Effectiveness of Health Insurance Coverage in Achieving SDG 3 in India: A Geospatial Analysis

Pragyan Sahoo, Utkal University, Bhubhaneswar
Himanshu Sekhar ROUT, Utkal University, Bhubhaneswar

In 2009, WHO member states in the Asia-Pacific adopted a strategy to reduce out-of-pocket payments and increase health coverage, aiming for over 90% population coverage. India has introduced various health insurance initiatives to extend financial protection. However, assessing the impact of these efforts on health outcomes remains challenging, with mixed research findings. Despite the focus on health insurance as a tool for financial security and better health outcomes under SDG 3, there remains a gap in fully understanding its impact on these goals. This study used NFHS-5 data to analyze the effectiveness of health insurance coverage on SDG 3 outcomes through multi-level analysis—individual, regional, and state. It employed propensity score matching and spatial analysis, including Moran's I, to examine the spatial clustering of health insurance coverage and 14 health indicators. The spatial analysis revealed clustering patterns at the state and district levels, highlighting regions with similar or divergent health outcomes and insurance coverage. These findings informed policy recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of health insurance schemes in achieving SDG 3 targets by 2030.

Keywords: Health and Morbidity, Neighbourhood/contextual effect analysis, Multi-level modeling , Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

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