Healthcare Access and Perception on Traditional Medicine: Evidence from
Vulnerable Sections of India
Abstract
Background and Objectives The Covid19 has paved the way for
policy emphasis on the revival and preservation of herbal resources,
which could have sustainable implications and cost minimization.
Identifying relevant determinants of tribal healthcare access is
essential in the present context, not just from the societal point of
view but also for reviving the Indian System of Medicine and the
traditional values in healthcare. Tribal people are the most vulnerable
section in India. The study targets to identify the constraints in
accessing traditional medicine with an emphasis on tribal healthcare
challenges and their perception on traditional medicine. Methods
and Findings The present study employs field observations in explaining
the core determinants of healthcare practices of tribals (the vulnerable
section of India) and their constraints to accessing public health
facilities. The paper employed the Logit regression models with margin
effect to understand the relevant factors influencing access to
traditional medicine (TM). The role of cultural institutions, religious
beliefs, acceptance level, and socio-economic factors are emphasized in
addressing the constraints to the practice of TM. Conclusion
The findings of the paper answer the role of traditional medicines and
the acceptability of different types of healthcare systems from the
context of rejuvenating the traditional medicines which has implications
in terms of out-of-pocket expenditure. The empirical evidence from the
field survey reemphasizes the role of cultural factors in addressing the
massive use of traditional medicines in India. This helps in drawing
policy conclusions and also bridges the gap in literature.