Union Health Ministry Releases The National Health Accounts Estimates for India 2022-23

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Union Health Ministry — National Health Accounts (NHA) Estimates for India 2022-23

1. At a Glance

• NHA 2022-23 is the 10th national health-expenditure estimate prepared by the National Health Accounts Technical Secretariat (NHATS) at NHSRC, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, using the WHO System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 framework. [S1][S2]
• Tracks flows of money through India's health system: who pays, who manages funds, who provides care, and on what. [S1]
• Examinable because it is the headline data source for India's progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) targets in the National Health Policy 2017 (GHE = 2.5% of GDP). [S1]

2. Why in the News

• Union Health Ministry released NHA Estimates 2022-23 on 27 May 2026 via PIB. [S1]
• Findings show Government Health Expenditure (GHE) tripled from ₹1.30 lakh crore (2013-14) to ₹3.85 lakh crore (2022-23), and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE) share fell from 64.2% to 43.4% of THE. [S1]

3. Background & Evolution

• NHA framework in India adopted SHA 2011 methodology (WHO/OECD/Eurostat). [S1]
• NHSRC designated as NHATS in 2014 by MoHFW to produce annual estimates. [S2]
• Prior reports cover 2013-14 → 2021-22; the latest (2020-21 & 2021-22) was released in October 2024. [S2][S3]
• Decadal arc: GHE share of THE rose from 28.6% (FY14) → 40.6% (FY19) → 48% (FY22, COVID peak) → 43.7% (FY23). [S1][S3][S4]

4. Core Static Facts

• Implementing body: NHATS, housed at National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), MoHFW. [S1][S2]
• Framework: System of Health Accounts (SHA) 2011 (WHO). [S1]
• GHE 2022-23: ₹3.85 lakh crore (up from ₹1.30 lakh crore in 2013-14). [S1]
• GHE as % of GDP: 1.43% (1.48% under new GDP base 2022-23), up from 1.15% in 2013-14. [S1]
• GHE as % of General Govt. Expenditure (GGE): 4.89% (up from 3.78%). [S1]
• Per-capita GHE: ₹2,786 (≈2.7× ₹1,042 in 2013-14). [S1]
• GHE share of THE: 43.7% (up from 28.6%). [S1]
• OOPE share of THE: 43.4% (down from 64.2%; ↓~21 pp). [S1]
• Social Security Expenditure (SSE) on health: 9.9% (up from 6%). [S1]
• Primary Health Care expenditure (Govt.): ₹1.4 lakh crore (up from ₹0.5 lakh crore). [S1]
• COVID-peak (2021-22): GHE = 1.84% of GDP; OOPE = 39.4% (one-off due to ECRP-I/II and largest-in-the-world vaccination drive). [S1][S3]

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic / Fiscal - Threefold nominal GHE rise signals counter-cyclical health spending post-COVID, but still below NHP-2017 target of 2.5% GDP. [S1] - GHE/GGE at 4.89% indicates rising prioritisation of health within the fiscal envelope. [S1]

Social / Equity - 21-pp fall in OOPE reduces catastrophic health expenditure and medical impoverishment, critical for the bottom quintile. [S1] - Rising SSE (6→9.9%) reflects expanding PMJAY/ESIC/CGHS insurance coverage. [S1][S4]

Administrative / Federalism - Health is a State Subject (State List Entry 6); State expenditure dominates GHE — Centre-State split is a perennial implementation issue. [S1] - Doubling of Primary Health Care outlay aligns with Ayushman Bharat–Health & Wellness Centres (now Ayushman Arogya Mandirs). [S1]

Scientific / Methodological - Uses SHA-2011 to ensure international comparability with WHO's Global Health Expenditure Database. [S1] - COVID-induced spike is treated as one-time emergency expenditure, not structural baseline. [S1]

6. Recent Developments

• 27 May 2026: PIB release of NHA 2022-23 by MoHFW. [S1]
• October 2024: Release of NHA 2020-21 & 2021-22 (showed OOPE at 39.4% — COVID-period low). [S3][S4]
• GDP base-year revision (base 2022-23) integrated into NHA: GHE/GDP recomputed at 1.48%. [S1]

7. Prelims Hooks

• NHA Estimates are prepared by NHATS at NHSRC, MoHFW — not NITI Aayog, not MoSPI. [S1][S2]
• NHA 2022-23 is the 10th such report. [S1]
• Methodology: SHA 2011 (System of Health Accounts, WHO). [S1]
• GHE share of GDP 2022-23 = 1.43% (1.48% new base). [S1]
• OOPE share of THE 2022-23 = 43.4%. [S1]
• GHE share of THE 2022-23 = 43.7%. [S1]
• Per-capita GHE = ₹2,786 in 2022-23. [S1]
• SSE share of THE = 9.9% in 2022-23. [S1]
• Govt. Primary Health Care spend = ₹1.4 lakh crore, more than doubled since 2013-14. [S1]
• GHE in GGE = 4.89% in 2022-23. [S1]
• COVID peak GHE/GDP was 1.84% in 2021-22. [S1]
• NHSRC was designated as NHATS in 2014. [S2]
• NHP 2017 target: GHE = 2.5% of GDP (still unmet). [S1]

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-II: Government policies & interventions in health; Issues relating to development & management of social sector — Health.
• GS-III: Indian economy — government budgeting; mobilization of resources.
• Possible stems: 1. "Despite a near three-fold rise in Government Health Expenditure since 2013-14, India remains far from the NHP-2017 target of 2.5% of GDP. Examine." (GS-II/III) 2. "Discuss the role of National Health Accounts in tracking progress toward Universal Health Coverage in India." (GS-II) 3. "Falling out-of-pocket health expenditure is necessary but not sufficient for equitable healthcare. Comment." (GS-II)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• National Health Policy 2017 — sets the 2.5%-of-GDP target NHA tracks.
• Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY + Health & Wellness Centres/Arogya Mandirs) — drives SSE rise.
• PM-ABHIM (Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission) — capital spend driver.
• System of Health Accounts 2011 — WHO/OECD methodology.
• Universal Health Coverage & SDG-3 — global benchmark.
• 15th Finance Commission health grants — Centre-State fiscal flows.
• Economic Survey health chapter — corroborative dataset.
• NFHS-5 & SRS — outcome indicators paired with expenditure data.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Wrong agency: NHA is by NHSRC/NHATS under MoHFW, not NITI Aayog, not MoSPI, not CSO.
• GHE vs THE confusion: GHE is only the public slice; Total Health Expenditure also includes private/OOPE/external.
• OOPE percentage refers to share of THE, not of GDP.
• NHP-2017 target (2.5% of GDP) is for public/government spend, not total.
• GHE/GDP for 2022-23 = 1.43% (old base) vs 1.48% (new base 2022-23) — easy MCQ trap.
• SSE ≠ OOPE; SSE covers government-funded insurance premiums (PMJAY, ESIC, CGHS).

11. Sources

• [S1] Union Health Ministry Releases The National Health Accounts Estimates for India 2022-23 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2265816 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Union Health Ministry releases NHA Estimates for India 2020-21 and 2021-22 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=2058791 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Out-of-pocket health spend falls, govt spend rises in NHA 2021-22 — https://www.business-standard.com/health/out-of-pocket-health-spend-falls-govt-spend-rises-in-nha-2021-22-124092501249_1.html — (tier 4)
• [S4] Share of GHE in THE increases from 28.6% (FY14) to 40.6% (FY19) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1894902 — (tier 1)