A nationwide study has brought attention to the substantial financial burden faced by Indians living with heart failure, with nearly seven in 10 patients lacking any form of financial protection. Published in Global Heart, the study was led by Panniyammakal Jeemon at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology and analyzed 1,859 patients across 21 tertiary hospitals in India between September 2019 and December 2022. The findings revealed a striking gap in healthcare financing, with over 90% of heart failure treatment costs being paid directly by patients and their families.
On average, each patient spends more than ₹1 lakh annually on treatment, including hospitalizations, medications, diagnostic tests, and follow-up care. For many families, these expenses are compounded by a simultaneous loss of income, as nearly one-third of patients and over one-third of…
