Measuring the financial impact of disabilities in India (an analysis of national sample survey data)

Background: People with disabilities are vulnerable because of the many challenges they face attitudinal, physical, and financial. The National Policy for Persons with Disabilities (2006) recognizes that Persons with Disabilities are valuable human resources for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides equal opportunities, and protection of their rights, and full. There are limited studies on health care burden due to disabilities of various types. Aim: The present study examines the socioeconomic and state-wise differences in the prevalence of disabilities and related household financial burden in India. Methods: Data for this study was obtained from the National Sample Survey (NSS), 76th round Persons with Disabilities in India Survey 2018. The survey covered a sample of 1,18,152 households, 5,76,569 individuals, of which 1,06,894 of had any disability. This study performed descriptive statistics, and bivariate estimates. Results: The finding of the analysis showed that prevalence of disability of any kind was 22 persons per 1000. Around, one-fifth (20.32%) of the household’s monthly consumption expenditure was spent on out-of-pocket expenditure for disability. More than half (57.1%) of the households were pushed to catastrophic health expenditure due to one of the members being disabled. Almost one-fifth (19.1%) of the households who were above the poverty line before one of members was treated for disability were pushed below the poverty line after the expenditure of the treatment and average percentage shortfall in income from the poverty line was 11.0 percent due to disability treatment care expenditure. Conclusion: The study provides an insight on the socioeconomic differentials in out-of-pocket expenditure, catastrophic expenditure for treatment of any kind of disability. To attain SDG goal 3 that advocates healthy life and promote well-being for all at all ages, there is a need to recognize the disadvantaged and due to disability.