Health Allocation Disparities

Published On: 2024-09-05

Discrepancies between health budget allocations and outcomes persist across Indian states, highlighting inefficiencies and regional disparities.

There is a significant mismatch between the health budget allocations and health outcomes in Indian states. Despite an increase in overall health spending, there is no uniform improvement in health indicators across states. States like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, with relatively better health outcomes, receive lower allocations, while states with poorer health indicators often see higher budgetary allocations but fail to translate this into better health outcomes. The reasons for this disparity include inefficiencies in health system management, variations in governance, and differing health priorities among states. Moreover, the centralization of health schemes and the lack of autonomy for states hinder the effective use of allocated funds. To improve health outcomes, it is crucial to address these inefficiencies, ensure better governance, and allow states more flexibility in utilizing health budgets according to their specific needs.