Health Budget 2026-27: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the full budget for the financial years 2026 and 2027 shortly, and all eyes are on it. This budget is expected to bring significant benefits to the auto sector, the film industry, the sports world, and all sections of society, including the healthcare industry.
This budget is considered crucial for accelerating the country’s economic growth, and there is considerable speculation surrounding it. Keeping public health in mind, the government is reportedly considering a major initiative this time. A significant announcement aimed at strengthening the healthcare system is expected, which could prove to be a major boon.
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What the Past Figures Show
Looking at the budget figures for the past four years, the data is quite striking. There has been a continuous increase in government spending on the health sector. In the financial year 2025-26, approximately ₹99,858.56 crore was spent on health. Before that, the figure was around ₹90,000 crore in 2024-25, ₹88,956 crore in 2023-24, and ₹86,606 crore in 2022-23.
However, compared to developed countries, India’s spending on the health sector as a percentage of GDP is still quite low. According to a 2022 World Bank report, India spends only 3 to 4 per cent of its GDP on healthcare services. In the US, this expenditure is approximately 17 to 1 per cent. Japan spends about 10 per cent of its GDP, while Russia spends 5 per cent on the health sector.
Hospitals also have high expexpectationsom the government.
On this subject, Dr V.S. Chauhan, Chairman and Managing Director of Prakash Hospital, Noida, says that as the demand for healthcare services increases in areas outside metropolitan cities, the Union Budget 2026 must incentivise hospital-based development. This requires easy access to affordable capital, quick regulatory approvals, and a realistic reimbursement system. He said that delays in payments under government health schemes affect hospitals’ ability to reinvest and slow down the pace of expansion of new healthcare facilities.
When will the budget be presented?
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the full budget today at 11 AM. All eyes will be on her budget speech. Some major announcements are expected. You can listen to the budget speech live on news channels.