The Political Economy of Public Health Inequalities and Inequities in India: Complexities, Challenges, and Strategies for Inclusive Public Health Care Policy

Abstract

This article examines the political economy of health inequalities and inequities in the public health care system in India and identifies potential areas for interventions to promote equal and equitable health care for marginalized people. Drawing on the Political Economy of Health Model of Research, this article reiterates the inadequacy of policy frameworks and programs in ensuring accessible, affordable, and quality public health care services to all. We argue that for policies to be successful, policymakers should consider the diverse social registries of class, caste, religion, gender, region, ethnicity, and age, as well as their intersections. We also argue that health care policies and programs need to be: ( a) dynamic and flexible, ( b) intersectional and backed up by sufficient grassroots research, and ( c) equitable at every stage of policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.