This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Guruswamy, M. Articles by Mazumdar, P. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Public Financing of Health Services in India

An Analysis of Central and State Government Expenditure

M. Guruswamy is Professor and Head, Department of Development Studies, International Institute of Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088. E-mail: gmadappa{at}vsnl.net, gmadappa{at}iips.net

Sumit Mazumdar

Sumit Mazumdar is Senior Research Fellow, International Institute of Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088. E-mail: sumitmazumdar{at}gmail.com

Papiya Mazumdar

Papiya Mazumdar is Lecturer (Ad-hoc), Department of Extra-Mural Studies, International Institute of Population Sciences, Govandi Station Road, Deonar, Mumbai 400 088. E-mail: papiyamaz{at}gmail.com

The issue of financing health care has assumed greater significance in the developing world, mainly due to changing role of the state in providing health care. This article examines the levels, trends and patterns of public expenditure on health during 1995 to 2006 in India, both at the national and state levels. We find that public expenditure on health as a proportion of GDP has remained stagnant over the years, and revenue expenditure accounting for the larger share. Among the states, the relatively poor ones were found to be spending more on health, both per capita and as a proportion of GSDP, compared to the richer states. It was seen that expenditure on health by the state had not grown adequately along the path of overall economic prosperity, and private out-of-pocket expenditure seemed to be on the rise. The article cites a few alternative health financing strategies based on recent initiatives across the country, which needs to be reviewed with true intent, aiming equitable, unbiased and universal access to health care in the years to come.

Journal of Health Management, Vol. 10, No. 1, 49-85 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/097206340701000104


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?