Indians' Medicine Expenditure Surpasses ₹1.6 Lakh Crore in 2022-23
Indians spent Rs 1.6 lakh crore on medicines in 2022-23: NHA
Image: The Times Of India
In the 2022-23 fiscal year, Indians spent over ₹1.6 lakh crore on medicines, as reported by the National Health Accounts (NHA). This expenditure accounted for about 21% of the total healthcare spending in the country, highlighting the significant financial burden of medication, especially for chronic illness management.
- 01Total spending on medicines reached ₹1.6 lakh crore, with prescribed medicines accounting for ₹1.3 lakh crore.
- 02Non-prescription medicine purchases amounted to ₹26,670 crore.
- 03Hospital admissions represented the largest share of health expenditure at ₹2.9 lakh crore (37.6%).
- 04Outpatient treatment costs were ₹1.4 lakh crore (18.7%), contributing to 77.3% of total health spending.
- 05Declining out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health spending has been noted over the past decade.
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According to the National Health Accounts (NHA) report for 2022-23 released by the Union health ministry, Indians spent over ₹1.6 lakh crore on medicines, marking a significant portion of the country's healthcare expenditure. Of this total, spending on prescribed medicines exceeded ₹1.3 lakh crore, while ₹26,670 crore was spent on over-the-counter medications. This expenditure on medicines constituted approximately 21% of India's total healthcare spending. The report also highlighted that hospital admissions accounted for the largest share of current health expenditure, totaling ₹2.9 lakh crore (37.6%), while outpatient treatments contributed ₹1.4 lakh crore (18.7%). Together, these three categories represent 77.3% of the current health expenditure. Despite a steady decline in out-of-pocket expenses as a share of total health spending over the past decade, the cost of medicines remains a significant financial burden for households, particularly for those managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which necessitate ongoing treatment and medication purchases.
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The high expenditure on medicines indicates a substantial financial burden on households, especially those with chronic illnesses, affecting their overall healthcare affordability.
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