Substantial decline in health expenditure in May surprises experts

Even if one compares the expenditure month-on-month, the decline has been substantial at nearly 70 per cent

As the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, the government’s health expenditure dropped almost 50 per cent in May year-on-year (YoY) after seeing a bump in April, surprising experts.

Sequentially, the decline has been approximately 70 per cent.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare spent Rs 3,948 crore in May this year compared to Rs 7,816 crore in the corresponding month of the previous year, showed data by the Controller General of Accounts.

On the other hand, at Rs 12,930 crore, the expenditure had risen almost 200 per cent in April against Rs 4,327 crore in the corresponding month