According to National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates, out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a percentage of total health expenditure (THE) has declined from 62.6 per cent in 2014-15 to 39.4 per cent in 2021-22. The government has been implementing measures to reduce OOPE while increasing government health expenditure (GHE), which has risen from 29.0 per cent in 2014-15 to 48.0 per cent in 2021-22.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has introduced national schemes and programmes to enhance healthcare access. These initiatives aim to provide financial protection against medical costs, particularly for underserved populations.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), the government supports states in improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing the availability of medical professionals. The NHM also includes the National Free Drugs Service Initiative and Free Diagnostic Service to ensure essential medicines and diagnostic facilities are available, reducing patient expenses in public health facilities.
A total of 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) have been established by transforming sub-health centres and primary health centres in rural and urban areas. These centres provide a broad range of primary healthcare services, including reproductive and child care, management of communicable and non-communicable diseases, and rehabilitative services.
The Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) has been launched to strengthen primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare systems. The mission aims to develop existing national institutions and establish new facilities for detecting and managing emerging diseases. PM-ABHIM is a centrally sponsored scheme with a total outlay of ₹64,180 crore.
The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. The scheme benefits approximately 55 crore individuals from 12.37 crore families, covering the economically vulnerable bottom 40 per cent of India’s population. Some states and Union Territories have expanded the scheme at their own cost. Recently, AB-PMJAY was extended to cover six crore senior citizens aged 70 years and above, irrespective of socio-economic status, under the Vay Vandana Card.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), quality generic medicines are made available at affordable prices in collaboration with state governments. Additionally, Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) pharmacy stores have been set up in select hospitals and institutions.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, provided this information in the Rajya Sabha.