Port Blair, Sept. 10: The Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad in reply to a starred question raised by the Member of Parliament, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray has informed that the per capita public expenditure on health during the year 2011-12 was Rs.954 while it was 882 during 2010-11.
The private expenditure on health as percentage of GDP is estimated at 2.93 percent in 2009 in India according to World Health Organisation. The Minister also informed that as per economic survey 2011-12, the expenditure on health by Centre and State combined has increased from Rs.88050 crore in 2009-10 to Rs.115,426 crore in 2011-12.
The Minister further informed that health is a state subject with states responsible for providing health care to their population. However, to strengthen the hands of state governments, central funding is provided under National Health programmes. National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is the flagship programme launched to strengthen health system.
Since the inception of the Mission, central funding to the tune of Rs.71086.23 crore has been provided (upto July 2012) to the states/UTs. Under NRHM about 1.50 lakh health human resources have been added besides over 8.66 lakh ASHAs have been engaged under the mission to address preventive and promotive care and to act as a link between community and health facilities, the Minister informed.
