Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Andhra Pradesh spent huge sum of money on public health during the last financial year, but yet could not improve their health performance, thanks to a number of factors including non-availability of drugs and failure in making sure to reach the medicines to the right people.

According to a study by Assocham recently, the top ten states with health expenditure growing at the rate of 25 per cent, have not been able to improve upon the health performance as indicated by their low ranks in indicators, such as infant mortality, death rate, availability of health institutions per million persons. The study by Assocham Eco Pulse (AEP) found that the rising expenditure by the States did not help them gain better position with their average ranks remaining in the range of 14-17 per cent on various health indicators.

The study finds that out of the 28 Indian states, Chattisgarh (39.4 per cent), Uttrakhand (37.8 per cent), Sikkim (26.8 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (26.7 per cent) and Orissa (24.9 per cent) occupied the top five positions respectively as they recorded highest growth on medical and public health expenditure in 2007-08 as against the previous financial year.

"Even as the state government's budget allocation on healthcare has increased, lack of specialized doctors, medical assistance and non-availability of quality drugs and medicines reaching all sections of people is acting as an impediment in improving their health indicators," commented Assocham president Sajjan Jindal.

In 2007-08, Chattisgarh tops the table in growth expenditure on medical and public health with Rs 50, 646 lakh in FY' 08 as compared to Rs 36,341 lakh in the previous fiscal recording a jump of around 40 per cent. Among the 28 states it disappointed with the scores on basic health indicators. The infant mortality rate of the state is 61 per thousand persons and it occupies 23rd position. Similarly it ranks far below at 24th place on death rates health indicator. The state has 722 various health institutions, out of which 633 are ayurvedic dispensaries. On the health parameter regarding availability of health institutions per million persons the state ranks at 10th position.

Among the 28 state, the mineral rich state of Orissa fairs poorly on health indicators, as it is positioned with last rank on both infant mortality and death rate. But the state recorded a growth of 26.7 per cent in health expenditure in FY'08 as against FY'07.The state is placed at 8th position in the availability of health facility per million persons, having 1,280 health institutes.

The industrialized South Indian states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also occupied low ranks on basic health parameters despite the high expenditure by their state governments on medical and public health facilities.

Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka witnesses a growth of 26.7 per cent and 18.3 per cent respectively on health expenditure in 2007-08 with AP having 1, 168 health institutions ranks at 21st position and the latter with 11,32 health institutions is placed at 17th position in terms of availability of health facilities per million persons. On the parameters of infant mortality and death rate AP is placed at 17th position whereas Karnataka was ranked at 16th position among the 28 states. View Table Information