Published Paper Details:

This study examines the impact of government health expenditure on women and child health outcomes in India during 2005-2015 on the basis of maternal and child health indicators. With the use of secondary data and econometric analysis the relationship between health expenditure and key health indicators have been done. The results reveal highly significant negative correlations between health expenditure and mortality indicators (MMR: r=-0.983, p<0.01; IMR: r=-0.991, p<0.01) and strong positive correlations with service coverage indicators (Institutional Delivery: r=0.994, p<0.01; Full Immunization: r=0.995, p<0.01). Regression analysis demonstrates that every Rs. 1000 crore increase in health expenditure reduces MMR by 0.80 per 100,000 live births and IMR by 0.18 per 1,000 live births. The study shows significant interstate differences with best performing states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu, spend 4-5 times more per capita on health than Empowered Action Group (EAG) states. The findings highlight the vital role of long-term expenditure on health infrastructure development particularly in underperforming states for improving the equitable improvements in health of women and children.