Socioeconomic differentials in the burden of paying for healthcare in India: a disaggregated analysis.

Abstract

By using nationally representative consumption expenditure surveys (CES) conducted by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) in 1999-2000, 2004-05 and 2011-12, this paper has analysed the socioeconomic differentials in the burden of paying for healthcare in India. The study found that in all waves of data, the concentration of population reporting OOP health expenditure has shown a shift towards poor population, while the concentration of overshoot expenditure is still constant among the rich which is more pronounced in the rural areas of the country. Furthermore, Muslims and Sikhs among different religions, Scheduled Casts among social categories, self-employed and casual/agricultural labour among household types and rural areas among sectors are more likely to incur OOP health expenditure as compared to their counterparts. This study argues for the universal health insurance coverage to protect households from the significant burden of expenditure on critical healthcare.