Impact of rural healthcare expenditure on indebtedness among marginal and small farmers of Punjab

The present study was undertaken in Bhatinda and Sangrur districts (where maximum farmer suicides were reported) of Punjab during 2010–11. Healthcare expenditures were significant in increasing the indebtedness (which has in turn been a proximate cause of farmer's suicides) of marginal and small farmers of Punjab. The rural healthcare facilities in Punjab through government health services were inadequate, non qualitative and not available at times. The worst affected due to this were poor especially landless labourers, marginal and small farmers residing in rural areas, who have meager financial resources. The subsequent financial burden of private healthcare services is responsible for credit acquisition from non institutional sources at exorbitant rate of interest by these underprivileged sections of the rural society. One of the major reason for this pathetic state of rural healthcare in Punjab, is low priority being accorded to rural healthcare which is evident from decreasing state expenditure on healthcare.