# National Health Accounts 2023-24: Out-of-pocket health spending share falls from 64.2% to 42.7%

URL: https://kasba.co.in/en/story/national-health-accounts-2023-24-out-of-pocket-health-spendi
Language: en · Section: Health · Published: 2026-11-15
Source: PIB, "सरकारी स्वास्थ्य व्यय तीन गुना बढ़ा, परिवारों के अपनी जेब से होने वाले खर्च (आउट-ऑफ-पॉकेट एक्सपेंडिचर) की हिस्सेदारी में तेज़ गिरावट: राष्ट्रीय स्वास्थ्य लेखा 2023–24", 2026-11-15, https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2336552

The Union Health Ministry released the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2023-24 estimates, which say government health spending has tripled and families' out-of-pocket share has fallen sharply. The figures concern ordinary households that pay directly for treatment, medicines and tests.

## What this means for you

In simple terms, a larger part of the country's health bill is now paid from government funds and a smaller part directly by families. Ordinary readers do not need to apply or register for anything; this is a data report. It does suggest that using government hospitals, free medicine and testing schemes and Ayushman Bharat can reduce what a family pays from its own pocket.

## Key facts

- Government health expenditure rose from about Rs 1.30 lakh crore in 2013-14 to Rs 4.14 lakh crore in 2023-24.
- Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) fell from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 42.7% in 2023-24, a drop of 21.5 percentage points.
- Per capita government health expenditure rose from Rs 1,042 to Rs 2,959.
- Social security spending on health rose from 6% to 11% of total health expenditure.
- Government spending on primary health care reached about Rs 1.53 lakh crore.
- Private health insurance spending rose from 3.4% to 10.2% of total health expenditure.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the National Health Accounts (NHA) 2023-24 estimates on 15 November 2026. According to the ministry, government health spending has tripled over the past decade while the share families pay from their own pockets has fallen sharply.

## What has changed

The ministry says government health expenditure rose from Rs 1,29,778 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 4,14,196 crore in 2023-24. Over the same period, the share of out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) in total health spending fell from 64.2% to 42.7%, a drop of 21.5 percentage points. The report says the decline continued from 43.4% in 2022-23 to 42.7% in 2023-24.

## Per person and primary care spending

According to the report, per capita government health expenditure rose from Rs 1,042 in 2013-14 to Rs 2,959 in 2023-24. Government spending on primary health care reached about Rs 1.53 lakh crore. The ministry links this investment to the expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, which offer services such as preventive care, screening for non-communicable diseases, essential medicines and diagnostics closer to communities.

## Insurance and social security

Social security spending on health rose from 6% of total health expenditure in 2013-14 to 11% in 2023-24. The report lists Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, state-specific health insurance schemes, social health insurance and medical expenditure for government employees among these arrangements. Private health insurance spending also rose from 3.4% to 10.2%.

## Who benefits

The report says the shift matters most for families that pay directly for treatment, medicines and tests. It mentions free drugs and diagnostics initiatives, the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, Jan Aushadhi and AMRIT pharmacies, and cashless hospitalisation benefits under Ayushman Bharat as steps supporting affordable care.

## What to do next

The report gives no application, registration or deadline for ordinary people. Those who want information on schemes can ask at their nearest government hospital or Ayushman Arogya Mandir. The full estimates can be seen at nhsrcindia.org/national-health-accounts-records, as the ministry states.

## Questions and answers

**What is the National Health Accounts 2023-24?**
It is the eleventh round of estimates prepared under the Union Health Ministry that show where health money comes from and where it is spent in the country. The estimates use the internationally recognised System of Health Accounts 2011 framework.

**What is out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE)?**
OOPE is the money a family pays directly for treatment, medicines or tests. According to the report, its share of total health spending fell from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 42.7% in 2023-24.

**Do I need to do anything or apply?**
No. This is a data report and it gives no application, registration or last date for ordinary people. It can be read only to understand how government health spending is changing.

**Where can I see the NHA 2023-24 estimates?**
The ministry says the estimates can be seen at nhsrcindia.org/national-health-accounts-records.

**Which schemes does the report mention?**
The report mentions Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, free drugs and diagnostics initiatives, the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, Jan Aushadhi and AMRIT pharmacies.

Kasba Desk, Kasba. This routine notice was drafted with AI from an official source and published automatically; an editor reviews it after publishing.