Union Budget 2022: Mental Wellbeing Of Utmost Importance For Strong Health System
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on 1st February 2022, presented her fourth Union Budget with a considerable attention on the healthcare sector. Sitharaman in her opening statement focussed on strengthening the healthcare sector. "We are in the midst of the Omicron wave, the speed of our vaccination campaign has helped greatly. I am confident that with 'Sabka Prayaas', we will continue with strong growth," she stated.
To have an insightful discussion and deeper understanding of the announcements made in the Budget 2022, BW Businessworld organised 'The Plan B Show'. The day long event saw multiple panels across topics with domain experts contributing their expertise.
Presenting his opening remarks, Dr Shravan Subramanyam, Managing Director, Wipro GE Healthcare and President & CEO, GE Healthcare – India and South Asia, stated, "The Union Budget 2022-23 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman took a comprehensive, growth-oriented approach. With a big push for capex which has been increased from Rs 5.54 lakh crore to Rs 7.50 lakh crore, we look forward to this providing fillip for improving health facilities and hospital infrastructure and access in the country. The open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem will not only encourage people to buy health insurance but will also widen the access to quality healthcare."
Subramanyam further added, "The launch of the National Tele Mental Health Program represents a progressive step towards recognising and acting on mental health issues, especially considering the emotional toll that COVID-19 has taken on people. The government’s focus on holistic health encompassing physical as well as mental well-being is the right step towards a strong health system."
Subramanyam also recognised and applauded the government’s efforts towards a digitised healthcare system that is well-aligned with the National Digital Health Mission.
India has seen a lot of development when it comes to health tech and digital healthcare but unfortunately it is always done in silos. Every large hospital has its own healthcare information system, they have their records being maintained but inter-operability has never seen the light of the day. The Government of India has announced the rolling out of an open platform for the National Digital Health Ecosystem to address such issues.
Responding to what needs to be done both at the government end and the private sector end to make this a success and are we in the right direction, Anand K, CEO, SRL Diagnostics, said, "This will bring about inter-operability and portability between the healthcare services that we have. If we take the example of diagnostics, currently, each hospital/lab has different codes for different tests. We can't take a report from one lab and go to another lab in order to be used futher. There is no continuity in the process. So, this adoption of LOINC codes, international codes, insurance-based system and all of this digital intergration will help us in moving towards a much more seamless, inter-operable structures between the various healthcare facilities."
Budget 2022 focussed on strengthening the delivery of mental health services through the roll out of National Tele Mental Health Programme. Explaining how this initiative of the Indian Government is going to impact the COVID affected masses of the country, Govind Rao, CEO, NMC Genetics, underlined, "With the rate at which the digital things are moving up, the rate at which the awareness is moving up and the rate at which smartphone adoption is going up, it's the right time to tackle mental health issues. Implementing mental healthcare is relatively easier with noble tech solutions and tech platforms. Because all others are intensive in terms of the specialities, assets and hospitals involved. But mental health is more of a counselling, talking the right thing and reaching out to right people at right time."
