The Unfair Gap: Socioeconomic Disparities and Access to Healthcare

How does disparity and socioeconomic inequality affect people's access to healthcare and lead to exploitation of their rights?

This is a question that many people around the world are asking, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exposed the deep gaps and injustices in the global health system.

Disparity and socioeconomic inequality are closely linked concepts that refer to the uneven distribution of resources, opportunities, and outcomes among different groups of people. Disparity can be measured by indicators such as income, wealth, education, health, and life expectancy, while socioeconomic inequality refers to the social and economic factors that influence these indicators. Disparity and socioeconomic inequality can be caused by various factors, such as discrimination, corruption, violence, war, colonialism, globalization, neoliberalism, and environmental degradation.

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One of the most visible and devastating effects of disparity and socioeconomic inequality is the lack of access to quality and affordable healthcare for millions of people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least half of the world's population still do not have full coverage of essential health services, and about 100 million people are pushed into extreme poverty each year because of health expenses. Moreover, many people face barriers to accessing healthcare due to factors such as geographic location, gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, immigration status, and language,

such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The right to health implies that everyone should have access to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination or exclusion. It also implies that health services should be available, accessible, acceptable, & of good quality.

However, many people around the world are denied their right to health due to disparity and socioeconomic inequality. For example, some people may face discrimination or violence when seeking healthcare services because of their identity or status. Some people may not be able to afford the costs of healthcare or may have to choose between paying for healthcare or other basic needs. Some people may not have access to adequate information or education about their health or may be subjected to harmful practices or procedures without their consent. Some people may not have access to essential medicines or technologies or may be exposed to unsafe or counterfeit products. Some people may not have access to preventive or curative care or may suffer from preventable or treatable diseases.

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India is a country with a large population and a wide gap between the rich and the poor. This gap has serious implications for the health and well-being of millions of people who face barriers to accessing quality health care services. In this blog post, I will discuss some of the ways that disparity and socioeconomic inequality affect people's access to health care and lead to exploitation of their rights in India.

One of the main challenges that people face in accessing health care is the lack of affordability. Many people in India live below the poverty line and cannot afford to pay for basic health care services, let alone specialized or emergency care. The public health system is underfunded and overstretched, and often fails to provide adequate and timely services to the poor. The private health sector, on the other hand, is largely unregulated and profit-driven, and often charges exorbitant fees for substandard or unnecessary services. This creates a situation where people have to choose between paying for health care or other essential needs, such as food, education, or housing.

Another challenge that people face in accessing health care is the lack of availability. Many people in India live in remote or rural areas, where there is a shortage of health facilities, equipment, medicines, and personnel. The quality and quantity of health services vary widely across regions and states, depending on the level of development and investment. People often have to travel long distances to reach the nearest health facility, which may not have the capacity or competence to address their needs. This results in delays, inconvenience, and increased costs for the patients.

A third challenge that people face in accessing health care is the lack of equity. Many people in India face discrimination and stigma based on their caste, religion, gender, ethnicity, or disability. And while quotas exist, the divide still remains stark.

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These are some of the ways that disparity and socioeconomic inequality affect people's access to healthcare and lead to exploitation of their rights. However, there are also some possible solutions and actions that we can take to address these issues. For example:

- We can advocate for universal health coverage (UHC), which is a policy that aims to ensure that all people have access to quality and affordable health services without financial hardship. UHC is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a set of global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030.

- We can support human rights-based approaches to health, which are strategies that integrate human rights principles and standards into health policies and programs. Human rights-based approaches aim to empower people as rights-holders and hold duty-bearers accountable for fulfilling their obligations. They also aim to address the underlying causes of health inequities and promote participation, transparency, accountability, non-discrimination, equality, and justice.

- We can raise awareness and educate ourselves and others about the issues of disparity and socioeconomic inequality in health and their impacts on human rights. We can also challenge stereotypes, prejudices, myths, and misinformation that fuel discrimination and exclusion in health. We can use various platforms and tools, such as social media, blogs, podcasts, documentaries, books, art, music, etc., to share our stories and perspectives and amplify the voices of those who are marginalized or oppressed in health.

A population deprived of healthcare adds a toll on the country's economy as well. It is time to stand for change and advocate for affordable and accessible healthcare for all.