Union Budget 2026: Dr Soumya Swaminathan’s blueprint for a healthier India

Key Highlights

• The policy recommends health spending at 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025, while current public expenditure remains close to 2 per cent.
• In the Union Budget 2025–26, the government allocated nearly Rs 1 lakh crore (around USD 11.5 billion) to the health sector, reflecting an approximately 10–11 per cent increase over the previous year.
• However, public health spending continues to hover around 1.9–2 per cent of GDP, still short of the 2.5 per cent target.
• Dr Soumya emphasised that increasing financial allocation is not enough unless a larger share is directed towards strengthening primary healthcare.
• Highlighting the role of Ayushman Aarogya Mandirs or Health and Wellness Centres, she said these facilities now form a critical backbone of community-level healthcare delivery, but require further expansion, enhanced training for mid-level health providers, and sustained institutional support.