Lok Sabha Question No. 1864 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: World Bank Report on Health Spending
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1864 TO BE ANSWERED ON 6 TH DECEMBER, 2024

## WORLDBANKREPORTONHEALTH SPENDING

## 1864: SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that as per the World Bank report regarding Government health spending trends in Low-Income Countries (LICs) and Lower Middle -Income Countries (LMICs);
- (b) if so, the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to ensure that health spending remains on track particularly in light of the decline in per capita health spending; and
- (c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to increase the share of health spending in India's national budget?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIMATIANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (c) The World Bank has published publication titled ' Government Health Spending Trends Through 2023: Peaks, Declines, and Mounting Risks'. The publication presents the trend in Government Health Spending (GHS) across 63 low and low-middle-income countries (LICs and LMICs).

As per National Health Accounts Estimates for India, the Government Health Expenditure (GHE) as percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased from 1.13% in 201415 to 1.84% in 2021-22. The per capita Government Health Expenditure has also increased from Rs.1108 to Rs. 3169 during the same period. There has been significant declining trend in Out of Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as percentage of Total Health Expenditure (THE) also. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has taken up with States to prioritize allocation to health sector and enhance their health budgets at least 10% every year.

The Central Government has taken several initiatives for supplementing the efforts of the State for providing quality and affordable healthcare services to the people and reduce the OOPE. Under the National Health Mission, the Government has taken many steps towards universal health coverage, by supporting the State Governments in providing accessible and affordable healthcare to people. The National Health Mission provides support for improvement in health infrastructure, availability of adequate human resources to man health facilities, to improve availability and accessibility to quality health care especially for the underserved and marginalized groups in rural areas. National Free Drugs Service initiative and Free diagnostic Service has been rolled out to ensure availability of essential drugs and diagnostic facilities and reduce out of pocket expenditure of the patients visiting public health facilities.

In this regard, the Government has launched mission mode projects, namely Pradhan Mantri -Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Ayushman Aarogya Mandir (erstwhile AB-HWC) and Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

PM-ABHIM was launched as a mission to develop the capacities of primary, secondary, and tertiary health care systems; strengthen existing national institutions and create new institutions to cater to detection and cure of new and emerging diseases. PM-ABHIM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore.

A total of 1,75,180 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been established and operationalized, till 22nd November 2024, by transforming existing Sub-Health Centres (SHC) and Primary Health Centres (PHC) in rural and urban areas. The purpose of AAMs are to deliver the expanded range of comprehensive primary healthcare services that includes preventive, promotive, curative, palliative and rehabilitative services encompassing Reproductive and Child care services, Communicable diseases, Non-communicable diseases and all health issues, which are universal, free, and closer to the community

Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to approximately 55 crore beneficiaries corresponding to 12.37 crore families, constituting the bottom 40% of India's population. The Central Government has also recently approved health coverage for all senior citizens of the age 70 years and above irrespective of their income under PM JAY.

Besides, quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices to all under Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP) in collaboration with the State Governments. Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) Pharmacy stores have been set up in some hospitals/institutions.

***