Economic burden of cancer treatment in India: an equity perspective

Sasmita Behera () and Jalandhar Pradhan ()
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Sasmita Behera: National Institute of Technology Rourkela
Jalandhar Pradhan: National Institute of Technology Rourkela

Journal of Social and Economic Development, 2023, vol. 25, issue 2, No 5, 334-349

Abstract: Abstract Cancer patients in India often face the burden of paying out-of-pocket (OOP) for their treatment that is not covered by any health insurance. Moreover, inequities in OOP payment are also found among these patients. This study aims to determine horizontal and vertical inequity in OOP expenditure associated with cancer hospitalisation in India and analyse the demographic and socio-economic determinants of these expenditures. Data has been retrieved from 75th round of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), conducted by the Government of India between July 2017 and June 2018. To analyse horizontal and vertical inequity, mean predicted OOP payment has been used across the monthly per capita consumption expenditure (MPCE) quintiles and other demographic and socio-economic variables. The Generalised Linear Regression Model (GLRM) has been applied to study the determinants of OOP expenditure. The result of vertical inequity shows that the predicted mean OOP expenditure is more for lower-income quintiles, indicates a regressive nature of health financing for cancer treatment in India. Non-schedule caste and tribe (SC/ST) people have a higher percentage of OOP expenditure as compared to their SC/ST counterparts in the poor and middle-income quintiles, whereas for the richer income quintiles, OOP expenditure is higher for SC/ST population. The mean OOP cost is also higher for the male respondents than the female across all the quintiles. The result of GLRM shows that predicted OOP expenditure is significantly associated with residence, gender, insurance coverage, and level of care. India is experiencing a higher burden of OOP expenditure for cancer hospitalisation and widespread inequities in paying for this expenditure. Indian government and policymakers must act to remove these underlying barriers to provide affordable, equitable, and universal cancer care for the entire population.

Keywords: Horizontal inequity; India; Cancer hospitalisation; Vertical inequity; Out-of-pocket expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s40847-023-00247-y

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