Hospitalization spending in urban Gujarat 4th highest in country: Study

Ahmedabad: An average urban household in Gujarat spends over Rs 7,000 annually on hospitalisation, which is the fourth highest among all states in India, according to a recent Union govt report.

The Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey, conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) from July 2022 to June 2023, revealed that urban families in Gujarat spend an average of Rs 7,711 annually on hospitalisation. Urban households in Kerala (Rs 13,140), Maharashtra (Rs 9,122), and Punjab (Rs 8,272) have higher hospitalisation expenses than Gujarat.

In contrast, rural households in Gujarat spend significantly less on hospitalisation, with an average annual expenditure of Rs 4,071, ranking 12th among all states, the report stated.

The report also highlights that the expenditure per person on hospitalisation in urban Gujarat was Rs 2,014 per year, the sixth highest in the country. In rural Gujarat, it was Rs 874, the 12th highest.

Notably, the rural populace in Gujarat pays 48% less than their urban counterparts, and only five states — Haryana, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, and Punjab — have higher hospitalisation expenses for rural residents compared to urban residents.

Furthermore, the out-of-pocket expenses per household during hospitalisation in urban areas of Gujarat amount to Rs 5,528 annually, whereas in rural areas it was Rs 3,758. The per person out-of-pocket expenditure for an individual in urban Gujarat is Rs 1,444, whereas it is Rs 807 for a person in rural areas of the state.