Akankshya Mahapatra 
The Indian government on Monday announced the wholesale inflation rate in the country. Concerns have been raised that the inflation rate has reached 10.6 percent. So what is more worrying now than market inflation is the health inflation rate. The government has not yet released any information on the matter. However, the State Bank of India on Monday released its first ever health inflation report, which is now said to be a matter of real concern.
The second wave is now raging across the country. At least 30 percent of people in the country are hospitalized during this time. Rs 50,000 crore has been spent on medical expenses. It is estimated that the families of those who were admitted to private hospitals due to covid infections incurred an average burden of Rs 1.5 lakh.
According to the report, in April 2021, the retail inflation rate was 6.62 percent. The inflation rate in March was much lower than 5.21 percent. So Corona has made up for this reduction. This is because these people spend more on drugs, X-rays, ECGs, pathology tests, nursing fees, etc. in March than in March. Each family spends as much as 11 percent of their monthly health care expenses.
On the one hand, the cost of essential goods and health care in the market has increased, while on the other hand, people have also borne the burden of raising fuel prices. But reports from People say that’s just what’s happening. The increase in the price of medicines and medical products alone would cost the Indian family an additional Rs 15,000 crore.
In Corona, 30 percent went to the hospital, and 30 percent of them went to private hospitals. According to the report, they have spent an additional Rs 35,000 crore. Not only health inflation but also lockdowns are mentioned in the SBI report. Although no national lockdown has been imposed in the country for the second wave of the corona, there have been cuts and lockdowns at the regional level. According to the report, the income of the people will be reduced by Rs 16,000 crore.
According to SBI, the second wave has cost India a total of Rs 66,000 crore. It can be said to be a burden for Indian families. SBI said that the total expenditure on healthcare in the country in 2019-20 was Rs 11 lakh crore.
