Healthcare Turns Costly in Telangana, Avg Hospital Bills Hit ₹55K

Telangana has topped the country in an unwanted category, with the average hospitalisation expenditure in the state touching around Rs 55,000, according to a recent report citing the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare.

The average hospitalisation expenditure in Telangana was earlier reported at Rs 52,743 in the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey released in April this year. The latest report suggests that the average cost has now increased to around Rs 55,000.

Healthcare costs are reportedly increasing due to diagnostic tests and treatment procedures. Experts cited in the report said the growing use of investigations such as MRI and CT scans, along with procedures such as endoscopy, is contributing to higher hospital bills in some corporate hospitals.

According to the report, Telangana’s high hospitalisation expenditure is largely linked to the greater dependence on private hospitals, where treatment costs are significantly higher.

Experts have pointed to gaps in the government healthcare system, including shortages of doctors and specialists, limited hospital infrastructure and inadequate availability of diagnostics and medicines. These gaps have resulted in more patients opting for private hospitals for treatment.

Meanwhile, the rising cost of treatment is also reflected in household borrowing. The report cited the Telangana Socio-Economic Survey 2026, according to which around 10 per cent of household loans in the state are related to health expenses, mainly due to medical emergencies.