Social Consumption of Health – What Does the Data Show?
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Article summary
New data from India's Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) and allied sources reveal a mixed picture of health consumption: improvements in institutional deliveries and health insurance coverage coexist with alarming rises in private healthcare costs, injury-related morbidity, and statistical inconsistencies across datasets. Institutional delivery rates have improved significantly, reflecting the impact of schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana, yet out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on private healthcare continues to push households into poverty. Health insurance coverage has expanded, partly driven by Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY, but effective utilisation and claim settlement remain uneven across states. The data also highlight a growing burden of injuries and accidents as a cause of hospitalisation, pointing to gaps in occupational safety and road safety governance. For UPSC aspirants, this topic bridges social justice, public health policy, fiscal federalism in health financing, and the challenge of building a robust universal health coverage framework in India.
What this tests
Sample questions — answers revealed after test
Q1. The National Health Policy 2017 set a specific target for reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as a share of total health expenditure in India. Which of the following correctly states that target and its deadline?
Q2. A policy researcher analysing India's health financing data observes that enrolment under Ayushman Bharat–PM-JAY has expanded significantly, yet surveyed households continue to report high catastrophic health expenditure. Which of the following best explains this apparent paradox, based on the structural features of India's health system?
Q3. Consider the following statements regarding India's health expenditure data and the structural challenges in achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC): 1. India's Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) as a share of total health expenditure is approximately 47–50%, which is significantly higher than the global average of ~18%. 2. The National Health Policy 2017 target of reducing OOPE to 30% by 2025 has been achieved ahead of schedule, primarily due to PM-JAY enrolment. 3. Inconsistencies across HCES, NFHS, and NSS health surveys reflect fragmented statistical systems with differing methodologies, recall periods, and sampling frames. 4. Rising injury-related hospitalisations in India's health consumption data are linked to the need for stronger implementation of the Motor Vehicles Act and occupational safety laws. Which of the statements given above are correct?