Cost of diabetic care in India: An inequitable picture

Aim

Diabetes is a growing public health problem in India which is soon going to become the ‘diabetes capital’ of the world. It requires regular care and follow up. We aimed to estimate the household out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditure and catastrophic expenditure due to hospitalization and outpatient care as a result of diabetes.

Materials and methods

Secondary analysis of nationally representative data for India collected by National Sample Survey Organization in 2014, reporting on health service utilization and health care related OOP expenditure by income quintiles and by type of health facility (public or private).

Results

The median household OOP expenditure from hospitalization due to diabetes was USD 151, and was 3 times higher among the richest quintile compared to the poorest quintile (p < 0.001). There was a significantly higher prevalence (p < 0.001) of catastrophic expenditure among the poorest quintile (36%) compared to the richest (14%). Median private sector OOP hospitalization expenditure was four times higher than the public sector (p < 0.001). Medicines accounted for 41% and 69% of public sector hospitalization and outpatient care respectively. Concentration indices show gross inequity in hospitalization expenditure, prevalence of catastrophic expenditure and utilization of public health facility.

Conclusion

Households with diabetic patients incur a high risk of catastrophic expenditure, particularly for those in the lowest income quintiles and those seeking care in the private sector. Increased availability and access to essential drugs and strengthening of public facilities will significantly reduce OOP expenditure.