Hyderabad: The affordability of private healthcare is back at the centre of national policy debate. Heavy dependence on private healthcare driving up costsThe findings have raised concerns over the increasing financial burden of healthcare on households and the dependence on private hospitals for treatment. According to the report, the high hospitalisation expenditure in Telangana is linked largely to the greater dependence on private healthcare facilities. Childbirth in a private hospital involved an average out-of-pocket expenditure of Rs 37,630 as against Rs 2,299 in a public facility. Against this backdrop, LocalCircles conducted a national survey to understand what families who availed of private hospital services in the last 3 years actually experienced with their bills.