Preference for private healthcare higher in rural Kozhikode, says study

A recent study conducted in rural Kozhikode, Kerala, has revealed that a significant proportion of the population prefers private healthcare facilities for both outpatient (OP) and inpatient (IP) medical treatment. Out of every 1,000 people in the district, 17.4% required OP care and 1.9% needed IP care within a specified period.

The study, titled 'Morbidity and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure Among Rural Households of Kozhikode District, Kerala', found that 53.4% of the surveyed households sought care from private facilities, while 46.6% opted for public facilities.

The out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) for OP care was significantly higher in private facilities, with a median expenditure of ₹145 compared to ₹700 in public facilities. Similarly, for IP care, the median OOPE was ₹600 in public facilities and ₹5,050 in private facilities. Despite some households being covered under government health insurance schemes, the OOPE remained considerable for both insured and uninsured households.

The most common causes of OP morbidities were infectious diseases, accounting for 76.9% of cases, followed by accidents and injuries at 7.6%. In IP cases, non-communicable diseases (43.1%) and infectious diseases (34.4%) were the primary reasons for hospitalization. The authors of the study suggest that the preference for private healthcare may be driven by factors such as increasing health aspirations, reduced waiting times, perceived better quality of care, and greater flexibility in service delivery.

However, the lower hospitalization rate in the study might not necessarily reflect a true reduction in morbidity, as financial constraints could be causing individuals to delay or avoid hospital admission.