Distress financing on inpatient health expenditure across States in India

Distress financing for inpatient healthcare persists as a major challenge in India, despite a downward trend in OOP expenses. The burden is disproportionately higher among vulnerable groups and in states with weaker public healthcare systems. Policymakers should prioritize targeted insurance coverage, health infrastructure strengthening, and need-based financial protection for high-risk groups to reduce the incidence of distress financing and increase equity in healthcare access.