India has a large elderly population, with enormous diversity pertaining to social, economic, educational and health status which demands more healthcare services as they age. But, unregulated systems, lack of resources, inefficient public health system, absence of population-wide mechanisms of social security and dominant private health sector with huge out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) in the country pose various challenges in terms of availability, quality, accessibility, and affordability for the health care utilization by older people.
The study discusses the health need of the elderly population, healthcare utilization and healthcare expenditure through a systematic review of literature. The findings suggest high health spending among the elderly coupled with an absence of insurance coverage expose them, particularly those belonging to lower socio-economic strata, to great financial risk.
The study recommends expansion in insurance coverage and the provision of good quality, subsidized, public health facilities to improve access to health care and protect the poor elderly against financial catastrophe. Further steps are required to incorporate the use of information and communications technology for better reporting, focusing on health promotion and addressing health literacy in communities. Additionally, leveraging affordable innovation in health is important to tackle India’s multidimensional health challenges among the elderly.
Read more at: Sahoo H, Govil D, James KS, Prasad RD. Health Issues, Health Care Utilization and Health Care Expenditure among Elderly in India: Thematic Review of Literature. Aging Heal Res [Internet]. 2021;100012. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahr.2021.100012
