Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said public health system in the country had “collapsed”, noting that even poorer countries like Bangladesh and Kenya have superior health indicators.

In a candid assessment of the country’s health sector, Mr Ramesh also said 70 per cent of the health expenditure is met from private sources, making it a “unique” country. This was the “single most important” reason for indebtedness in rural areas, he added.