Poverty Reduction in India through Palliative Care: A Pilot Project

Area of Science:

• Palliative care research
• Health economics
• Poverty reduction strategies

Background:

• Pilot project PRIPCare implemented by EMMS International and EHA in India.
• Study assesses palliative care's impact on household poverty.
• Identified financial burdens including lost livelihoods, debt, and lack of access to government benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of palliative care in alleviating poverty among patients and families in India.
• To address issues of high treatment costs, lack of awareness of government entitlements, and inheritance loss for vulnerable populations.
• To demonstrate palliative care's potential as a tool for systematic poverty reduction.

Main Methods:

• 129 in-depth interviews with patients and families enrolled in palliative care at three EHA hospitals.
• Focus group discussions with palliative care staff.
• Data analysis using Excel to assess economic status, treatment costs, and benefit utilization.

Main Results:

• 66% of patients lost livelihoods; 98% of households had debts before palliative care.
• Palliative care led to reduced medicine and travel costs for 85% of patients/families.
• 31% received free medicines; 8-10% of patients/families resumed earning income.
• One hospital increased government benefit uptake by 5% after educating local leaders.

Conclusions:

• Holistic palliative care effectively reduces poverty associated with life-limiting illnesses.
• Early initiation of palliative care enhances poverty prevention and reduction.
• Expanding palliative care services can systematically impact poverty on a large scale, improving dignity and freeing up hospital resources.