NSO Survey Highlights Improved Healthcare Access and Utilisation
Why in the News ?
The National Statistical Office released findings from its 80th health survey, showing improved health-seeking behaviour, rising insurance coverage, and increased use of public healthcare facilities, indicating progress in India’s healthcare accessibility and affordability.
Improved Health-Seeking Behaviour and Coverage:
- The Proportion of Population Reporting Ailment (PPRA) nearly doubled between 2017–18 and 2025.
- Rural PPRA increased from 6.8% to 12.2%, while urban rose from 9.1% to 14.9%.
- Higher reporting reflects greater awareness and willingness to seek treatment.
- Coverage under government health insurance schemes rose sharply:
○ Rural: 12.9% → 45.5%
○ Urban: 8.9% → 31.8%
- Significant increase in institutional deliveries:
○ Rural: 95.6%
○ Urban: 97.8%
- The survey covered 1.39 lakh households, ensuring robust national representation.
Healthcare Affordability and Public System Strengthening
- Median Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) for hospitalisation stands at ₹11,285.
- Indicates that most cases incur relatively low healthcare costs, with few high-cost exceptions.
- In public hospitals, median OOPE is just ₹1,100, reflecting affordability.
- For outpatient care, median OOPE is zero in public facilities, ensuring free access.
- Utilisation of public healthcare increased:
○ Rural outpatient care usage rose from 28% (2014) to 35% (2025).
- Expansion of free drugs, diagnostics, and primary healthcare services drove improvements.
- Greater reliance on public health institutions shows increasing trust and accessibility.
| About India’s Health System & Key Schemes : ● Ayushman Bharat Scheme (2018): ○ Includes Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs) and ○ Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana for secondary and tertiary care. ● Focus on Universal Health Coverage (UHC): equitable access to affordable healthcare. ● Shift in disease pattern: ○ Decline in infectious diseases ○ Rise in Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases. ● OOPE: Key indicator of financial burden; reduction signifies better financial protection. ● Government initiatives emphasise: ○ Preventive and promotive healthcare○ Early diagnosis and screening ○ Strengthening primary healthcare infrastructure ● Challenges remain:○ Rising burden of NCDs ○ Regional disparities in healthcare access ○ Need for higher public health expenditure |