Representative image NEW DELHI: Indians spent more than Rs 1.6 lakh crore on medicines, making drugs one of the largest components of healthcare expenditure in the country, a National Health Accounts (NHA) 2022-23 report released by the Union health ministry read.The report showed that expenditure on prescribed medicines alone crossed Rs 1.3 lakh crore, while another Rs 26,670 crore was spent on medicines purchased without prescriptions. Together, spending on medicines exceeded Rs 1.6 lakh crore. They accounted for about one-fifth of India’s healthcare spending.The report also showed that hospital admissions and inpatient treatment accounted for the largest share of current health expenditure at Rs 2.9 lakh crore (37.6%). Spending on medicines exceeded Rs 1.6 lakh crore (21%), while outpatient treatment accounted for Rs 1.4 lakh crore (18.7%). Together, these three categories accounted for 77.3% of current health expenditure.The findings come even as India recorded a steady decline in out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health spending over the past decade.Health experts say medicine costs remain a major contributor to household healthcare expenses, particularly for patients living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer that require long-term treatment and regular drug purchases.Public health experts note that medicines continue to represent a significant recurring expense for many families, especially those managing chronic illnesses that require lifelong treatment.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNTA To Hold Re-Exam For CUET-UG 2026 Candidates Affected By Tech GlitchMamata Banerjee Meets Hospitalised Abhishek Banerjee After Sonarpur AttackBrahMos Export Push Gains Pace With Vietnam Deal Signed, Indonesia Next In Line | WatchDK Shivakumar Meets Karnataka Governor, To Take CM Oath On June 3Delhi Police Foils Major Attack Plot, Arrests 9 Linked To ISI-Dawood Ibrahim Terror Network‘Not pointing fingers…’: Pete Hegseth’s witty reply to Pak journo over India’s AGNI-6 ICBM | WatchDoval’s Moscow Mission: India-Russia Defence, Energy & Arctic Cooperation In Focus | WatchTMC Leader Abhishek Banerjee Asked To Appear Before CID Amid Fresh Political Storm’Pakistan Navy Remained Confined To Its Ports’: Rajnath Singh Hails Navy’s Role During Op SindoorIndia’s Gold Demand Plunges 70% After Import Duty Rises To 15%123Photostories5 workouts to tone your lower bodyLove quote of the day by Aristotle: “Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies”From Sarah Jessica Parker to Jon Bon Jovi, here are all of the celebrities who flaunt their gray hair like a crownParkinson’s before 50? Doctor explains the early warning signs most people ignore’Spider-Noir’ to ‘Deli Boys’: Latest Hollywood series and films to watch over the weekendDon’t throw away your potato peels: 5 smart ways to repurpose themYou’re walking, not running, so why are you breathless? Doctor explains what your body may be trying to tell youOne workout a week can help you lose weight, new study findsAsthma is no longer just about dust and pollution: Doctor warns stress, poor sleep and modern lifestyles are triggering more attacks5 lessons of perfect marriage we all need to learn from Preity Zinta and Gene Goodenough123Hot PicksSimone BilesVinesh PhogatMonsoon ForecastHenry Nowak murderFrancisco CerundoloDonald TrumpGold price predictionTop TrendingGhaziabad Student MurderD GukeshVaibhav sooryavanshi IPL auctionPunjab Local Body Election ResultCockroach Janta PartySupreme CourtNEET UG 2026 fee refundBSEB Bihar Sakashmta Pariksha Admit CardNTANEET Paper Leak
NEW DELHI: Indians spent more than Rs 1.6 lakh crore on medicines, making drugs one of the largest components of healthcare expenditure in the country, a National Health Accounts (NHA) 2022-23 report released by the Union health ministry read.The report showed that expenditure on prescribed medicines alone crossed Rs 1.3 lakh crore, while another Rs 26,670 crore was spent on medicines purchased without prescriptions. Together, spending on medicines exceeded Rs 1.6 lakh crore. They accounted for about one-fifth of India’s healthcare spending.The report also showed that hospital admissions and inpatient treatment accounted for the largest share of current health expenditure at Rs 2.9 lakh crore (37.6%). Spending on medicines exceeded Rs 1.6 lakh crore (21%), while outpatient treatment accounted for Rs 1.4 lakh crore (18.7%). Together, these three categories accounted for 77.3% of current health expenditure.The findings come even as India recorded a steady decline in out-of-pocket expenditure as a share of total health spending over the past decade.Health experts say medicine costs remain a major contributor to household healthcare expenses, particularly for patients living with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer that require long-term treatment and regular drug purchases.Public health experts note that medicines continue to represent a significant recurring expense for many families, especially those managing chronic illnesses that require lifelong treatment.
