New Delhi: Government expenditure on health care in India has almost tripled in the last decade, while the amount spent directly by households on treatment out of pocket has declined sharply, according to the latest National Health Accounts (NHA) estimates released by the Union Health Ministry.The report showed that government health expenditure (GHE) is expected to increase from ₹1.30 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹3.85 lakh crore in 2022-23, indicating a large increase in public investment in healthcare.Government health expenditure as a share of GDP increased from 1.15% to 1.43% during this period, while its share in total health expenditure increased from 28.6% to 43.7%.One of the biggest changes highlighted in the report was the decline in out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) – the money that families spend directly on medicines, hospitalization and treatment. OOPE as a share in total health expenditure to decline from 64.2% in 2013-14 to 43.4% in 2022-23.The ministry said the decline reflects better access to public health services and financial security schemes, including the expansion of more than 1.8 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs that provide free medicines, diagnostics and primary health care close to communities.The report also cited findings of the NSO’s 80th round of survey, which showed a decline in household medical expenditure, including zero average out-of-pocket expenditure for outpatient care at public health facilities.Officials said medicines and health supplements remain the largest contributors to domestic medical expenses. To reduce this burden, the government expanded free medicine schemes and increased access to low-cost medicines through Jan Aushadhi Kendras, Amrit Pharmacies and price control measures.Government spending on health care got an additional boost, rising to 1.84% of GDP in 2021-22 to support emergency response measures and the nationwide vaccination programme.The report also revealed that government expenditure on primary health care more than doubled from ₹0.5 lakh crore in 2013-14 to ₹1.4 lakh crore in 2022-23, while per capita government health expenditure increased from ₹1,042 to ₹2,786.Social security expenditure on health care, including Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY and government-funded insurance schemes, increased from 6% to 9.9% of total health expenditure during the decade.