Incidence of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases in India: Trends, Distributional Pattern and Determinants

Abstract

The recent trends and distributional patterns of communicable diseases (CD) and non-communicable diseases (NCD) in India are analysed in this study. Utilising the unit-level health-specific data from three rounds (1995, 2004 and 2014) of the National Sample Survey Office, it is found that the incidence of CDs is declining while that of NCDs increasing over time. The state-wise pattern shows that both the least-developed states and relatively developed states have a high incidence of diseases. But the incidence of CDs is relatively high in backward states like Rajasthan, Odisha, Assam, Bihar and UP, whereas the prevalence of NCDs is high in advanced states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and others. The multinomial logistic regression results also confirm that income, sex and availability of safe drinking water are key determinants of the presence of diseases. Thus, the policy implication of the study calls for the availability and accessibility of adequate medical facilities at affordable costs, development of a strong network of public health facilities in rural India primarily. Bringing the rural as well as urban poor into the fold of health insurance schemes would ensure a huge benefit to the masses who struggle to get the basic treatment. The development of an effective ‘health information system’ can be a better policy instrument in arresting the rising incidence of NCDs. JEL Classification codes: C12, C51, I15, I18