National Health Accounts Estimates 82% Increase In India’s Total Health Expenditure Per Capita

National Health Accounts estimates 82% increase in India’s total health expenditure per capita even as the total health expenditure as a measure of gross domestic product (GDP) has roughly remained the same from 2013-14 to 2021-22.

The total health expenditure per capita, which indicates health expenditure per person in the country at current prices for 2021-22, was calculated to be Rs 6,602. This marked an 82 per cent jump from Rs 3,638 in 2013-14, the report released by the National Health Authority, the apex body responsible for implementing India's public health insurance and assurance scheme, noted in its ninth round of estimates for India.

The total health expenditure is considered to be current and capital expenditures incurred by government and private sources. It was estimated to be Rs 9,04,461 crore, 3.83 per cent of GDP for the year 2021-22.

The report also highlighted that the government health expenditure as a share of the total health expenditure went up by 68 per cent, from 28.6 per cent in 2013-14 to 48 per cent in 2021-22.

On the other hand, the out-of-pocket expenditures as a share of the total health expenditure dropped by 39 per cent during the same period. This metric indicates extent of financial protection available for households towards healthcare payments.

Source: Down To Earth