Treatment is becoming expensive in India, expenses increase by 14% every year, Delhi becomes the capital of kidney disease.

New Delhi: The cost of health services in the country is increasing by 14 percent every year. This has been revealed in the ACKO India Health Insurance Index 2024. According to this report, people are paying 23 percent of the hospital expenses by borrowing. People have to pay 62 percent of the expenses from their own pockets, due to which the financial pressure on families is increasing. The report emphasizes the need for better health services coverage to protect against unexpected health expenses.Delhi becomes the capital of kidney disease
Looking at the major diseases leading to health insurance claims, the report said Delhi has emerged as the kidney disease capital of India. It has the highest share of kidney related health insurance claims. The index also found that after Delhi, the highest number of claims for kidney disease were made from Kochi. According to the report, kidney related problems are highest in Delhi NCR. Kochi, Secunderabad, Bengaluru and Jaipur also had a higher share of these claims than the national average. The average age of patients with kidney and kidney problems is 47 years, indicating a significant health concern.

More patients of heart disease after kidney
It is noteworthy that, according to the index, the biggest bill for kidney related problems last year was Rs 24,73,894. It shows the medical expenses in such situations. Apart from kidney, the report discusses other serious diseases including heart disease. The report states that maximum claims are made for heart related diseases in Kolkata and Mumbai. Most of the patients admitted to hospital for heart disease are between 31 to 50 years of age and their number is increasing every year. Kolkata and Mumbai top the list of metropolitan cities in terms of heart attacks.

Cancer cases will increase by 13% by 2025
The report points to a worrying trend in cancer cases, with a predicted increase of 13 percent from 2020 to 2025. Meanwhile, the government has launched several schemes to improve healthcare in the country. On 11 September 2023, the Union Cabinet approved health coverage for all senior citizens aged 70 years and above under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. With this decision, all senior citizens, irrespective of their socio-economic status, will be able to avail the benefits of this scheme. Under this scheme, a health cover of Rs 5 lakh is given to a family every year.