Economic burden of diabetes patients in Latur, India: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a modern-day epidemic, silently negative affecting the household economy. The epidemical diabetic burden has increased with the economic burden worldwide. The present study tries to estimate the direct and indirect economic burden of diabetes among diabetes patients. It utilises the empirical data collected from 505 self-reported diabetic patients during May to November 2017. Bivariate and Multivariate techniques were used for data analysis. The results show that more than one fourth of the household monthly income is incurred on direct health expenditure on diabetics. The study reveals that there is a disproportionate economic burden of diabetes among people belonging to rural areas from poor households, illiterate, currently not working patients and patients belonging to social groups including SCs/STs. From a policy point of view there is an urgent need to strengthen public health infrastructure at various community levels (viz. sub-centres, PHCs, and CHCs) with the facility of blood sugar tests and accessibility of medication by subsidized rate to the diabetic person. There is a need for awareness and coverage of community health insurance schemes.