Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Jun 22: It is a common reality that a severe medical emergency can drain a family's life savings. However, Karnataka has proven to be one of the best states in the country at mitigating this financial disaster for its citizens.

According to the National Health Accounts (NHA) report released last week, the Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE)—the money individuals pay directly for healthcare—in Karnataka for 2022-23 stood at just 29.2% of the Total Health Expenditure (THE). This is significantly lower than the national average of 43.4%.

Among the 21 states analysed in the report, only Uttarakhand (28.8%) and Jammu and Kashmir (29.7%) recorded numbers close to Karnataka, placing the state in a highly commendable position when it comes to protecting families from healthcare-induced poverty.

Lowest out-of-pocket expenditure

The report highlights that the per capita out-of-pocket medical expense in Karnataka is Rs 2,049 annually, which is notably lower than the national average of Rs 2,767. While it is slightly higher than Uttarakhand (Rs 1,593) and Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 1,701), it remains one of the best performing figures nationally.

Interestingly, the government's share of health expenditure in Karnataka is only 33.2% of the total health expenditure. Unlike Uttarakhand (64.4%) and Jammu and Kashmir (68.3%), where the government foots a massive portion of the bill, Karnataka manages to keep the public burden low despite a smaller proportional contribution from the state.

However, in terms of absolute spending, Karnataka spends Rs 7,024 per capita on health, surpassing the national average of Rs 6,373, even though this accounts for only 0.7% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).

Key drivers behind the drop

Explaining the reasons for this positive trend, Ritwik R Pandey, principal secretary of the health and family welfare department, credited state health initiatives. He noted that schemes like Arogya Karnataka and Yashasvini, along with the provision of free medicines and diagnostic services, have played a crucial role.

Currently, expensive procedures and tests such as CT scans, MRIs, and dialysis, along with around 900 essential medicines, are available for free in government hospitals. This has significantly reduced the public's reliance on expensive private healthcare facilities.

Experts urge caution

While the numbers look promising, public health researchers caution that lower out-of-pocket expenditure does not automatically mean every citizen is fully protected. They point out that expenses related to outpatient treatment, certain medicines, travel to healthcare centers, and post-treatment care still come out of the patients' pockets.

Furthermore, vulnerable groups like senior citizens, tribal communities, and residents of remote villages still face substantial hurdles in accessing the benefits of these government schemes.

Overall, while Karnataka has made silent but significant strides in reducing the healthcare burden on the common man, experts suggest that increasing overall government health spending, extending quality services to marginalised communities, and focusing on long-term chronic disease care remain essential steps for the future.