Budget 2018: Health care sector needs sops to set up hospitals in villages

A major thrust is required to increase the number of hospital beds in rural areas to improve India's healthcare parameters and save lives of millions of people every year

From Independence, the healthcare sector has got the least priority in every Union Budget. This is inexplicable because a country cannot progress if its people are unhealthy and keep dying for want of basic healthcare. Most of the Indian population lives in rural areas, but it is unfortunate to see that majority of hospitals exist in urban areas. One of the biggest challenges facing our country is the acute shortage of hospital beds in rural areas. Healthcare services are lopsided in favour of cities. A major thrust is needed to increase the number of hospital beds in rural areas to