New Delhi, Jan. 29 -- India's healthcare sector stands at a critical juncture. While our aspirations for a healthier nation are bold, fiscal commitments often fall short of aligning with these goals. As we approach the Union Budget, this is the moment to ask a fundamental question: do we want a health system that merely treats illness, or one that protects lives, livelihoods and enables holistic well-being?

The most urgent expectation from this Budget is a clear and credible commitment to increasing the public investment in health. India is still significantly far from the long-stated target of allocating 2.5% of GDP to health, and this Budget must substantially bridge that gap.

How we spend this money also matters. We have been witness...