Estimated public health expenditure in India FY 2017-2019
India’s public health expenditure has been steadily rising over the last decade in order to cater to its growing population. In fiscal year 2019, it amounted to about 600 billion Indian rupees.
When wealth decides health
Overall, India’s per capita expenditure on health amounted to over 1,600 Indian rupees that same year. However, this was an average estimate with some parts of the country focusing on health far more than others. For example, the larger and wealthier states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh spent between 120 to 180 billion rupees on health in fiscal year 2018; whereas north-eastern states which have historically been poorer and more remote, spent around three to six billion rupees on healthcare that year.
Private versus public
The low health expenditure by the government has led to a highly developed private health care sector. Private hospitals make up more than half of the country’s healthcare infrastructure, while private insurance is usually the norm for middle to upper class citizens. However, this is not to say that the government is not working towards its goal of universal healthcare by 2025. Various programs like the Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission have already showed some success by providing the common man with an alternative to exorbitant healthcare costs and treatments.
When wealth decides health
Overall, India’s per capita expenditure on health amounted to over 1,600 Indian rupees that same year. However, this was an average estimate with some parts of the country focusing on health far more than others. For example, the larger and wealthier states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh spent between 120 to 180 billion rupees on health in fiscal year 2018; whereas north-eastern states which have historically been poorer and more remote, spent around three to six billion rupees on healthcare that year.
Private versus public
The low health expenditure by the government has led to a highly developed private health care sector. Private hospitals make up more than half of the country’s healthcare infrastructure, while private insurance is usually the norm for middle to upper class citizens. However, this is not to say that the government is not working towards its goal of universal healthcare by 2025. Various programs like the Ayushman Bharat and the National Health Mission have already showed some success by providing the common man with an alternative to exorbitant healthcare costs and treatments.
