Report on ‘Health Care Equity in Urban India’

Context

According to a recent report, life expectancy among the poorest is lower by 9.1 years and 6.2 years among men and women, respectively, compared to the richest in urban areas.

Key-Findings

• Report explores health vulnerabilities and inequalities in cities across India.
• It also explores the availability, accessibility and cost of healthcare facilities, as well as possibilities in future-proofing services in the next decade.
• Report highlights that, Life expectancy among the poorest is lower by 9.1 years among men and 6.2 years among women as compared to the richest in urban areas.
• One third of India’s people are now living in urban areas. This segment is observing a rapid growth from about 18% in 1960 to 28.53% in 2001 and reaching to 34% in 2019.
• Around 30% of people living in urban areas are poor.
• It also finds a heavy financial burden on the poor, and less investment by urban local bodies in healthcare.

Suggestions

• The report gives following suggestions-

  • To strengthen community participation & governance
  • To build a comprehensive & dynamic database on health & nutrition status
  • To strengthen healthcare provisioning through National Urban Health Mission
  • To put in place policy measures for reducing the financial burden of the poor.
  • To set a mechanism for coordinated public healthcare services
  • To govern private healthcare institutions in a better manner.