By Soniya:
India’s healthcare financing system has shown significant progress, according to the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates 2022-23 released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The report highlights increased government spending on healthcare, reduced out-of-pocket medical expenses, and expanded financial protection through public health insurance and welfare schemes.
The National Health Accounts (NHA) report tracks healthcare expenditure across government, private sector, households, insurance providers, and social security programs. Prepared by the National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat under the National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), the report follows the internationally recognized System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 framework.
One of the key findings is the steady rise in Government Health Expenditure (GHE). Government spending on health increased from 1.15% of GDP in 2013-14 to 1.43% in 2022-23, while per capita government health expenditure nearly tripled from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786 during the same period. This reflects greater public investment in healthcare infrastructure, services, and welfare programs.
The report also highlights a substantial decline in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE), which fell from 64.2% of total health expenditure in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23. This reduction indicates improved financial protection for citizens and reduced dependence on direct household spending for medical treatment.
Additionally, the share of government expenditure in total health spending rose from 28.6% to 43.7%, while spending through social security schemes and health insurance increased significantly. Programs such as Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) have played an important role in expanding healthcare coverage and reducing financial burdens on families.
The findings underscore India’s progress toward affordable, accessible, and equitable healthcare, while highlighting the growing role of public financing and insurance coverage in strengthening the country’s health system.
