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The Cost of Universal Health Care in India: A Model Based Estimate

Author

Listed:
  • Shankar Prinja
  • Pankaj Bahuguna
  • Andrew D Pinto
  • Atul Sharma
  • Gursimer Bharaj
  • Vishal Kumar
  • Jaya Prasad Tripathy
  • Manmeet Kaur
  • Rajesh Kumar

Abstract

Introduction: As high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses pose heavy financial burden on the families, Government of India is considering a variety of financing and delivery options to universalize health care services. Hence, an estimate of the cost of delivering universal health care services is needed. Methods: We developed a model to estimate recurrent and annual costs for providing health services through a mix of public and private providers in Chandigarh located in northern India. Necessary health services required to deliver good quality care were defined by the Indian Public Health Standards. National Sample Survey data was utilized to estimate disease burden. In addition, morbidity and treatment data was collected from two secondary and two tertiary care hospitals. The unit cost of treatment was estimated from the published literature. For diseases where data on treatment cost was not available, we collected data on standard treatment protocols and cost of care from local health providers. Results: We estimate that the cost of universal health care delivery through the existing mix of public and private health institutions would be INR 1713 (USD 38, 95%CI USD 18–73) per person per annum in India. This cost would be 24% higher, if branded drugs are used. Extrapolation of these costs to entire country indicates that Indian government needs to spend 3.8% (2.1%–6.8%) of the GDP for universalizing health care services. Conclusion: The cost of universal health care delivered through a combination of public and private providers is estimated to be INR 1713 per capita per year in India. Important issues such as delivery strategy for ensuring quality, reducing inequities in access, and managing the growth of health care demand need be explored.

Suggested Citation

  • Shankar Prinja & Pankaj Bahuguna & Andrew D Pinto & Atul Sharma & Gursimer Bharaj & Vishal Kumar & Jaya Prasad Tripathy & Manmeet Kaur & Rajesh Kumar, 2012. "The Cost of Universal Health Care in India: A Model Based Estimate," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(1), pages 1-9, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0030362
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030362
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    1. Indrani Gupta & Samik Chowdhury, 2015. "Finances for Health in India: Are New Sources the Way to Go?," IEG Working Papers 356, Institute of Economic Growth.
    2. Deepak Balasubramanian & Shankar Prinja & Arun Kumar Aggarwal, 2015. "Effect of User Charges on Secondary Level Surgical Care Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Expenditures in Haryana State, India," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Sasmita Behera & Jalandhar Pradhan, 2021. "Uneven economic burden of non-communicable diseases among Indian households: A comparative analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(12), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Neeraj Pandey & Sumi Jha & Vaibhav Rai, 2021. "Ayushman Bharat: Service Adoption Challenges in Universal Healthcare System," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 10(1), pages 35-49, April.
    5. Shankar Prinja & Jagnoor Jagnoor & Akashdeep Singh Chauhan & Sameer Aggarwal & Ha Nguyen & Rebecca Ivers, 2016. "Economic Burden of Hospitalization Due to Injuries in North India: A Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-15, July.
    6. Anamika Pandey & G Anil Kumar & Rakhi Dandona & Lalit Dandona, 2018. "Variations in catastrophic health expenditure across the states of India: 2004 to 2014," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-15, October.

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