India's Public Health Spending Triples to ₹4.14 Lakh Crore
· India · Hindustan Times, The Hindu
India's government health expenditure rose to ₹4.14 lakh crore in 2023-24, marking a three-fold increase from the ₹1.30 lakh crore recorded in 2013-14. According to the latest National Health Accounts estimates, this shift has contributed to a decline in out-of-pocket household spending from 64.2% to 42.7% over the same decade. Per capita government health spending also climbed significantly, rising from ₹1,042 to ₹2,959 during this period. The data further shows that social security expenditure on health, which includes government-financed insurance schemes like the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, increased from 6% to 11% of total health expenditure. The Union Health Ministry attributed this downward trend in direct household costs to the expansion of public healthcare services and financial protection mechanisms.
Why it matters
The reduction in out-of-pocket expenditure lowers the financial burden on Indian households when accessing medical treatment, potentially preventing families from falling into poverty due to healthcare costs.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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