India, Jan. 26 -- Now when the Union Budget 2021-22 is around the corner, in the midst of one of the worst public health emergencies faced by humanity in recent memory, it is high time for the healthcare industry to articulate its concerns and expectations. Only a well-formulated and balanced annual financial statement with adequate allocation and focus on all critical segments, as well as on secondary aspects, can prepare the country to improve its health services and meet the challenges of inoculating such a large population as ours.

Need to address poor spending on healthcare: There is an urgent need to raise the allocation on health as a proportion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The gap is so large and the population so underse...