NSO health survey: zero median OPD spending in public facilities
The Health Ministry’s reading of the NSO 80th round health survey shows median out-of-pocket spending on outpatient care in public facilities is zero. The median cost per hospitalisation in 2025 was ₹11,285, and ₹1,100 in public hospitals. Government-funded insurance cover rose from 12.9% to 45.5% in rural areas.
- Survey
- NSO 80th round, Household Social Consumption: Health (2025)
- Sample
- 1,39,732 households (76,296 rural, 63,436 urban)
- Median OOPE per hospitalisation
- ₹11,285; ₹1,100 in public facilities
- OPD in public facilities
- Median OOPE zero
- Insurance (govt-funded)
- Rural 12.9% → 45.5%; Urban 8.9% → 31.8%
- Institutional deliveries
- Rural 90.5% → 95.6%; Urban 96.1% → 97.8%
Out-of-pocket health spending in the NSO 80th round: what happened?
Out-of-pocket spending is what a family pays from its own pocket for treatment. High OOPE pushes poor families into debt. The survey suggests free medicines, diagnostics and insurance are cutting that burden.
- Free Drugs Service Initiative and Free Diagnostics Initiative began in 2015.
- Over 1.84 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs give primary care.
- AMRIT: over 220 pharmacies in 29 States/UTs, 6,500+ drugs at up to 50% off.
- Share reporting ailments rose: rural 6.8% → 12.2%, urban 9.1% → 14.9%.
- Rural public OPD use rose from 33% to 35%; it was about 28% in 2014.
- 66.8% of rural deliveries happen in government facilities; 47% in urban areas.
Mean or median: why does it matter?
- A few very costly cases pull the average (mean) up. The median shows what a typical patient pays, so it is a better guide here.
Why does out-of-pocket health spending in the NSO 80th round matter?
- Health: Public facilities give near-free outpatient care.
- Equity: OOPE fell for the bottom two consumption quintiles.
What can Prelims ask on out-of-pocket health spending in the NSO 80th round?
- NSO 80th round: median OPD OOPE in public facilities = zero.
- Median OOPE per hospitalisation (2025) ₹11,285.
- FDSI and FDI launched in 2015.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-04-29): NSO's 80th round on household social consumption (health), Jan–Dec 2025, shows zero median outpatient expenditure in public facilities and low median health spending.
- Free public care reduces financial burden.
Quotable data pointNSO's 80th round on household social consumption (health), Jan–Dec 2025, shows zero median outpatient expenditure in public facilities and low median health spending.
PIB: Health: NSO health survey, 29 Apr 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: NSS rounds.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
As per the NSO 80th round health survey, the median out-of-pocket expenditure on outpatient care in public health facilities is
Answer (d) & explanation
PIB (Health), 29 April 2026.
Questions students ask about this
What is the median OOPE for outpatient care in public facilities?
Zero, as per the NSO 80th round health survey.
What is the median out-of-pocket cost per hospitalisation?
₹11,285 in 2025 overall, and ₹1,100 in public health facilities.
How much has government health insurance cover grown?
From 12.9% to 45.5% of the rural population and from 8.9% to 31.8% of the urban population.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Health: NSO health survey, 29 Apr 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending