NSO report reveals, health infrastructure in India created history, reduced burden on common people’s pockets
Delhi. The 80th edition of the Health Household Social Consumption Survey of the National Statistical Organization (NSO) has revealed comprehensive reforms and changes in India’s health system. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today said that according to the NSO survey, there has been a significant increase in access to health services in the country, while the financial burden of treatment on the common people has reduced. This progress is the result of various government schemes, expansion of public health infrastructure and increase in insurance coverage.
He pointed out that the average expenditure for out-patient (OPD) services in public health facilities is zero, reflecting the wide availability of facilities such as free medicines and tests. At the same time, in more than half of the cases admitted in government hospitals, the out of pocket expense (OOPE) is only Rs 1,100.
Overall, the average medical expenditure per admission in 2025 was recorded at Rs 11,285, indicating that treatment is relatively affordable in most cases. The survey also revealed that people’s awareness and behavior towards health has improved.
The proportion of the population reporting diseases increased from 6.8 percent to 12.2 percent in rural areas and from 9.1 percent to 14.9 percent in urban areas. This is being considered a sign of better awareness and increasing access to health services. There has also been an increase in the utilization of public health services in rural areas.
The use of government facilities for outpatient care has increased from 28 percent in 2014 to 35 percent in 2025. Besides, the scope of government health insurance schemes has also expanded rapidly.
Significant improvement has also been seen in maternal health services. Institutional deliveries have reached 95.6 percent in rural areas and 97.8 percent in urban areas. According to the survey, the expansion of affordable, accessible and quality healthcare services has particularly benefited the weaker sections of the country and reduced their out-of-pocket expenses.
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