Access to the Healthcare in Remote Areas is Support for Poverty Reduction

Abstract

In India, around 14.96% of the population lives in poverty despite implementation of a number of programmes to combat poverty. Most of the people who live in poverty have experienced some form of deprivation at some point of time in life although most of the poverty alleviation programmes to combat poverty aim to lessen the distress. A majority of the poor do not have access to poverty alleviation programmes for reasons ranging from backwardness, social deprivation, residing in remote areas, illiteracy, inaccessible healthcare etc. There is a lack of convergence between various programmes which is making it difficult to identify and meet the needs of targeted poor. If the poor have affordable or gratis access to healthcare, education and other services, they will be empowered to come out from the clutches of poverty and prevent it passing to the next generation. The contributions made by Akha Boat Clinics and Jan Swasthya Sahyog (JSS) are one such successful illustration that are supporting the poor to come out of poverty with access to reachable and affordable healthcare at doorstep. The health provisions made available to the poor by these two models of healthcare also in partnership with the governments on PPP model have improved the quality of life for those living in poverty in rural and remote areas.