Public health budgets, which in most states were grossly inadequate, continue to remain low. The graph shows the pattern of public health spending across states. Most of these states have robust health indicators and have strong primary health-care services being delivered through the public health system. This has resulted in Rs 2,500 crore from the public exchequer each year going mainly to subsidise the private sector. Further, the unregulated growth of the private health sector and the increased reliance on health insurance to finance hospitalisations become a barrier to effective functioning of the public health sector.

Source: dna June 30, 2017 02:37 UTC