Why hospital treatment costs more in Telangana? Parliamentary panel points to private sector

A Parliamentary Standing Committee has identified the expanding private healthcare sector as a significant factor behind the higher cost of hospital treatment in Telangana, compared to several other Indian states. An average hospitalization episode in the state costs around ₹55,000, placing it among the highest healthcare expenditure states in the country.

This is compared to costs of about ₹52,000 in Tamil Nadu, and lower costs ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹45,000 in Kerala and Karnataka. The committee's report, titled 'Affordability and accessibility on healthcare facilities in public and private sector', examined data from the National Sample Survey on Household Social Consumption: Health between January and December 2025.

The committee warned against assuming lower healthcare expenditure indicates better or more affordable care, citing potential reasons such as poor access to medical facilities, lower usage of services, or patients opting for cheaper treatments due to financial constraints. The committee highlighted deficiencies in public healthcare infrastructure, including shortages of medical personnel and overcrowding, as contributing to patients' reliance on private hospitals.

It recommended increasing bed capacity and specialist manpower in government hospitals, particularly in urban centers, and improving essential medicines, diagnostic services, and modern amenities in public facilities to reduce the reliance on costly private care.