Presentation (CTI)

OBJECTIVES: India's rural healthcare system constitutes a significant portion of the country's overall healthcare infrastructure. Although the Government of India has launched major publicly funded schemes (such as PMJAY) and digital health initiatives to improve equity, access remains limited due to shifting epidemiological burdens such as chronic noncommunicable diseases, as well as social and economic barriers. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate healthcare access and its associated barriers and their impact on patient-centred and economic outcomes among rural populations in India.
METHODS: This narrative review synthesizes literature published from 2010 to 2025. Relevant studies were identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Google scholar along with gray literature from the World Health Organization and Government of India. Findings were synthesized thematically to evaluate healthcare access and barriers and their impact on patient-centred and economic outcomes.
RESULTS: This narrative review identified various barriers to rural healthcare access and utilization. Access is affected by indirect expenses such as high travel costs, poor road infrastructure, and lost daily wages, as well as local sociocultural factors. Public scheme utilization remains low, owing to poor health literacy and a lack of awareness. For chronic diseases, poorer populations often lack access to care, while others use private providers instead of public facilities. Digital health tool adoption is also limited by non-technical barriers, including poor user experience and healthcare worker workflow overload.
CONCLUSIONS: Reducing rural healthcare disparities requires moving beyond financial coverage. Strategies should focus on targeted regional awareness campaigns, simplified administrative processes, and effective digital health tools to improve health care access and utilization.