India Spent Over Rs 1.6 Lakh Crore on Medicines in 2022-2023, Reveals NHA Report
India spent over Rs 1.6 lakh crore on medicines in 2022-2023, according to the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates 2022-23 released by the Union Health Ministry. Despite increased government healthcare spending, medicines remain a major out-of-pocket expense for households, highlighting affordability challenges.
India’s total expenditure on medicines in 2022-2023 exceeded Rs 1.6 lakh crore, as revealed by the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates 2022-23 published by the Union Health Ministry. The report underscores that despite a decade of rising government healthcare investments, out-of-pocket spending on medicines continues to dominate household health expenditures. The NHA data indicates persistent financial strain on Indian families due to high medicine costs, even as overall healthcare spending has grown. Medicines remain one of the largest contributors to India’s healthcare expenditure, reflecting ongoing gaps in affordable drug access. The Union Health Ministry’s findings suggest that while public healthcare infrastructure has expanded, the affordability of essential medicines remains a critical challenge. The report highlights the need for targeted policies to reduce medicine costs and improve accessibility across the country. Experts note that the high expenditure on medicines is driven by both rising prices and limited insurance coverage for pharmaceuticals. The NHA Estimates 2022-23 provide a snapshot of India’s healthcare spending patterns, emphasizing the urgency of addressing medicine affordability to ease the financial burden on citizens.
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