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Healthcare Access and Perception on Traditional Medicine: Evidence from Vulnerable Sections of India
  • Pratap C. Mohanty,
  • Kamal Sharma
Pratap C. Mohanty
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Corresponding Author:pratapjnu@gmail.com

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Kamal Sharma
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Department of Humanities and Social Sciences
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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.