India spends only 20.7 per cent of its total health expenditure on public health services, far less than Bangladesh, China and Pakistan, which contribute 25 per cent, 34.9 per cent and 45 per cent respectively, a study revealed.
A study jointly conducted by industry body Assocham and PriceWaterhouseCoopers on 'Working toward Wellness: An Indian Perspective' found that India's per capita expenditure on health stands at $23 as compared to the world average of $482 per person, while the total expenditure made on health is 6.1 per cent of the GDP.
The per capita health expenditure of India's neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh are $18 and $14 and the total health expenditure spent 3.2 per cent and 3.1 per cent of the GDP respectively.
"Currently, 30 per cent of cardiovascular patients in the age group of 35-64 die in India as compared to 12 per cent in the United States, 22 per cent in China, 25 per cent in Russia, 34 per cent in Brazil and 40 per cent in South Africa," the study said.
India might record a higher death rate in the 35-64 age group between 2000-2030 than the US, China and Russia, which has shown a greater concern toward health problems.
Besides cardiovascular diseases, the country is also expected to have around 57.2 million diabetic patients by 2025, majority of whom would be in the working age group.
The study, however, conceded that this year India had made good health budget proposals, which would have a positive impact later on.
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