New Delhi: The combined health expenditure of the Centre and 17 large states is expected to log 9.6% growth in 2023-24, down sharply from an average of 16.1% between 2020-21 and 2022-23.

As a proportion of GDP, health spending has declined post-pandemic, dropping from 1.23% in 2020-21 to 1.19% in FY23 and is expected to slip further in the coming year to 1.17%.

The Centre’s health spending eased from 0.41% of GDP to 0.3% of GDP over this period.

“The increase in expenditure on health has been very small. Adjusted for inflation, economic and population growth, the health budget has declined in India,” said Dr Chandrakant Lahariya, a public health expert.

These 17 states account for 80% of the country’s overall health expenditure. The analysis excludes Tamil Nadu, union territories and north-east states, except Assam.