Dr G S K Velu, President of AMDSI (All Indian Medical Diagnostic and Surgical Instruments Manufacturers) & Head of Manufacturing Sub Committee of ASSOCHAM and CII. He is also the Managing Director for Trivitron Group of Companies.

Your first reaction to the Budget.

Disappointment. There is nothing for us in the Budget.

You had said earlier that medical technology was facing a crisis. Anything done in the Budget to diffuse the crisis?

The crisis is going to continue because they haven't even bothered to recognise us as an industry. So, I have serious doubts about the future of the healthcare industry.

You know, 50 percent of the expenses of a newly established hospital is medical technology which is equipment and devices. If that industry doesn't become indigenous and cost effective, what is the point in establishing hospitals? How many patients can afford treatment?

So, you feel the government has been turning a blind eye to the industry�

Either they don't want to do anything or they don't understand. For the last two years, we have been lobbying. There have been recommendations but the finance ministry turns a blind eye. We feel totally let down.

Do you think the Budget was prepared with an eye on early elections?

It is a typical election year Budget. I don't see anything extraordinarily positive in the Budget.

I can only speak from the point of view of our industry and we feel there is nothing in it for us.

We are talking about China becoming a $13 billion industry with $7 billion exports, and we want to take India to that level. India can become a manufacturing destination but without any help from the ministries, what can we do?

We blame both the health ministry and the finance ministry for this. Even the health ministry doesn't take our problems seriously. Unlike the IT and Communication ministries which take care of the concerns of their industries, the health ministry is inefficient.

How do you rate the Budget?

0/10