Out-of-pocket medical expenses remain high in India - CAM Survey
New Delhi: The average out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for hospitalisation, including institutional deliveries, in rural and urban India stood at ₹4,129 and ₹5,290 per household, respectively, between July 2022 and June 2023, according to the Comprehensive Annual Modular (CAM) Survey by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
OOPE refers to the expenses households bear at the time of receiving healthcare, and it is a key measure of financial protection in healthcare payments. The survey, released on Wednesday, was conducted as part of the 79th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS). Covering over 3 lakh households across India, the CAM survey aims to generate data on education, healthcare expenditure, digital use, financial inclusion, and asset possession, except for certain villages in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The survey also noted that rural and urban households spent an average of ₹539 and ₹606, respectively, on medical services not requiring hospitalisation within a 30-day period. Additionally, individual costs of hospitalisation in rural areas amounted to ₹1,035, with 91.3% being OOPE, while in urban areas, the cost was ₹1,879, with 60.9% from OOPE.
Despite government health initiatives, OOPE remains a significant burden. The survey reveals that the average cost of hospitalisation during the period was ₹4,496 in rural areas and ₹6,877 in urban areas. This indicates that rural households spent about 92% of their hospitalisation costs from their own pockets, while urban households covered approximately 77% of these costs through OOPE.
In contrast, the 75th NSS round in 2017-18 recorded higher average medical expenditures for hospitalisation, at ₹16,676 in rural areas and ₹26,475 in urban areas. This suggests some progress, likely influenced by schemes like Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), which provides health coverage of ₹5 lakh to nearly 50 crore Indians.
Health experts have also noted a rise in private health insurance uptake, especially post-Covid-19, as a contributing factor in reducing OOPE. However, public health specialists warn that OOPE alone does not provide a complete picture. Catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) and the percentage of people pushed into poverty due to healthcare costs are also important indicators to assess financial protection in healthcare.
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UP: Govt hospital staff booked for sexually assaulting woman in pretext of ultrasound test
Gorakhpur (PTI): A hospital employee was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the pretext of an ultrasound test here in the district women's hospital, police said on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of the Gulriha area, visited the district women's hospital on Thursday morning for an ultrasound test.
She was directed to a room, where Abhimanyu Gupta was conducting ultrasounds. When her turn came, the accused allegedly stared at her and told her to remove all her clothes, claiming it was necessary for the test and that a massage would also be required, she said.
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The woman alleged that once she complied, the accused began making obscene advances and tried to force himself on her. When she screamed, he allegedly gagged her, abused her and threatened to kill her before pushing her out of the room.
She said her complaints within the hospital went unheard, forcing her to approach the police.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the hospital administration constituted a three-member inquiry committee, officials said.
Senior consultant (paediatrics) Dr Jay Kumar said, "The woman has levelled serious allegations against a staff member. Senior officials have been informed, and a departmental inquiry is underway. Strict action will be taken if the charges are proved."
Kotwali Station House Officer Chatrapal Singh said a case has been registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused.
