Chandigarh: The cost of childbirth in Punjab is nearly 50% higher than the national averag. That is not all. a gap reflected across treatments as families in the agrarian border state continue to bear a heavy out-of-pocket healthcare burden, shows a new survey by the National Statistics Office. Data from the ‘Survey on Household Social Consumption: Health’, conducted by the NSO for Jan-Dec 2025, shows a substantial portion of healthcare spending in the state is borne directly by patients at the point of treatment. The numbers revealed that the average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per hospitalisation case in Punjab was Rs 35,703, slightly higher than the all-India average of Rs 34,064. The burden is particularly visible in the private sector, where a stay costs Rs 45,080 on an average. In public hospitals in rural areas, the cost is Rs 15,464, more than twice the national average of Rs 6,905.For routine illnesses that do not require hospitalisation, households in Punjab spend Rs 1,158 per treated ailment, compared to Rs 884 at the national level.The survey showed that the average out-of-pocket expenditure on institutional deliveries was Rs 21,826, compared to the national average of Rs 14,775. In Punjab, people in rural areas spend Rs 4,837 in public hospitals and Rs 4,404 in urban areas, against the national averages of Rs 2,189 and Rs 2,747, respectively.When all expenses are combined, including non-medical costs such as transport and food, the average total expenditure per hospitalisation in Punjab reaches Rs 42,319, marginally above the national average of Rs 41,463. The state’s average medical expenditure is Rs 39,793 and the average non-medical expenditure is Rs 2,526.In Punjab, private healthcare dominates. About 65.9% of rural hospitalisations and over 71% in urban areas take place in private hospitals, compared to 31.3% and 23.1%, respectively, in public facilities.The pattern extends to outpatient care. In rural areas, 53.7% of patients rely on private providers versus 15.8% on govt facilities. In urban areas, 47.7% seek care from private doctors or clinics and 37.9% from private hospitals. Healthcare demand remains high. Around 14.4% of Punjab’s population reported ailments over a 15-day period, above the national average of 13.1%. Among those aged 60 and above, over 42% reported health issues, indicating rising needs with ageing.Hospitalisation rates are also higher, with 35 cases per 1,000 persons annually, compared to 28 in Haryana and 29 nationally.Costs vary across neighbouring states. Average out-of-pocket expenditure per hospitalisation is ₹33,713 in Haryana and ₹18,814 in Himachal Pradesh, where over 68% of rural patients use govt hospitals — helping keep costs lower. “Punjab’s higher healthcare spending is closely linked to its reliance on private providers and relatively higher costs even in public facilities. For households, this translates into a significant financial burden, especially for hospitalisation or long-term treatment,” said Dr Vitull K Gupta, chairman, Association of Physicians of India.He said insurance has not substantially reduced out-of-pocket costs or ensured equitable access, instead contributing to rising treatment costs, over-prescription and unnecessary investigations. “Healthcare is increasingly being treated as a commodity rather than a service,” he added.Dr Gupta called for higher public investment, suggesting health spending be raised to at least 3.5% of GDP to strengthen public systems and restore trust. He cautioned that growing corporatisation has shifted healthcare from welfare to profit, further increasing out-of-pocket expenditure.MSID:: 130553482 413 |
