Question : Public Health Spending

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

(a) whether as per the National Health Profile, 2019 (NHP-2019) report the country’s public expenditure on health continues to remain the lowest globally i.e. 1.28 per cent of the GDP, if thereof;

(b) whether the Government has fixed a target of 2.5 per cent of the GDP for public health by the year 2025, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government proposes to increase the public healthexpenditure, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(d) if so, the steps being taken or proposed to be taken to achieve the desired target by the year 2025?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)
(a) As per National Health Profile – 2019 (NHP-2019) report the Public Expenditure on health as percentage of GDP for 2017-18(BE) is 1.28.

As per the Global Health Expenditure database (GGHE-D), 2016 of WHO, India ranks 170 out of 188 countries in Domestic General Government Health Expenditure as a percentage of GDP.

(b) to (d) The National Health Policy, 2017 envisages raising public health expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025 in a time bound manner.

The budget allocation (BE) for the Department of Health & Family Welfare has been constantly increasing, which is indicated below:

Year Budget Allocation (BE)
(Rs in crores)
2016-17 37,061.55
2017-18 47,352.51
2018-19 52,800.00
2019-20 62659.12