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

A Parliamentary Standing Committee in Telangana has identified the increasing presence of private healthcare as one of the reasons behind the State's high treatment expenditure, compared to several other states. An average hospitalization episode costs about ₹55,000 in Telangana, making it one of the most expensive states for healthcare in the country.

The committee's report, 'Affordability and accessibility on healthcare facilities in public and private sector,' analyzed data from the 80th round of the National Sample Survey on Household Social Consumption: Health. It found that hospitalization costs in Telangana exceed those in other southern states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The report cautioned against assuming lower healthcare expenditure indicates better or more affordable care, as it might instead suggest poor access, low utilization, or forced use of cheaper treatment due to affordability issues. The committee pointed out deficiencies in public healthcare infrastructure, including shortages of medical personnel and overcrowding, leading patients to opt for private hospitals.

They recommended increasing bed capacity and specialist manpower in government hospitals, especially in metropolitan areas, and improving essential medicines, diagnostic services, and modern amenities in public facilities to prevent reliance on expensive private care.