Union Health Ministry Releases The National Health Accounts Estimates for India 2022-23

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has released the National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates for the fiscal year 2022-23, highlighting a substantial increase in public health investment and a notable reduction in the financial burden on households.

The report, which is the10th in a series prepared by the National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS), reveals that Government Health Expenditure (GHE) has tripled over the last decade, rising from ₹1.30 lakh crores in 2013-14 to ₹3.85 lakh crores in 2022-23.

Key Highlights of the Report:

• Increased Public Investment: The share of GHE as a percentage of the country’s GDP has risen from 1.15% in 2013-14 to 1.43% in 2022-23. In per capita terms, government spending on health has jumped nearly 2.7 times, from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786.
• Reduced Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): A major highlight of the findings is the significant decline in Out-of-Pocket Expenditure as a share of Total Health Expenditure (THE), which dropped from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23. This decline indicates a reduced financial burden on citizens for their healthcare needs.
• Strengthened Public Health Role: The share of GHE within the Total Health Expenditure has climbed from 28.6% to 43.7%, signaling a strategic shift toward more affordable and accessible public healthcare.
• Boost in Social Security: Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on healthcare—which encompasses government-funded insurance like AB PM-JAY and medical reimbursements—has increased from 6% to 9.9%.
• Focus on Primary Care: Government expenditure dedicated to primary healthcare has more than doubled, rising from ₹0.5 lakh crores to ₹1.4 lakh crores during the same period.

Source: PIB