Walking a tightrope: perspectives of non-degree allopathic providers (NDAPs) on providing diabetes and hypertension care in urban informal settlements of Mumbai Metropolitan Region

The informal health sector in India is currently offering a range of services to address the needs of patients with NCDs. Our study suggests that the strong presence of this sector in resource-constrained communities can be leveraged by the public health system to enable community-level screening for NCDs, facilitate access to specialist care, improve treatment adherence, and promote wellness initiatives. In light of the changing epidemiological burden, our study underscores that despite the contentious nature of practices in the informal health sector, overlooking this group of providers is no longer an option for health policies.