(a) whether public spending on health in India is less when compared to other developed countries;
(b) if so, the details of average amount spent on an Indian citizen ;
(c) whether there is a fall in the standard of health services in the country;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the decision proposed to be taken to raise the public expenditure on health?
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE( DR. ANBUMANI RAMDOSS)
(a) & (b) As per WHO Report 2004, expenditure on health in 2001 was 5.1 percent of GDP of which public spending constitutes 17.9 per cent. The per capita Government expenditure on health is approximately Rs.200/-.
(c) to (e) Health is a State subject. However, achieving an acceptable standard of good health amongst the general population of the country continues to the main objective of the Government Health Policy. For this, National Health Policy-2002 announced by the Government plans to increase the public health sector expenditure from the present 0.9 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent of GDP by 2010. There has been progressive improvement in many demographic indicators like life expectancy, Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Crude Birth Rate (CBR), Crude Death Rate (CDR) etc. Central Government also helps the State Governments in the provision of health care services through the implementation of National Health Programmes for control of major diseases like TB, Malaria, Leprosy, Blindness and AIDS. Health care infrastructure in many States is being strengthened with external assistance to improve health care services for the people in the rural areas. The Government has been making every effort to augment resources for health sector by mobilizing external assistance from various bilateral and multilateral agencies for supporting various national health programmes for the control of major disease.