The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released findings of the ‘Household Social Consumption: Health’ survey, conducted during January–December 2025 as part of the 80th Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS). It provides data on morbidity, hospitalization, childbirth, and out-of-pocket healthcare spending across India.
Key Findings of ‘Household Social Consumption: Health’ Survey
Morbidity & Disease Patterns
- About 13.1% of persons reported suffering from some ailment during the last 15-day reference period in 2025 — significantly up from 7.5% in the previous NSS Health Survey (2017-18).
- Urban areas (14.9%) reported slightly higher illness than rural areas (12.2%).
- Illness was highest among the elderly aged 60+ years (43.9%), followed by those aged 45-59 years (22.5%) and children aged 0-4 years (9.9%).
- Disease shift observed: Reporting of infectious diseases declined compared to 2017-18, while Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and thyroid disorders showed an increase.
- Infections and respiratory ailments were most common during childhood and adolescence, while cardiovascular and endocrine/metabolic diseases were most frequently reported after age 30, with hypertension and diabetes as the largest contributors.
Hospitalization
- The hospitalization rate stood at 2.9% (per 100 persons) during the last 365-day period higher in urban areas (3.2%) than rural areas (2.7%).
- The highest hospitalization rate was recorded among those aged 60+ years (8.1%). Among young population, children aged 0-4 years showed the highest hospitalization rate at 4%.
Childbirth & Maternal Care
- Institutional deliveries accounted for ~96.2% of all births — 6% in rural and 97.8% in urban areas.
- Both rural and urban areas showed near-universal access to ante-natal care (98%). Post-natal care reporting was strong at 92% (rural) and 95% (urban).
Health Insurance Coverage
- A substantial improvement in health insurance coverage was recorded between 2017-18 and 2025. Rural coverage rose from ~14% to ~47%, and urban coverage from ~19% to ~44%.
- Government-sponsored schemes account for the majority of enrolments — with coverage now reaching nearly half the population.
Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenditure
- Hospitalization (excluding childbirth): Average out-of-pocket expenditure per hospitalization was ₹34,064 (Rural: ₹31,484 | Urban: ₹38,688).
- Median expenditure was ₹11,285.
- In public hospitals, average expenditure was just ₹6,631, and half of cases were treated for ₹1,100 or less.
- Out-patient Care (last 15 days): Average out-of-pocket expenditure was ₹861 (Rural: ₹847 | Urban: ₹884).
- Median: ₹400.
- In public hospitals, average was ₹289 and median was ₹0 — indicating half of out-patient treatments in public hospitals were free of cost.
- Childbirth: Average expenditure per childbirth in public hospitals: ₹2,299 vs ₹14,775 across all hospitals.
- Median in public hospitals (₹801) was less than one-third of the overall median (₹2,851).