Budget presents an encouraging step in addressing the pressing need for affordable treatment of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. With initiatives like BioPharma Shakti, it becomes evident that biologic medicines are no longer niche therapies but are central to longevity, quality of life, and preventive healthcare at scale. By making an investment in biopharma manufacturing and strengthening regulatory institutions like the CDSCO with deeper scientific expertise and faster approval pathways, India is well positioned to make its mark as a global hub for high-quality, affordable biologics benefiting patients domestically and healthcare systems globally. These measures will definitely pave the way for a healthier, more informed society and will also align well with the broader shift toward personalised, preventive healthcare to boost longevity and quality of life.
“Alongside this, the budget also focuses on developing medical value tourism through regional healthcare hubs further giving an impetus to the sector’s growth. Affordable, high-quality care backed by strong regulation and advanced therapeutics enhances India’s global healthcare competitiveness while also upgrading domestic infrastructure. Together, these measures support a broader shift toward personalised, preventive healthcare that improves healthspan and quality of life.”
Mannuri Vamshi Krishna, Founder & CEO, MedScore
“MedScore welcomes the Union Budget 2026–27, which strengthens India’s enterprise and MSME ecosystem through the Rs. 10,000 crore growth fund and support for AI-powered, industry-linked labs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 institutions. These steps recognize that entrepreneurship, innovation, and digital solutions are key to improving operational efficiency, risk management, and resilience in sectors like pharmaceuticals. For MedScore, this lays a strong foundation to scale AI-driven credit governance, real-time monitoring, and data-driven decision-making across distributor and medical shop networks, reducing defaults and building trust-based relationships. Complementing this, the INR10,000 crore BioPharma Shakti initiative advances Health Advancement through Knowledge, Technology, and Innovation. It strengthens India’s healthcare digital ecosystem and addresses the rising burden of non-communicable diseases. The initiative positions India as a global biopharma hub. With affordable biologics and biosimilars, a national biopharma network, upgraded NIPER institutes, 1,000 clinical trial sites, and faster specialist-driven drug approvals, these measures together signal a coherent vision of fostering innovation, scaling domestic capabilities, and improving quality of life.”
Dr Sheetal Jindal, Director Medical Genetics program, Jindal Ivf
“When we look at the Union Budget 2026–27, the strong push for biopharma through the INR10,000 crore Bio Pharma Shakti programme is a meaningful step toward building India as a global healthcare and innovation hub. Investments in biosimilars, digital health ecosystems, and research capacity will strengthen the scientific backbone of medicine and improve long-term outcomes across multiple specialties. For fertility care, this is important because IVF outcomes depend on high-quality biologics, diagnostics, and lab technologies, and a stronger biopharma ecosystem. However, while the Budget strengthens the supply side of healthcare, it stops short of addressing the demand-side realities faced by families seeking fertility treatment. There is still no clear provision for affordability of IVF, insurance coverage for multiple cycles, or targeted support for assisted reproductive technologies. For biopharma innovation to deliver real social value, it must be paired with policies that make advanced fertility care accessible for couples in tier two and tier three cities, not just technologically possible.”
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