Goa’s public health spend 3x nat’l average, lags in insurance outlay

Panaji: Goa spent Rs 1,527 crore on public health in 2022-23, channelling resources into a population of around 15-16 lakh, according to the National Health Accounts estimates 2022-23 released by the Union ministry of health and family welfare.

The NHA data shows that the state spent Rs 7,635 on health care per person, nearly three times the national average of Rs 2,786.

The coastal state devoted 8.3% of its total govt expenditure to health, well above the national average of 4.89%, signalling that health holds a higher priority within Goa’s fiscal calculations than it does for most states.

Goa govt’s health care expenditure stood at 1.6% of the GSDP, marginally above the national ratio of 1.48%.

Compared to Sikkim, a state of comparable population, Goa holds a narrow lead on per capita govt health expenditure with Rs 7,635 vs Rs 7,400 of Sikkim’s. Sikkim, however, edges ahead marginally on fiscal effort, allocating 1.7% of its GSDP to health against Goa’s 1.6%.

Where Goa shows a notable gap is in govt-backed health insurance. Its two state schemes — the Swarnajayanti Arogya Bima scheme spent just Rs 2 crore to cover the healthcare needs of local residents, while the Deen Dayal Swasthaya Seva Yojana saw spending of Rs 42 crore on medical treatment of locals. The modest expenditure of Rs 44 crore is a fraction of what comparable states deploy on medical insurance schemes.

Meanwhile, India’s out-of-pocket expenditure has fallen from 64.2% of total health expenditure in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23, reflecting a decade of rising public health investment.