Preference for private healthcare higher in rural Kozhikode, says study
A study in rural Kozhikode, Kerala, reveals that residents prefer private healthcare facilities over public ones for both outpatient and inpatient care. Despite government insurance coverage, out-of-pocket expenditure remains high for households.
Why it matters
The findings highlight gaps in public healthcare accessibility and the financial burden of medical care on rural populations, even in regions with established insurance schemes.
A study conducted in rural areas of Kozhikode district has found that 174 people per a population of 1,000 (17.4%) required outpatient (OP) medical treatment within a recall period of 15 days and 19 people per a population of 1,000 required (1.9%) inpatient (IP) medical treatment within a recall period of a year for their various illnesses.
It also revealed that the utilisation of private healthcare facilities was higher for both OP and IP care. Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) was higher in private facilities compared with public facilities for both OP and IP services. A substantial proportion of households were covered under government health insurance schemes. The OOPE, however, remained considerable among both insured and uninsured households.
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