Increasing Health Expenditure and Role of Palliative Care: A Case Study from Kerala

Abstract

Palliative Care Society is a worldwide voluntary organisation extending relief and support tochronically ill patients for the upliftment of the marginalised and weaker sectors of society. Itprovides various financial and other forms of assistance, and serves as a platform for social andpsychological change for people. The study of Karindalam Palliative Care Society in Keralaas the unit of analysis shows the positive impact on the patients and their families. The patientsbenefited more from palliative home care than hospital care which contributed to the overallsocio-economic development of both the patients and their families. The study focused on thecurrent role of palliative care units with the increasing health expenditure in society and revealsthat before the introduction of palliative care, patients incurred huge medical expenditure thatcontributed to poverty, unemployment, inequality, and deprivation. The introduction ofPalliative Care Society changed this pattern to one which offers a lot of financial support topatients’ families and reduces society’s overall health expenditure.