Govt health expenditure rises to 1.84% of GDP
New Delhi: The share of government health expenditure in India’s GDP has risen from 1.13% in 2014-15 to 1.84% in 2021-22, according to the National Health Account (NHA) estimates for 2020-21 and 2021-22, released on Wednesday.
The proportion of government health spending in the country’s total health expenditure has also surged from 29.0% in 2014-15 to 48.0% in 2021-22, with per capita government spending on healthcare nearly tripling over this period.
Member (Health) of NITI Aayog Dr. V K Paul highlighted the significant decline in out-of-pocket expenditure from 64.2% of total health expenditure in 2013-14 to 39.4% in 2021-22, calling it a “very positive indicator”, news agency ANI reported.
This decline in personal healthcare spending has been due to government initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), which he said has saved over Rs 1 lakh crore and positively impacted the recent NHA estimates, he noted.
He also highlighted the Free Dialysis Scheme launched in 2015-16, which has benefited 25 lakh people.
Union Health Secretary Apurva Chandra pointed out that the notable rise in government health expenditure, alongside the reduction in out-of-pocket costs, is a promising sign of the government’s commitment to healthcare.
He noted that the total health expenditure has seen a significant increase, reflecting the government’s focus on enhancing healthcare services and ensuring financial protection and Universal Health Coverage for its citizens, the report said.
The steady decline in out-of-pocket expenses signifies the government's ongoing efforts to reduce the financial burden of healthcare on individuals and move closer to achieving comprehensive health coverage for all, he underscored
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