New Delhi, Jan. 16 -- As the Indian government gets ready to announce the Union Budget 2026 on February 1, the healthcare sector is hopeful for an increase in government spending on healthcare to 2.5%-3% (a rise from the current rate of around 1.3%) of GDP, a demand that has persisted for many years.

Tushar Badjate, the Director of Badjate Stock & Shares Pvt Ltd, is of the opinion that since India's healthcare expenditure is still under 2.5% of GDP, there is limited scope for complacency in the Union Budget.

In the National Health Policy 2017, the government aimed to raise public investment in healthcare to 2.5% of GDP by 2025; however, this goal has not been met, which experts believe contributes significantly to the country's inadequa...