Per capita health expenditure by the respective governments in half of the States is below the national average which itself is ranked very low in the international arena. As many as 16 States and Union Territories fared below par the national average of Rs 503, according to the latest official data available.

The States which spend lesser interestingly include some advanced States like Kerala and Maharashtra. Mizoram stood top among the States with an annual per capita expenditure of Rs 1611 while Bihar came last with just Rs 173 by the government, as per the statistics available for 2008. Sikkim (Rs 1446), Andaman (1347), Puducherry (Rs 1333), Lakshadweep (Rs 1315) and Goa (Rs 1149) fared better. The national capital of Delhi (Rs 840), Himachal Pradesh (Rs 884), Jammu and Kashmir (Rs 845), Chandigarh (Rs 798) and Nagaland (Rs 794) also did better.

However, Kerala which has better health indicators spent just Rs 454 on each person as the government share on healthcare. Likewise, bigger States like Karnataka (Rs 430), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 410), Tamil Nadu (Rs 410), Uttar Pradesh (Rs 293), Rajasthan (Rs 287), Maharashtra (Rs 278) and Gujarat (Rs 270) stood below the national average. West Bengal (Rs 262), Madhya Pradesh ( Rs 235) and Bihar (Rs 173) were at the bottom of the table.

Significantly, even the national average is much below the desired levels. According to the latest statistics available with World Health Organisation, India’s rank is too low, compared to most of the countries. The government spending on health in 2006 was just 8 dollars while America spent as many as 3074 dollars on each of its citizen. Countries like Canada ($ 2754) and UK ($1691) spent much higher. Even China, having bigger slice of population than India, spent US$ 38 per person. In 2000, the per capita expenditure on health by the government in India was just US$ 4 and while China spent US$ 17, as per the statistics.

Health Ministry sources said the government was trying to spend more on health areas through different interventions especially after the launch of National Rural Health Mission in 2005. “The Mission inter-alia seeks to provide accessible, affordable, accountable, effective and quality health care facilities, especially to the poor and vulnerable sections of the population,’’ sources said.