Even if the National Health Mission changes its name and form, a thrust to strengthen both rural and urban primary health care must receive a financial fillip. Budgeting for healthcare professionalsEven as health systems must adapt to the changing nature of health challenges, so should health budgets. Increased employment in primary care benefits the economy too. The budget can catalyse that process by initiating reforms in central health services and Union territories. Story continues below this ad(K. Srinath Reddy is Chancellor of the PHFI University of Public Health Sciences and Chair of the Centre for Universal Health Coverage at the Indian School of Public Policy)