Question : Public Spending on Healthcare

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

(a) the current status of public funding on healthcare by the Government in the country and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government is aware that the healthcare sector in the country is facing inequalities and there is a lack of adequate medical facilities in the country particularly in rural areas;

(c) if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether the Government proposes to increase the public spending on healthcare in the coming budget, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): As per the Economic Survey 2016-17, the expenditure by Government (Central and State Government combined) on health as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2016-17 (BE) was 1.4 per cent.

(b) & (c): Public Health being a state subject, the primary responsibility to provide adequate medical facilities including in rural areas is that of the State/UT Governments. As per the National Health Profile 2017 of Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, there are 11,054 hospitals with 209010 beds in rural area and 3,325 hospitals with 425869 beds in urban area in the Public Sector.

(d): The National Health Policy, 2017 provides for increasing public expenditure on health to 2.5% of GDP in a time bound manner by 2025.