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The Budget has been in-line with expectations. There are quite a few good initiatives introduced, which will act as critical catalysts to help the growth of the healthcare sector in India in the future. We thank the Government’s decision to totally exempt excise duty or countervailing duty on life saving drugs.

Ideally, the Government should also look at according the same benefits to several devices critical in surgeries such as incise drapes, which are as critical as life-saving drugs. Also, it is important for the Government to look at making hospitals safer by giving incentives to hospitals which adhere to stricter infection control practices. The five-year tax holiday for setting up hospitals in Tier-II and Tier-III cities is extremely welcome.

Gautam Khanna, Vice-President

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No rollback of Budget proposals: Chidambaram

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