Published Oct 11, 2026 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 11, 2026 | 7:00 AM
The NSS data put average medical expenditure for a psychiatric and neurological hospitalisation at around ₹49,655 nationally.
Synopsis: India’s latest NSS data puts average non-hospitalised psychiatric and neurological treatment expenditure at ₹1,407 per spell. But for families managing mental illness over years, the financial burden extends beyond consultations to medicines, therapy and hospitalisation. Psychiatrist Dr Kurinji G R explains the costs, affordability challenges and need for accessible, sustained mental healthcare.
The cost of mental health treatment can influence the medicines prescribed to patients, with families having to meet recurring expenses on medication, follow-up consultations and therapy, besides hospitalisation in some cases, said Dr Kurinji GR, consultant psychiatrist at Kauvery Hospital, Chennai.
The latest National Sample Survey (NSS) data put the average medical expenditure for a non-hospitalised psychiatric and neurological treatment spell at ₹1,407.
Dr Kurinji told South First that patients frequently discussed their medical expenses during consultations, and the financial circumstances of their families could influence the choice of medicines.
“The figure doesn’t surprise me, since I hear from many of my patients about their medical expenditures during consultations. I expected the amount to be even higher than the figure mentioned,” she added.
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Some psychiatric conditions require years of treatment, regular monitoring and changes in medication. Costs continue even when patients do not require hospitalisation.
“In psychiatry, there will be a minimum of one to two years of follow-up in 30 to 40 percent of cases. The remaining will need long-term follow-up,” Dr Kurinji said. “Psychological therapy will also add to the cost of treatment.”
Treatment may also require blood tests, brain imaging, electroencephalography (EEG), psychological assessments and other investigations, depending on the patient’s symptoms and clinical needs.
Dr Kurinji estimated that medicines accounted for half of outpatient treatment costs, consultations, therapy and follow-up for a quarter, and diagnostic investigations for the remaining quarter. These were her clinical estimates, not figures from the NSS survey.
Monthly expenses vary by condition, prescribed medicines, provider and frequency of treatment. Dr Kurinji said families often struggled to sustain these costs over years.
“Every month, they have to keep ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 ready for their treatment that goes on for years, which is a real financial burden for middle-class families,” she said. “This is equal to or more than what they spend on their kids’ education.”
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The NSS data showed that average medical expenditure for a non-hospitalised psychiatric and neurological treatment spell was ₹545 in government or public hospitals, ₹1,540 with private doctors or clinics and ₹2,135 in private hospitals.
Dr Kurinji attributed the differences to patient load and access to medicines. Government facilities often handled large numbers of patients, while private practitioners had more time for detailed assessments and therapy. Access to newer medicines also varied.
“Detailed evaluation is humanly impossible in such circumstances. But in the private sector, the case load will be comparatively less, which gives us time for detailed evaluation and therapy,” she said. “All costly new medicines are available in private hospitals, which is not the case in the government setup. Stocks and availability vary in many government psychiatric hospitals.”
The expenditure figures did not establish which setting provided better care. Costs depended on the patient’s condition, required investigations and available services. The figures represented average medical expenditure, not necessarily the amount patients paid after insurance or other financial assistance.
Hospitalisation raised the cost further. The NSS data put average medical expenditure for a psychiatric and neurological hospitalisation at around ₹49,655 nationally, with private hospitals costing substantially more than government hospitals.
Costs varied with the investigations and treatment required. Some patients needed tests to rule out neurological or autoimmune causes, while others required intensive treatment, close observation or longer hospital stays.
“Radiological investigations like MRI with MRA/MRV, EEG, and sometimes CSF analysis, ruling out autoimmune causes, increase the cost of treatment,” Dr Kurinji said. “In psychiatry, modified ECT, with a minimum of six sittings, can also add to the duration of hospital stay and the cost of treatment.”
Modified electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is used in selected cases, including some severe conditions requiring a rapid response. The need for ECT and the duration of hospitalisation depend on the patient’s clinical condition.
Dr Kurinji said hospital stays could be shortened when patients could safely continue treatment at home and family members received appropriate guidance. Discharge decisions, however, had to be based on the patient’s needs and safety, not cost alone.
Assessments for children and adolescents for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder and learning disabilities also added to treatment costs. These evaluations required specialised professionals and time to guide appropriate care.
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Recurring treatment costs can affect whether patients continue medication for months or years.
“The cost of treatment is an important factor influencing drug compliance in long-term psychiatric illness. It is the duty of psychiatrists to consider the patient’s socioeconomic status before starting the medication,” Dr Kurinji said. “Sometimes, drugs with a low cost can be a good alternative instead of dropping out, which has to be discussed with the patient during the consultation.”
Doctors can discuss lower-cost medicines with patients, depending on the condition and the clinical evidence supporting each option.
Insurance coverage also affects affordability, particularly when psychiatric conditions require hospitalisation. Dr Kurinji called for better financial protection for patients.
The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, requires insurers to provide medical insurance for mental illness on the same basis as physical illness. Actual coverage depends on the policy terms and applicable rules. Families need clear information about covered treatment and the expenses they must pay themselves.
Dr Kurinji called for mental health services to be expanded at the primary health centre (PHC) level, with trained professionals, medicines, diagnostic facilities and follow-up care.
“The cost of the medicines can be reduced. Psychiatrists and psychologists should be posted at the PHC level to improve mental healthcare, reduce stigma, and make it accessible at all levels,” she said. “Additionally, the infrastructure, new medications including long-acting injections, new interventions, and psychometric testing should be made available in those facilities.”
She compared deploying healthcare personnel without the necessary resources to sending soldiers into the field without weapons.
“Otherwise, it will be like deploying soldiers without weapons,” she said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
