{"id":100945,"date":"2026-04-30T11:40:05","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:10:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=100945"},"modified":"2026-04-30T11:40:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T06:10:05","slug":"nso-health-survey-findings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/nso-health-survey-findings\/","title":{"rendered":"NSO Health Survey Findings &#8211; Expanding Health Insurance, Uneven Results"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>NSO Health Survey Latest News<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Statistical Office recently released findings from its 80<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> round survey on\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Household Social Consumption: Health<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0(2025).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The report reveals a paradox in India\u2019s healthcare trend wherein health insurance coverage has expanded significantly, yet financial distress persists for many households.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Overview of the 80th Round NSO Health Survey<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 80<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> round survey conducted from January to December 2025 provides a comprehensive picture of healthcare access, utilisation, and financial protection in India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to the 75<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> round conducted in 2017-18, insurance coverage, healthcare access, and institutional deliveries have improved substantially.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the survey also reveals that higher coverage has not necessarily translated into lower <\/span><b>out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or increased hospitalisation in public facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Rising Insurance Coverage in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the latest data,\u00a0<\/span><b>47.4% of rural<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><b>44.3% of urban households<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0are now covered under some form of health insurance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a significant increase, largely driven by an expansion of\u00a0Government-Financed Health Insurance (GFHI)\u00a0schemes such as\u00a0<\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/pradhan-mantri-jan-arogya-yojana\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ayushman Bharat &#8211; Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana<\/a> (PMJAY)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0and various State-level initiatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government records show a more than two-and-a-half-fold rise in GFHI coverage between 2017-18 and 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schemes like the\u00a0<\/span><b>Employees\u2019 State Insurance Scheme (ESIS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,\u00a0<\/span><b>Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and state employee schemes are also part of this growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The combined effect indicates India\u2019s rapid movement toward universal health assurance.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Expanding Access and Government Interventions<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Union Health Ministry has hailed the survey results as evidence of improved\u00a0healthcare access\u00a0across India.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initiatives such as the\u00a0<\/span><b>Free Drugs and Diagnostics Initiatives (FDSI and FDI)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, launched in 2015, have expanded the availability of essential medicines and tests even in remote areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The creation of\u00a0<\/span><b>1.84 lakh <a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/aam\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ayushman Arogya Mandirs<\/a> (AAMs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0has strengthened India\u2019s network for\u00a0comprehensive primary healthcare, focusing on preventive, promotive, and curative services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schemes like the\u00a0<\/span><b>Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, offering up to 50% discounts on 6,500 medicines through 220 pharmacies, have also bolstered affordability.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These reforms have supported early detection and management of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, reflecting a clear epidemiological transition toward non-communicable diseases.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Persisting Gaps: Hospitalisation and Expenditure Patterns<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite expanded coverage, the\u00a0hospitalisation rate\u00a0has not risen notably since 2017-18 and remains below 2014 levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Utilisation of\u00a0public institutions\u00a0for hospitalisation and childbirth has declined, while demand for\u00a0private sector care\u00a0has surged, especially in urban areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrary to government claims of declining expenditure, independent analysis of NSO data shows\u00a0<\/span><b>OOPE on hospitalisation has more than doubled<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0between 2017-18 and 2025.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Average hospitalisation expenses in\u00a0private hospitals\u00a0have increased by 70% in rural areas and 80% in urban areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even in public hospitals, patients often face costs for medicines, diagnostics, transport, and incidental charges due to systemic shortages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Official data indicate a\u00a0<\/span><b>median OOPE of Rs. 11,285 per hospitalisation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0in 2025, with substantially lower costs in public facilities (<\/span><b>median Rs. 1,100<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, many high-cost cases, particularly specialised treatments sought in private care, push the average far higher.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Inequities in Utilisation and the Role of GFHI<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Government-financed insurance schemes such as PMJAY are designed to protect vulnerable families from catastrophic health expenditures. However, utilisation trends suggest uneven benefits:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">57% of insured individuals\u00a0sought hospital care in private facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Among urban beneficiaries using insurance-linked hospitalisation,\u00a0only 13% belonged to the poorest income group.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The\u00a0better-off classes\u00a0disproportionately benefit from the system, while state governments bear heavy fiscal burdens, up to\u00a015% of health budgets\u00a0in states like Haryana and West Bengal.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The structure of these insurance models channels substantial public funds to the\u00a0private healthcare sector, which operates largely on profit-driven principles.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite GFHI reimbursements, many hospitals impose\u00a0additional charges\u00a0on patients, undermining the schemes\u2019 promise of \u201cfree\u201d treatment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Financial Protection and Public Health Equity<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From a macro perspective, the survey presents mixed outcomes. While\u00a0coverage and access\u00a0indicators have improved,\u00a0financial risk protection\u00a0remains inadequate.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In rural India, the bottom two income quintiles have shown some decline in OOPE, but in urban areas, the financial strain persists due to heavy reliance on private providers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The\u00a0<\/span><b> AAMs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, envisioned as the primary care backbone under\u00a0<\/span><b>Ayushman Bharat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, demonstrate potential for sustainable UHC.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet, underfunding of AAMs and the\u00a0<\/span><b><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/national-health-mission\/\" target=\"_blank\">National Health Mission<\/a> (NHM)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0continues to limit their impact.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Way Forward<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India\u2019s experience illustrates that\u00a0insurance-led healthcare models\u00a0alone cannot achieve equitable health outcomes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening the\u00a0public health infrastructure, ensuring\u00a0consistent drug and diagnostic availability, and\u00a0rationalising private sector regulation\u00a0are crucial for protecting citizens from medical impoverishment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The focus must shift towards\u00a0preventive and primary care, robust data systems for monitoring, and outcome-based financing that prioritises value over volume.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400; text-align: justify;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A well-functioning public health system remains the cornerstone of inclusive development and social justice.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b><strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/health\/latest-nso-results-show-rise-in-health-seeking-behaviour-relatively-low-out-of-pocket-medical-expenses\/article70920419.ece#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2256538&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">PIB<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The latest NSO Health Survey reveals that insurance coverage has improved but high out-of-pocket expenditure remains a concern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":100950,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,7229,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-100945","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-nso-health-survey","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100945"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100945\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":100961,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100945\/revisions\/100961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/100950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}