The National Statistical Office’s 80th Round household health survey revealed notable progress in public healthcare access and a substantial increase in government-funded insurance coverage. Median out-of-pocket costs per hospitalization were Rs 11,285, with more than half of public facility hospitalizations costing only Rs 1,100. High-cost cases were limited, indicating specialized treatment requirements.
The survey, based on responses from 1,39,732 households, including rural and urban areas, highlighted that outpatient care costs in public health facilities were zero, enabling many citizens to access essential healthcare services for free. Initiatives like the Free Drugs Service and Free Diagnostics Initiative have ensured the availability of free medicines and diagnostic services nationwide.
Health-seeking behavior improved significantly, with a rise in the proportion of population reporting ailments in both rural and urban areas. Utilization of public outpatient services in rural regions increased from 28% in 2014 to 35% in 2025. The presence of over 1.84 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs has expanded primary healthcare services, incorporating digital health innovations for enhanced accessibility.
Government-funded health insurance coverage, including schemes like Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, has significantly increased financial risk protection. The percentage of the population covered under these schemes nearly tripled in rural and urban areas. Notably, out-of-pocket expenditure has decreased among economically weaker sections, indicating the positive impact of government interventions.
Maternal and child health outcomes have shown continued improvement, with institutional deliveries rising in both rural and urban areas. Institutional deliveries increased from 90.5% to 95.6% in rural areas and from 96.1% to 97.8% in urban areas, reflecting positive progress in healthcare services.
