Delhi's per capita expenditure on healthcare around Rs 1,936

The per capita expenditure on health in Delhi was Rs 1,936 in 2014-15, said the Economic Survey of Delhi, 2014-2015.

During 2013-2014, the per capita expenditure was Rs 1,696. From 2009-10 to 2012-2013, the per capita expenditure varied between Rs 1,243 and Rs Rs 1,599.

The total expenditure on health, under the planned and non-planned categories, of the Delhi government and the local bodies with reference to the Gross State Domestic Product of the capital is hovering around one per cent from 2006-2007 to 2014-2015.

Based on findings of the 68th Round of National Sample Survey (July 2011 and June 2012) in Delhi, the average monthtly consumption expenditure of a household was found to be Rs 15,122. Of this, the medical expenses amounted to Rs 463.84, which is around 3.06 per cent for the total expenses. So the annual consumption expenditure for medical facilities was around Rs 5,554 for 2011-2012.

The report also said Delhi’s hospital bed to population ratio is little more than half of the WHO’s recommended standard of five beds per 1,000 population. This is the case even though allocation to health sector under annual plans has significantly increased in the last decade.

The number of hospital beds has increased from 32,941 in 2004 to 48,096 in 2014, according to the survey report.

However, the bed to population ratio stands at 2.71 (beds per 1,000 persons) — a mere improvement from 2004’s 2.25.The investment in the health sector under the annual plans has significantly increased from Rs 469.83 crore in 2004-05 to Rs 1,990 crore in 2014-15 and therefore, it recorded an annual compound growth rate (AGCR) of 15.53 per cent, said the report.

Around 15 Delhi government hospitals are currently under construction or under planning stage.

Welfare Programmes

The majority of family welfare programmes in the city shows a negative trend. The schemes are, however, availed by people at private hospitals too.

The number of sterilisation during 2013-2014 was 19,181. Of this, around 1,401 men opted for it, while the number of women who opted for it were 17,780.

In 2012-2013, 20,107 sterilisations were performed. Around 2,07,872 oral pills were used in 2013-2014 compared to the previous year’s 2,13,992.

Institutional births

The institutional births was noted to be 81.75 per cent in 2013 as compared to 2001’s 62.1 per cent. The infant mortality rate in 2013 was recorded at 22, while it was 24 in 2001.

The capital has seen a reduction in underweight children. As per the National Family Health Survey report, 3, 34.7 per cent children were underweight in 1998–99. In 2005-06, it was found to be 33.1.

The government aims to tie up with other programmes to bring down the rate of child malnutrition and anaemia.