PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE
FACILITY CHOICE IN INDIA

Prisha Agarwal; Aneesh Joshi

doi:10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i09.018

Title: PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY CHOICE IN INDIA
Authors: Prisha Agarwal and Aneesh Joshi
Journal: International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research (IJSSER) ISSN: 2455-8834 Volume: 10 Issue: 9 Publication Date: September 2025 DOI: 10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i09.018
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Prisha Agarwal1 and Aneesh Joshi2 1. CHIREC International School, Hyderabad 2. Blue Ridge Public School and Junior College, Pune
MLA 8 Agarwal, Prisha, and Aneesh Joshi. "PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY CHOICE IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 10, no. 9, Sept. 2025, pp. 3937-3949, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i09.018. Accessed Sept. 2025. APA 6 Agarwal, P., & Joshi, A. (2025, September). PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY CHOICE IN INDIA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 10(9), 3937-3949. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i09.018 Chicago Agarwal, Prisha, and Aneesh Joshi. "PUBLIC OR PRIVATE? AN ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTHCARE FACILITY CHOICE IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 10, no. 9 (September 2025), 3937-3949. Accessed September, 2025. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2025.v10i09.018..
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ABSTRACT: India’s healthcare system is increasingly dominated by private providers, raising the question of what drives this reliance and how different factors interact. Existing research points to quality gaps, accessibility issues, and socioeconomic inequalities, but much of it has lacked nationally representative evidence. Using microdata from the National Sample Survey (NSS) 75th Round, 2017–18, alongside secondary literature, this study examines household patterns of public versus private healthcare use. Weighted analysis reveals consistent trends: concerns about quality, doctor availability, and trust push patients toward private providers, while public facilities serve poorer households disproportionately. Private hospital preference rises with income, education, age, and is higher among women and upper-caste groups. Financing patterns show around 80% of households depend on income or savings, rural families more often borrow, and insurance coverage remains low (14.1% rural, 19.1% urban). Out-of-pocket spending still accounts for nearly half of national health expenditure. These findings highlight the urgent need for policies that rebuild confidence in public care while reducing financial vulnerability.

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