The research-based medical technology companies with global experience in innovation and manufacturing have expressed their hope that the Union Budget 2026 would address key issues in the healthcare sector in the country, by strengthening the secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities, funding to support delivery of services along with capacity building, enhancing access to advanced therapies to the patients, among others.
The members of the Medical Technology Association of India (MTaI), the association in the MedTech space in the country comprising a wide spectrum of research-based medical technology companies, has said that the key priorities the government may focus in the Budget include value-based public spending, improved post-procedure recovery, stronger emergency and stroke care, and wider access to advanced, evidence-based therapies to ensure better outcomes from public health investments.
Aditya Banerjee, managing director, B. Braun India said, “While over the last few years, the Government of India has increased the allocation for healthcare in its budget, the continued prioritization on capacity building has often left public healthcare facilities with insufficient funds to deliver adequate services to the large number of patients that they serve".
"A deliberate shift in the public procurement criteria, from the lowest upfront price (L1) to the best long-term value for the overall healthcare system (V1), is essential for delivering better patient outcomes for every Rupee spent, while also helping avoid the spiralling healthcare budgets, that today are becoming unsustainable in many developed economies of the world, despite their significantly smaller populations,” he added.
Atul Grover, managing director, Becton Dickinson India opined that the government has been showing continued commitment to enhancing patient access through the strengthening of healthcare infrastructure, including the expansion of hospital capacity and medical education.
"We look forward to budgetary measures that will further elevate the quality of care till the last mile, supported by increased investments in critical areas such as infection prevention and control to enhance safety outcomes for patients as well as healthcare professionals, antimicrobial resistance mitigation and, comprehensive cancer diagnosis and management," added Grover.
Arun Kaushik, managing director, Teleflex India while sharing his views on the upcoming budget said that emergency care including stroke treatment are still out of reach for far too many Indians, even though every minute can decide life, death or permanent disability. Many patients cannot reach well-equipped emergency and trauma centres in time, and public awareness of stroke warning signs and the need for urgent hospital care is still very low.
"The coming budget can contribute in secondary and tertiary care infrastructure of healthcare facilities, by investing in stronger emergency networks, better-equipped hospitals and focused stroke awareness campaigns, so that more people receive timely, life-saving care when a crisis strikes," he opined.
Ajay Bagga, managing director and country head - Zimmer Biomet India said that ahead of the Budget, there is a clear need to strengthen the entire continuum of orthopaedic care beyond surgery to ensure patients return to a pain-free, mobile, and independent life.
Across non-metro and district settings, many orthopaedic patients face delayed mobility and prolonged pain due to limited access to structured post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation closer to home. These gaps often lead to slower recovery, extended caregiver dependence, and delayed return to normal life.
"Union Budget 2026 offers an opportunity to strengthen post-procedure care at the community level by supporting digitally enabled care management platforms. Solutions combining personalized recovery guidance, patient education, remote monitoring, and clinician follow-up beyond discharge can improve adherence, enable early identification of recovery challenges, and accelerate functional outcomes ultimately helping patients regain mobility faster and improving value-based healthcare delivery," he said.
Mandeep Singh Kumar, vice president & managing director, Medtronic India said, "As we approach the upcoming Budget, we are hopeful for measures that will further enhance access to advanced therapies for millions of Indian patients who rely on public funding. By prioritizing the inclusion of innovative, evidence-based technologies within national health schemes, the healthcare system can not only keep pace with modern clinical practices but also deliver meaningful improvements to the lives of patients and their families, paving the way for a healthier future for millions across the nation."
MTaI comprises over 70 global MedTech companies as members, which collectively operate 20 large manufacturing facilities, 26 research and development centres, and 15 Global Capability Centres in India. Its member companies train more than 250,000 healthcare professionals annually.
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