The Union Budget 2024, while significantly increasing health sector funding to ₹90,959 crore, failed to address the BJP’s poll promise of including senior citizens above 70 in Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY. The budget features customs duty exemptions for three cancer drugs and changes to basic customs duty for X-ray equipment. Reactions from healthcare leaders underscore the budget's focus on improving accessibility and infrastructure. However, the omission of the senior citizens' health cover highlights a key unfulfilled promise, leaving a gap in comprehensive healthcare improvements.
