10,000 medical seats in next 1 year, 75,000 in next 5- Check out Union Budget 2025 Health Highlights

New Delhi: The Central Government plans to take steps to further expand the medical education sector by adding more medical seats to the country's seat matrix, announced Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2025 today.

In her budget speech, the Minister announced that the Government will include 75,000 new undergraduate medical seats in the next five years while noting that nearly 1.1 lakh undergraduate and postgraduate medical seats have already been added over the past 10 years, which is an increase of 130%.

"Ten thousand additional seats will be added to medical colleges next year, and 75,000 seats will be added in the next five years," announced the Minister.

While commencing her Budget speech for 2025-2026, Minister Sitharaman mentioned that the next five years present a unique opportunity to realize 'Sabka Vikas', stimulating balanced growth of all regions and she also reiterated the aspiration of India as a country to transform into 'Viksit Bharat' encompassing zero-poverty, hundred percent school education, access to high-quality, affordable, and comprehensive healthcare, hundred percent skilled labour with meaningful employment, seventy per cent women in economic activities, and farmers making our country the ‘food basket of the world’.

Here are the Health Highlights promised in the Union Budget 2025-2026:

1. 75,000 Medical Seats to be added in the next 5 Years:

Promising further boost to the medical education sector, the Finance Minister has announced that 75,000 medical seats will be added to the country's seat matrix over the next five years.

"Our Government has added almost 1.1 lakh UG and PG medical education seats in ten years, an increase of 130 per cent. In the next year, 10,000 additional seats will be added in medical colleges and hospitals, towards the goal of adding 75,000 seats in the next 5 years," the Minister said in her budget speech.

2. Daycare Centre for Cancer in all District Hospitals in the Next 3 years:

Announcing the plans of the Government to establish Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals in the next 3 years, the Minister added, "Our Government will facilitate setting up of Day Care Cancer Centres in all district hospitals in the next 3 years. 200 Centres will be established in 2025-26."

3. Medical Tourism and Heal in India:

In the budget speech today, the Finance Minister also informed about the plans to promote Medical Tourism and Heal in India in partnership with the private sector. 

"Medical Tourism and Heal in India will be promoted in partnership with the private sector along with capacity building and easier visa norms," she said.

4. Gene Bank for Crops Germplasm:

Sitharaman also said that a 2nd Gene Bank with 10lakh germplasm lines will be set up for future food and nutritional security, adding that "This will provide conservation support to both public and private sectors for genetic resources."

5. Relief to Patients Suffering from Cancer/Rare/Severe Chronic Diseases:

In an attempt to provide relief to Cancer patients or those suffering from rare or severe chronic diseases, the Government has proposed adding 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of medicines fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD). Further, the Minister announced the Government's plan of adding 6 lifesaving medicines to the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5%.

"To provide relief to patients, particularly those suffering from cancer, rare diseases and other severe chronic diseases, I propose to add 36 lifesaving drugs and medicines to the list of medicines fully exempted from Basic Customs Duty (BCD). I also propose to add 6 lifesaving medicines to the list attracting concessional customs duty of 5%. Full exemption and concessional duty will also respectively apply on the bulk drugs for manufacture of the above," she said.

6. Medical Textiles:

Also Read: Union Health Budget 2023: Govt Shifts its Focus to Nursing Colleges