The public health spending per capita as percentage of GDP is quite low in comparison to many developed and developing nations. However, life expectancy and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of India is not adverse in comparison to most of countries with similar per capita public health spending as percentage of GDP.
Access to affordable and quality healthcare in rural areas is poor as compared to urban areas. Public Health is a state subject. Under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), financial support is being provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system including for creating/strengthening of rural health infrastructure based on the requirements posed by them in their Programme Implementation Plans.
This was stated by Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.