Share Of Primary & Secondary Care In Private Health Spending Sank In FY15- FY20

Accord Primacy To Healthy Eating And Mental Health: Economic Survey; 64.86 Crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (Abha) Created Under Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

FinTech BizNews Service

Mumbai, July 22, 2024: A sound healthcare system interconnected with long-term factors responsible for inclusive growth is vital for a resilient economy, underscores the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled by the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament today.

Over the past few years, healthcare has become more affordable and accessible for the general public, as noted by the National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates, states the Economic Survey 2023-2024 tabled by the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament today.

The Survey highlights that the latest NHA estimates (for FY20) show an increase in the share of Government Health Expenditure (GHE) in the total GDP as well as the share of GHE in Total Health Expenditure (THE).

Further, the Survey points out that over the years, the share of primary healthcare expenditure has increased from 51.3% of GHE in FY15 to 55.9% of GHE in FY20. The share of primary and secondary care in the GHE rose from 73.2% in FY15 to 85.5% in FY20. On the other hand, the share of primary and secondary care in private health expenditure has declined from 83.0% to 73.7% during the same period, which the Survey attributes to rising tertiary disease burden and utilization of Government facilities for primary healthcare.

The Survey also notes a significant increase in the social security expenditure on health, which grew from 5.7% in FY15 to 9.3% in FY20. There was also a decline in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) as a percentage of Total Health Expenditure (THE) between FY15 and FY20.

Consequent to these developments, the Survey underscores improvements in key health indicators such as Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), declining from 39 per 1000 live births in 2013 to 28 per 1000 live births in 2020, and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) declining from 167 per lakh live births in 2014 to 97 per lakh live births in 2020.

Looking forward, the Survey recommends two trends that would be decisive for the health and disease profile of the country in the near future. First, the Survey advises the Government and the public at large to accord primacy to healthy eating and mental health. Second, with public health being a State subject, the Survey highlights the pivotal role of State and local level governance for the national programmes to reach the last mile through the ‘path of least resistance’.

Aligned with the Government’s commitment to ensuring sound health and well-being of all ages through a preventive and promotive healthcare orientation in all developmental policies and universal access to good quality healthcare services, the Survey highlights key initiatives and schemes of the Government to ensure ‘Quality Healthcare for All’.

• Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):  Aimed at providing health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh/ year for underprivileged families for secondary and tertiary hospitalization, as of 8th July 2024, 34.73 crore Ayushman Bharat cards have been generated and 7.37 crore hospital admissions have been covered by the scheme. Notably, 49% of the beneficiaries of this scheme are women.
• PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras: This scheme aims to provide quality medicines at 50-90 per cent cheaper than market rates. Under the scheme, 10,000th Jan Aushadhi Kendra was inaugurated in AIIMS Deoghar last year. 1965 medicines & 293 surgical equipments are available at the kendras.
• AMRIT (Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment): More than 300 Amrit pharmacies are operating in different States/UTs. These aim to provide subsidized medicines for critical illnesses.
• Ayushman Bhav Campaign: Launched in September 2023, this campaign aims to saturate selected healthcare services in every village/town across the country and inform citizens about the Government’s flagship schemes. Commendable milestones achieved during the campaign are:
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  • 16.96 lakh wellness, yoga, and meditation sessions; 1.89 crore Tele consultations held
  • Free drugs availed by 11.64 crore people and free diagnostics services availed by 9.28 crore people
  • Ante-natal check-up (ANC) and Immunization availed by 82.10 lakh mothers and 90.15 lakh children
  • Seven types of screening (TB, Hypertension, diabetes, Oral Cancer, Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer and Cataract) availed by 34.39 crore people.
  • 2.0 crore patients consulted general OPD, while 90.69 lakh patients consulted specialist OPD, and 65,094 major surgeries and 1,96,156 minor surgeries were conducted.
  • 13.48 crore ABHA accounts were created, 9.50 crore Ayushman cards were generated, and 1.20 lakh Ayushman Sabhas organized.
  • Cumulative footfall of 20.66 crore in 25.25 lakh health melas (as of 31 March 2024)
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Launched in 2021, the Scheme aims to create a national digital health ecosystem across the country. Under this scheme, 64.86 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) have been created, 3.06 lakh Health Facility Registries generated, 4.06 lakh healthcare professionals registered, and 39.77 crore health records linked with ABHA.
• eSanjeevani:  Launched in 2019, this scheme for telemedicine for virtual doctor consultations in remote areas has served 26.62 crore patients across 128 specialties at 1.25 lakh Health & Wellness Centres, now known as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (as Spokes) through 15,857 hubs, as of 9th July 2024.