Arumugam Sugirtha Rani
Background: Despite its branding as the “world’s pharmacy”, India’s population has limited access to medications with households paying over 65% of total health spending on out-of-pocket expenditure, with two-thirds of that on drugs [1]. As per World Health Organisation (WHO) research, household OOP spends on health services, particularly medications continue to force over 55 million Indians into poverty, with over 18% of households facing catastrophic levels of health expenditures annually [2]. In UDCs, the OOPE on healthcare is substantial compared to household income due to the lack of a social science system, low income levels and insurance coverage, growing longevity and non-communicable diseases [3]. The WHO has also recognized the issue and urged government to guarantee the basic healthcare services were available during pandemic (42). Despite global guidance to maintain essential non-COVID health services, the number of people receiving healthcare for a variety of reasons, including maternal and neonatal care, child illnesses, communicable diseases, NCDs and injuries and emergencies requiring critical care has decreased [4]. Hence during the time of pandemic there was disturbance for accessing and utilizing the healthcare activities for the people those who have been suffering from chronic diseases [5]. This may cause to decrease in healthcare expenditure of the individual health seekers [6].
KeywordsOut-of-pocket expenses; Non-pandemic diseases; Difference-in- Difference (DiD) Approach; Chronic and acute diseases
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