Gender Differences in Health Expenditure in Different Regions of India: An Investigation Using a Nationwide Large Scale Survey Data

The present paper aims to assess the gender disparity in health expenditure among various age groups in different regions of India using Consumer Expenditure data collected in two rounds by National Sample Survey Organization (1999-2000 and 2007-08). Also the paper examines whether the change in the age and sex composition contributes to the change in health expenditure from the first survey period to the second survey period. Bivariate analysis is used to fulfil the first objective and to obtain the second objective Decomposition analysis is employed. Findings indicate that in India health expenditure has not increased over time and a huge disparity is seen between men and women of all age groups in getting health care facilities in different regions. Result from Decomposition analysis reveals that compositional shift in age contributes to increase in health expenditure, whereas compositional shift in female population contributes to decrease the health expenditure from the first to the second survey period. The study suggests that looking towards the gender disparity in health expenditure, Government should implement programmes addressing health care facilities in all the regions of India and emphasize should be given on women as they are the deprived group in getting health care services.