Primary healthcare services among a migrant indigenous population living in an eastern Indian city

Abstract

This paper reports the accessibility and utilization of the healthcare services among a migrant indigenous community inhabiting slums of an eastern Indian city. It is based on data collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with heads of the households. The results indicated that the services of health personnel by visiting households are rare and the service provision was very poor. For curative services, the people heavily depend on private practitioners, including unqualified practitioners, by spending large proportions of their earnings. Due to migration, this community becomes more vulnerable to low utilization of healthcare services. This study warrants evolving a system of healthcare to cater the needs of vulnerable migrant groups in urban areas of India.