The Union Health Ministry has published the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2022‑23, the tenth estimate of health spending in India. The report, prepared by the National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) under the SHA 2011 framework, shows a sharp rise in public health financing since 2013‑14.
Key Developments
- Overall GHE rose from ₹1.30 Lakh Crores in 2013‑14 to ₹3.85 Lakh Crores in 2022‑23 – a three‑fold increase.
- GHE’s share of GDP grew from 1.15% to 1.43% (new series shows 1.48%).
- GHE’s share in General Government Expenditure (GGE) rose from 3.78% to 4.89%.
- Per‑capita GHE increased nearly 2.7 times, from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786.
- Share of OOPE in THE fell from 64.2% to 43.4%.
- Share of SSE rose from 6% to 9.9%.
- Expenditure on Primary Health Care more than doubled, from ₹0.5 Lakh Crores to ₹1.4 Lakh Crores.
- During the COVID‑19 pandemic (2021‑22) GHE peaked at 1.84% of GDP, pushing OOPE down to 39.4% for that year.
Important Facts
The decadal trend shows that increased public spending has directly reduced the financial burden on households. The share of UHC‑related financing grew, as reflected by higher GHE and SSE shares. Private health insurance also rose from 3.4% to 9.2%, indicating growing awareness and purchasing power.
Exam Relevance
These figures are vital for GS‑3 (Economy) questions on health financing, fiscal priorities, and social protection. They illustrate how government budgeting aligns with the National Health Policy 2017 and the goal of achieving UHC. Understanding the shift from OOPE to public financing helps answer questions on poverty reduction, health equity, and the impact of pandemic‑related spending.
Way Forward
- Maintain the upward trajectory of GHE to cross the 2%‑of‑GDP benchmark set by the WHO.
- Strengthen SSE schemes like Ayushman Bharat‑PMJAY to further lower OOPE.
- Improve data collection under the SHA 2011 to monitor spending efficiency.
- Focus on primary health care infrastructure to sustain the gains seen during the COVID period.
Continued public investment, coupled with robust risk‑protection mechanisms, will be essential to achieve an equitable and financially sustainable health system.