Investigating the barriers faced by marginalised worker groups in accessing healthcare in Bengaluru : a case of Ayushman Bharat - Arogya Karnataka scheme

Abstract

Affordable and accessible healthcare is still a pipe dream to most of the marginalised worker groups due to various barriers related to awareness and access. This study attempts to understand how the current Universal Health Coverage scheme Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka fares with respect to access and affordability from the perspective of marginalised female workers in Bengaluru.

Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) is a Government Funded Health Insurance Scheme that is set to take India one step closer in ensuring Universal Health Coverage and reducing Out of Pocket Expenditure. Ayushman Bharat – Arogya Karnataka scheme which is the co-branded AB-PMJAY funded by the State Government of Karnataka and the Central Government has the potential to drastically cut down Out of Pocket Expenditure and increase hospital utilisation rates of BPL households. The status of implementation and utilisation of this scheme signals otherwise, as the findings of this research indicates that the awareness levels of the target households are very low and warrant immediate intervention to ensure that the scheme is not limited to high enrolment rates but to move beyond that to achieve its objective of providing affordable, efficient, and quality healthcare for all eligible beneficiaries particularly the beneficiaries from vulnerable communities.

Key Words – Health Insurance Schemes, Universal Health Coverage, Awareness, Barriers