The Indian government’s survey findings have shown the estimated average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per hospitalization case (excluding childbirth) during the last 365 days was about ₹34,064 (₹31,484 in rural and ₹38,688 in urban), while the median out-of-pocket medical expenditure was about ₹11,285 (₹10,500 in rural and ₹12,400 in urban).
New Delhi:There has been a substantial improvement in health insurance coverage across India between 2017–18 (about 14% in rural and about 19% in urban) and 2025 (about 47% in rural and about 44% in urban), said the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) which has released the findings of the Survey on Health through a report titled ‘Household Social Consumption: Health’.
The survey was conducted during January – December, 2025 as part of the 80th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS).
The Survey on Household Social Consumption: Health constitutes a significant source of empirical data, providing insights into the prevalence of morbidity, the spectrum of ailments reported by households, and the patterns of healthcare utilization across the Indian population
The Survey findings further have shown the estimated average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per hospitalization case (excluding childbirth) during the last 365 days was about ₹34,064 (₹31,484 in rural and ₹38,688 in urban), while the median out-of-pocket medical expenditure was about ₹11,285 (₹10,500 in rural and ₹12,400 in urban).
Some of key findings of the survey on healthcare trends in the country are-
-The highest proportion of individuals reporting illness was observed in the age-group 60 years and above (43.9%), followed by those aged 45–59 years (22.5%) and children aged 0–4 years (9.9%).
-Infections and respiratory ailments were most frequently reported during childhood and adolescence, while psychiatric/neurological and gastro-intestinal conditions peaked in young adulthood.
-Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardio-vascular (hypertension) and endocrine/metabolic (diabetes) were most frequently reported after the age of 30 years.
–The average number of instances of hospitalization (i.e. instances wherein persons received in-patient treatment) was 2.9 among 100 persons during the last 365 days preceding the date of the survey. Persons in urban areas (3.2%) reported more hospitalizations than persons in rural areas (2.7%).
-In public hospitals, the average expenditure per spell for out-patient care during the last 15 days was about ₹289 and the median was about ₹0, indicating that half of the treatment episodes in public hospitals were received free of cost.
Data collected in this survey is used to compile indicators on morbidity, hospitalisation, childbirth, and households’ out-of-pocket spending on medical and healthcare services.
Some other key findings are-
-A substantial improvement has been seen in health insurance coverage across India between 2017–18 (about 14% in rural and about 19% in urban) and 2025 (about 47% in rural and about 44% in urban).
-The estimated average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per hospitalization case (excluding childbirth) during the last 365 days was about ₹34,064 (₹31,484 in rural and ₹38,688 in urban), while the median out-of-pocket medical expenditure was about ₹11,285 (₹10,500 in rural and ₹12,400 in urban).
-In public hospitals, the average expenditure per hospitalization case (excluding childbirth) at all-India level was ₹6,631 while half of the hospitalized cases treated in public hospitals involved spending of ₹1,100 or less.
-For out-patient care during the last 15 days, the average out-of-pocket medical expenditure in India was about ₹861 (Rural ₹ 847, Urban ₹884) while the median expenditure was about ₹400 (Rural ₹ 395, Urban ₹ 420).
-The average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per childbirth during the last 365 days was about ₹2,299 in public hospitals, while the average expenditure in all hospitals combined was about ₹14,775. Median expenditure for childbirth in public hospitals (₹801) was less than one-third of the median expenditure in all hospitals (₹2,851).
-About 13.1% persons reported illness (responded as ailing) during the last 15 days preceding the date of survey, where persons in urban areas (14.9%) reported illness slightly more than the persons in rural areas (12.2%).
–
-Childbirth: Institutional deliveries accounted for nearly all births (about 96.2%) during the last 365-day period. In rural areas, 95.6% of births occurred in institutions, while only 4.4% took place at home. In urban areas, institutional deliveries were even higher at 97.8%, with just 2.2% at home.
-Both rural and urban areas showed near-universal access to ante-natal care (98%). Reporting of post-natal care was also strong, at 92% in rural areas and 95% in urban areas.
–