India, July 7 -- For the last few weeks, India's health conversation has revolved around the findings from the sixth round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6). Yet, while NFHS-6 is being discussed, two datasets of arguably greater immediate consequence received far less attention. In late April, the National Statistical Office released the findings of the 80th Round of the survey on Household Social Consumption: Health. In late May, the Union health ministry released the National Health Accounts estimates for 2022-23. Together, they tell us how India's health system is financed, used, and experienced. That is the question on which the health of families and citizens is based.

We know India is a mixed health care system where bo...