Voting with their feet: Primary care provider choice and its implications for public sector primary care services in India

Expanding networks of government primary health centers (PHCs) to bring health services closer to communities is a longstanding policy objective in LMICs. In pluralistic health systems, where public and private providers compete for patients, PHCs are often not the preferred source for care. This study analyzes the market for primary care services in the Indian state of Bihar to understand how choice of primary care provider is influenced by distance, cost and quality of care. This study is based on linked surveys of rural households, PHCs, and private primary care providers conducted in 2019 and 2020. Most rural residents lived in proximity to a primary care provider, though not a qualified one. Within a 5-km distance, 60% of villages had a PHC, 90% had an informal provider, 35% an Indian systems of medicine practitioner, and 10% a private MBBS doctor. Most patients sought care from informal providers irrespective of PHC distance; only 25% of patients living in the PHC's vicinity sought care there. Reducing distance to the PHC by 1 km marginally increased the likehood of the PHC being selected, and reduced the likelihood of private clinics being selected. Reducing patient's costs at PHCs increased the likelihood of the PHC being selected and reduced the likelihood of private clinics and private hospitals being selected. Improved clinical quality at PHCs had no effect on patient selection of PHCs, private clinics, or hospitals. Illness severity reduced the likelihood of PHCs or private clinics being selected, and increased the likelihood of private hospitals selected. Wealthier patients were marginally more likely to use PHCs, substantially more likely to use private hospitals, and less likely to use private clinics. Expanding PHC network coverage or improving their quality of care is not sufficient to make PHCs more relevant to local health needs. An orientation towards essential public health functions, as well as, a community-centered approach to the organization of primary health care system is necessary.