New Delhi, May 27 (IANS). According to the latest National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates, public expenditure on primary health services in India has increased significantly over the last decade. Government expenditure was Rs 0.5 lakh crore in 2013-14, which increased to Rs 1.4 lakh crore in 2022-23, released on Wednesday.
The NHA estimates, released annually, provide a time-series analysis of actual health expenditure by the government, the private sector and other sources.
The current projections, for 2022–23, are the 10th edition of the series that began in 2013–14.
According to the report, the steady increase in healthcare expenditure reflects the government’s increasing focus on strengthening primary healthcare services across the country and improving access to healthcare services.
A key component of this effort is the operation of more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) across India.
These centers provide 12 comprehensive primary healthcare packages covering reproductive and child health care, infectious and non-infectious diseases, mental health, palliative care, oral health care, ENT services and emergency care.
Free medicines, diagnostic services, health sessions and teleconsultation facilities are also available in these centres.
To further strengthen healthcare delivery, the government has expanded the list of essential medicines available in public health centres.
Under the revised framework, 106 medicines are available free of cost in SHC-AAM, 172 in PHC-AAM, 300 in community health centres, 318 in sub-district hospitals and 381 in district hospitals.
The range of free diagnostic services has also been expanded. Public health centers now provide diagnostic tests 14 in SHC-AAM, 63 in PHC-AAM, 97 in community health centres, 111 in sub-district hospitals and 134 in district hospitals.
The government said public awareness campaigns and proactive screening initiatives have helped bring health services closer to people’s homes, thereby promoting early detection and timely treatment of diseases.
–IANS
ms/