The share of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) allocated byMaharashtragovernment to healthcare has grown only marginally over the past few years, underlining how political regimes have failed to make it a priority.
Data from the National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India 2019-20 indicates Maharashtra’s spending on healthcare was barely 0.8% of its GSDP, a slight increase from the previous four-year Average of 0.7%. Data showed total healthcare expenditure was Rs 77,501 crore of which government’s contribution was just 27% (Rs 20,606 crore).
The state has done poorly compared to the national average, which showed an upward trend in government expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure-from 29% in 2014-2015 to 41.4% in 2019-20. The Centre is spending 1.35% of the GDP on health.
As per the NHA report, the state spent Rs 1,675 per capita on healthcare in 2019-20, only a slight increase from the Rs 1,120 spent in 2015-2016. By comparison, Himachal Pradesh spent Rs 3,829, Kerala Rs 2,590, Uttarakhand Rs 2,273 and Nadu Rs 2039. Bihar and UP were among the poorest spenders, allocating Rs 701 and 951 per capita.