New Delhi, April 29 -- The 80th round of the National Statistical Office (NSO) survey on household social consumption related to health highlights significant progress in India's healthcare system, reflecting improved access, affordability, and utilisation of services across the country.

According to the survey, average healthcare expenditure remains low, indicating a reduced financial burden on households. Notably, the average out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for outpatient care in public health facilities was reported as zero, underscoring widespread access to free essential healthcare services.

The survey further revealed that more than half of the patients admitted to government health facilities incurred OOPE of less than Rs.1,100,...