Health issues, health care utilization and health care expenditure among elderly in India: Thematic review of literature

Objective: In order to achieve the goals pertaining to healthy ageing and as a reflection of momentum generated around the issue of population ageing in the Indian context, assessing the status of health issues is important. The study synthesises the empirical research studies and discuss the health need of the elderly population, healthcare utilization and healthcare expenditure. Methods: The review employed a systematic search for all relevant studies meeting the specified inclusion and exclusion criteria. After employing the inclusion criteria, more than 70 studies were included for the analysis and systematic review. Results: Despite an increasing feminization of India's older population marked by a high incidence of widowhood among aged women, women's health in later life and the health consequences of widowhood has received little attention in the existing gender and gerontological studies in India. High health spending among elderly coupled with absence of insurance coverage expose the elderly, particularly those belonging to lower socio-economic strata, to great financial risk. Conclusions: To address the health inequities among elderly in India in an effective manner, efforts are required at the micro level wherein involvement of the family is critical to ameliorate caregiving. The expansion in insurance coverage and the provision of good-quality, subsidized, public health facilities will both improve access to health care and protect the poor elderly against financial catastrophe.