Question : Per capita Expenditure on Health

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether it is a fact that India’s per capita expenditure on health remains among the lowest in the world;

(b) if so, the facts thereof;

(c) whether only 2.2% has been allocated to healthcare in the Interim Budget;

(d) if so, the present percentage of GDP spending on health;

(e) whether there is a need to redirect funds from current allocations to the preventive care; and

(f) if so, the action proposed to be taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) & (b): As per the data available on Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED), 2016 India is ranked 139 among the 185 countries of the world in per capita health expenditure (in PPP). India’s per capita health expenditure is 239 (PPP,Int$).

(c): Yes, in the interim budget of 2019-20,
2.2% has been allocated to Department of Health & Family Welfare. The total budget estimate for the year was estimated at Rs.2784200 crores and budget estimate for Department of Health and Family Welfare was Rs.61398.12 crores.

(d): As per National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates 2015-16, Government health expenditure is 1.18% of GDP.

(e) & (f): There is no separate information available for health expenditure on preventive care. National Health Accounts (NHA) gives information on primary health care which includes preventive care.