Health Care Equity In Urban India

India is currently experiencing a significant shift towards urban living, with one-third of the population residing in cities. This rapid urbanization demands urgent attention to policies and healthcare facilities. Surprisingly, 30% of the country’s poor now live in urban areas. The 2011 census revealed that the urban population has surged from 18% in 1960 to 34% in 2019. Unfortunately, healthcare provisions have not kept pace with this growth. It’s crucial to address all aspects of the healthcare system, with a priority on boosting primary healthcare to benefit the public.

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India’s Health care Conditions

The healthcare system of India has been facing quite a lot of issues. Low number of institutions and lack of human resources contribute to the main health issues of urban India.
The Indian healthcare system consists of a three-tier system.
Primary health care is provided to the rural population by the Indian Public Health Standards. Community health centre, sub centre, and primary health centre provides healthcare to the rural population.
Secondary health care is provided through district hospitals.
Tertiary care is provided through super speciality hospitals at regional and Central level institutions.

Public Health Sector

National Health Mission (NHM):

NHM helps out in emergencies and makes sure our healthcare system is ready for anything.
They give money and expertise to states and Union Territories to make our public healthcare better.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY):

This big health insurance plan started in 2018 to help a lot of people.
The government supports it, and it’s all about making sure everyone can afford good health care.

Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY):

This plan began in 2003 to fix healthcare differences in different areas.
It’s all about making healthcare cheaper and better, and also making sure more people can learn to be great doctors and nurses.

Factors Affecting Healthcare Services In India

The main health issue of urban India are:

Disease burden on the poor
Unorganised urban healthcare governance
Financial burden faced by the poor
Less Investment in healthcare by urban local bodies.

Scope for Improvement

Promoting community participation and governance in urban India.
Building a database on the health and nutrition status of the country.
Strengthening healthcare provisions with the help of National Urban Health Mission.

Main Health Issues Of Urban India

In 2013, the National Urban Health Mission kicked off to tackle the major health challenges faced by people in urban India, especially those struggling with financial hardships. The folks in cities are dealing with issues like diseases from mosquitoes, long-term illnesses, dirty air, infections in the lungs, accidents on the roads, and injuries.
To handle these problems, it’s not just about doctors and hospitals. Other departments like social welfare, women and child development, road systems, schools, and cleanliness need to join forces with healthcare. Things like COVID-19, dengue, and tummy troubles spread easily when living conditions are cramped and not so great.
Poor housing, bad bathrooms, and problems with getting rid of garbage make these diseases more common. People who move to cities and those who don’t have a lot of money end up living in the worst spots, where it’s not healthy, and there aren’t many chances for work or education. This is why health is a big issue in urban India.

Barriers To Healthcare Access In Urban India

Patient complexity, limitation of resources, access to the services, training constraints and avoidance of care by the patient are some of the barriers to healthcare access in urban areas. Other barriers include transportation, geographical location, organisational barriers, availability of services and health infrastructure. There are also financial barriers to healthcare access in urban areas as the government spending on healthcare facilities is the least among other sectors.

Report On Healthcare Equity In Urban India

The study on ‘Healthcare Equity In Urban India‘ delves into the challenges and disparities present in India’s healthcare systems. It looks at how easy it is for people to find and use healthcare services. The report also examines the expenses associated with healthcare and suggests potential services that could be introduced in the future.

To gather information, the researchers interacted with various organizations in cities and towns across Surat, Lucknow, Delhi, and Mumbai. They also analyzed data from the National Family Health Surveys, the census of India, and insights from state-level healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

The fast growth of cities has made life tough for people with lower incomes. They end up in places that are not good for the environment, too crowded, and lack clean water and proper sanitation. Healthcare fairness in urban India looks at the health problems and differences in cities. It also checks if healthcare is easy to get, close by, and affordable in India.