From public health voices to representatives from the pharmaceutical, medical devices manufacturing, and hospitals segments will be watching to see whether the upcoming Union budget (February 1) will increase the Centre’s pure-play spending on health to 2.5 per cent of GDP — as committed by several governments in the past.

Patient groups hope that more expensive medicines, including those for cancer and rare diseases, get greater support this time. Other broad critical announcements awaited include sops for research and innovative initiatives.

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