Unveiling Inequalities: A District-Level Analysis of Health Infrastructure in Jharkhand

Zainul Abedin, Jamia Millia Islamia University

Infrastructure refers to the facilities provided to people to enhance their quality of life. It is often termed the "lifeline of development" due to its pivotal role in driving economic growth and improving social well-being. Given its significance, this study investigates the disparities in health infrastructure across the districts of Jharkhand, using a Health Infrastructure Index to evaluate and rank districts based on their healthcare facilities and resources. The study is based on secondary data sourced from Rural Health Statistics 2021-22, the Census of India, and the Jharkhand Economic Survey 2022-23. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was employed to uncover health infrastructure inequalities among the districts. The PCA analysis reveals significant disparities, with a pronounced contrast between the well-developed southern districts and the underdeveloped northern districts. These disparities impact health outcomes and access to services, posing challenges to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-3). Recommendations include allocating more resources to underdeveloped regions, expanding primary care services, improving access in remote areas through telemedicine, and attracting healthcare professionals to underserved districts. These measures are essential for reducing health inequities and improving overall health outcomes in Jharkhand.

Keywords: Census data, Data and Methods, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Remote sensing

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