Distress financing associated with out-of-pocket expenditure for non-communicable diseases in India

ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to assess the coping mechanisms used by the households who incur out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) due to Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs). Also, it seeks to examine the underlying factors responsible for various coping strategy.Data and MethodsData from the 75th round of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) has been used for the study. Descriptive statistics, concentration index (CI), and multinomial logistic regression have been employed to do the analysis.ResultsHouseholds having cancer patients have a higher rate (46.80%) of distress financing, followed by cardiovascular diseases (27.43%), chronic respiratory diseases (26.91%), and diabetes (24.77%). The result of multinomial logistic regression shows that households belonging to the other caste categories, availing healthcare at private health centre, lower economic status, lack of insurance coverage, and households with casual labour are more likely to depend upon distress financing for NCDs hospitalisation.ConclusionThe issue of financing inpatient care for NCDs, specifically cancer and cardiovascular diseases, is a significant concern in India. Therefore, an increase in public expenditure and investment in public health facilities is essential to increase health seeking behaviour of people by reducing OOPE, particularly among the poor and marginalised groups.