Lok Sabha Question No. 100 (STARRED), answered on 2020-02-07
Subject: Public Health Spending
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali, Ravi Kishan Shukla

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 100 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 7 TH FEBRUARY, 2020 PUBLIC HEALTH SPENDI NG

## *100. KUNWAR DANISH ALI: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

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

- (a) whether the healthcare expenditure in the country vis - a- vis  GDP is one of the lowest globally, if so, the details thereof along with the percentage spent on healthcare during each of the last five years;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  finalise  a  roadmap  to  gradual increase public health spending to 2.5 per cent of the GDP by 2025, if s details along with the current status of the plan;
- (c) the details of per capita expenditure being incurred on health in the countr separately by Government and private sector;
- (d) whether the Government has formulated/proposes to formulate any acti plan to provide free/affordable health services in the country, especiall to the poor, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the other necessary steps taken by the Government to strengthen the sector  including  in  the  rural  areas  during  the  last  five  years  along outcome thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a) to ( e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 100 FOR 7 TH FEBRUARY, 2020

(a)As per the Global Health Expenditure Database of WHO (GHED ), for the year 2017, India ranks 166 th out of 184 countries inDomestic General Government Health Expenditure as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) .

As perthe EconomicSurvey 2019 - 20, General Government (Centre and States) expenditure on heal th as a percent of GDP in India during the last five years   is as follows:

| Year         | General Government expenditure on health percentage of GDP   |
|--------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2019- 20(BE) | 1.6%                                                         |
| 2018- 19(RE) | 1.5%                                                         |
| 2017- 18     | 1.4%                                                         |
| 2016- 17     | 1.4%                                                         |
| 2015- 16     | 1.3%                                                         |

(b) The National Health Policy, 2017 , envisages raising public expenditure to 2.5% of GDP by 2025.

health

In 2018 - 19,  Government  announced  4%  Health  and  Education  Cess  in place of 3% Education Cess on personal Income Tax and Corporation Tax, t cater to the education and health needs of poor and rural families.  In addition Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) has started supporting infrastructu works of medical Institutions.

In the Budget 2020 - 1, it has been proposed that Health Cess of  5 %  on import of medical devices will be imposed and the proceeds of the Health will be used for  financing health infrastructure and services.

(c)  As  per National  Health  Accounts  (NHA)  Estimates,  the  per  capita  Tota Health  Expenditure  (Public  +  Pri vate)  and  per  capita  Government  Health

Expenditure  during  the  years  2013 - 14,  2014 - 15,  2015 - 16  and  2016 - 17(latest available) is as follows:

Per capita Health Expenditure ( in Rs)

| Year     |   Per Capita Health Expenditure |   Total Per Capita Government Health Expendit ure |
|----------|---------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------|
| 2013- 14 |                            3638 |                                              1042 |
| 2014- 15 |                            3826 |                                              1108 |
| 2015- 16 |                            4116 |                                              1261 |
| 2016- 17 |                            4381 |                                              1418 |

(d)  & (e)  Public  health  and  Hospitals  being  a  State  subject,  the  pri responsibility  of  strengthening  the  health  sector  in  the  States  lies  w respective State Governments. However, to improve the health outcomes of t population  at  large,  Union  Govern ment  has  taken  several  steps  to  provide affordable healthcare facilities across the country.

The Major steps taken are : Launch of Ayushman Bharat, with its two components:i)  to establish Health & Wellness Centres across the country to provide Comprehensive Primary healthcare, and  ii) Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogy Yojana which provides health cover of Rs. 5.00 lakh per family per year around 10.74 crore poor and vulnerable families.

In addition , through the National Health Mission (NHM), Govt of India supplements  the  efforts  of  the  State/UT  Governments  to  provide  accessib affordable and quality healthcare to all th se who access public health facilities especially in rural areas. NHM support is also provided for provision of a host of  free  services  related  to  maternal  health,  child  health,  adolescent family planning, universal immunization programme, and control of Communicable and Non-Communicable diseases.  Further under NHM, Free Drugs and Free Diagnostics Service Initiatives, PM National Dialys Programme are being implemented to provide essential medicines , diagnostics and dialysis services in public health facilities.

Major expansion of facilities in Government hospitals has ta ken place in recent  years. 21  new AIIMS  have  also  been  sanctioned.    157  Government Medical  colleges  have  been  sanctioned  by  upgrading  district  hospitals improve  healthcare  facilities  for  poor  citizens.  In  addition,  free  trea being  provided  to  p or  citizens  by  State  Governments  through  Government hospitals using funds provided under NHM.

**