Health insurance in India is a growing segment, yet it hasn't taken off fully and several measures are needed to improve and expand insurance coverage, according to the National Health Profile 2018 released today.
Out of 4,37,457 persons covered under insurance, 79 per cent were covered by public insurance companies, with the remaining being covered by private insurance companies, it said.
The cost of treatment has been on the rise in India and it has led to inequity in access to health care services, according to the report.
Per capita public expenditure on health in nominal terms has gone up from Rs 621 in 2009-10 to Rs 1,112 in 2015-16, stated the report.
The report stated that the centre-state share in total public expenditure on health was 31:69 in 2015-16. The share of Centre in total public expenditure on health has been declining steadily over the years, except 2017-18.
National health programmes launched by the government have played a crucial role in tackling several serious health concerns, communicable and non-communicable diseases over the last two decades.
More From This Section
Malaria has been a problem in India for centuries and both the cases reported and deaths due to malaria have come down over the years.
The malarial death rate in India declined to 0.01 deaths per lakh population in 2016 from 0.10 deaths per lakh population in 2001.
To achieve malaria-free country by 2027 and elimination by 2030, National Startegic Plan (NSP) 2017-22 for Malaria Elimination has been developed by National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.
Kala azar is the second largest parasitic killer in the world. In India Leishmania donovani is the only parasite that causes the disease. Bihar accounts for most of the cases by kala-azar. Out of the overall cases reported in 2017, 72 per cent of the cases have been reported in Bihar (table no 3.1.3)