Sagar Hospitals Featured in Business Today: Insights on Healthcare and the Union Budget

Published in: Business Today – Leaders Forging a New India, February 2026

Ishiqa Multani, President – Sagar Hospitals Group, has been featured in the Business Today special edition “Leaders Forging a New India.” Her article, titled “Healthcare and the Union Budget: Priorities for a Sustainable System,” discusses the key structural reforms required to strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem.

The article highlights how healthcare must be viewed not only as a social responsibility but also as a critical driver of economic growth. As India continues to expand public health spending, the focus must shift toward improving efficiency, strengthening infrastructure, and building long-term system resilience.

Strengthening Preventive and Primary Care

One of the key themes explored in the article is the need to strengthen preventive healthcare and primary care systems. Early diagnosis, screening, and timely interventions can significantly reduce hospitalizations and improve long-term health outcomes while also reducing the economic burden on healthcare systems.

Supporting Healthcare Workforce and Infrastructure

Healthcare delivery depends heavily on a strong workforce and robust infrastructure. The article highlights the need for continued investment in skill development, workforce retention, and hospital infrastructure to ensure quality healthcare services remain accessible to growing populations.

The Role of Digital Health

Digital health initiatives are also expected to play a transformative role in improving healthcare delivery. Better integration of electronic health records, interoperable systems, and secure digital platforms can improve clinical decision-making, operational efficiency, and patient outcomes.

Building a Sustainable Healthcare Ecosystem

The article also emphasizes the importance of supporting domestic medical manufacturing and strengthening supply chains to ensure affordability, resilience, and long-term sustainability in healthcare delivery.

As India prepares for increasing healthcare demand driven by an ageing population and rising chronic diseases, aligning healthcare policy, infrastructure investment, and technological innovation will be critical to building a sustainable healthcare system.