Households face financial risk from increasing health inflation
The advancement in healthcare relies on technology, and this has led to higher input costs in hospitals and increased imports of costly medical devices and drugs. The fluctuations caused by global supply chain disruptions also contribute to the rise in prices.
| Photo Credit: Rima Das Mukherjee
Medical inflation in India is rising at an exponential rate every year. Many households, despite government support, are at risk of accumulating large debts if a family member has a chronic illness, falls seriously ill or has an accident.
The government’s 2025-26 Economic Survey showed that health inflation came down to 3% in December 2025 from 6% in 2023. However, the Aon’s Global Medical Trends Rate 2026 report and other market reports show put medical inflation in India at 12-13%.
Published – May 05, 2026 07:15 am IST
