Best performing small state in terms of health: Puducherry

With 71 registered government allopathic doctors for every 100,000 residents—more than any other state or union territory in India—Puducherry has a sustainable healthcare network. All considered, the state spends Rs 3,354 on healthcare per capita, after only Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim and Mizoram, and has 108 beds per government hospital, which is more than any other state or union territory except Delhi. which is more than 254. This ensures a reliable disease management system and a reliable supply of medicines – a rarity in India’s public health system.

Puducherry’s success is partly due to its small population – with 1.24 million people, the state’s population density is only 2,598 persons per sq km, while Delhi’s population density is 11,297 persons per sq km. As a result, the state performs better than India as a whole on most health indices. For example, its infant mortality rate is 11 per 1,000 live births compared to India’s average of 28. Significantly, almost all births take place in health institutions and 91.3 percent of children are vaccinated, compared to the all-India average of 78.4 institutional births and 62. Percentage child immunization.

For a long time, Puducherry’s administration has prioritized healthcare by, among other steps, spending more per capita on health than other, wealthier states, establishing an adequate number of medical colleges, and ensuring that its health administration has No post should be left vacant. The state’s focus on healthcare is clearly visible in its budgetary spending: the union territory spends 1.85 per cent of its GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) on health, compared with 0.86 per cent in Delhi and 0.74 per cent by most major states. is done. National Health Profile, 2017. Similarly, its per capita health expenditure increased to Rs 3,653 by 2019, which is higher than Delhi’s Rs 3,145 and far higher than that of major states. The all-India average was Rs 1,765 which is less than the cost of a single COVID-19 test.