Around half of those who participated in the ICMR survey informed that they had trouble in getting doctor appointments (59%), emergency treatment (56%).
Two-thirds of India’s patients who have been facing non-Covid health issues during the pandemic and lockdown faced challenges with their routine checkups, access to hospitals etc, a new study by the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has found out, India Today reported.
Nearly two-thirds of participants encountered challenges with their routine investigation (69%), day-care procedures (67%) and reaching hospital (61%), the findings of the ICMR study have revealed.
Around half of those who participated in the ICMR survey informed that they had trouble in getting doctor appointments (59%), emergency treatment (56%), access to the pharmacy (47%) and delay in healthcare (46%).
The study also showed that 37% of the participants perceived that they could not access care because of social restriction/lockdown, 29% attributed arranging finance as a constraint to visiting hospitals and 16% avoided going to the hospital, fearing Covid-19 infection.
People with chronic non-communicable diseases faced multiple challenges in accessing healthcare during the pandemic, the findings of the study have further showed.
The study by the top medical body has highlighted the problems with regard to access of healthcare due to the pandemic and lockdown.
India, in May 2020, imposed a nationwide lockdown as the first wave of pandemic had just begun. Since then, the lockdown has stayed for over a year with various restrictions and relaxations being ordered as the virus spread.
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