Indians struggling with medical debt turn to crowdfunding

During India’s deadly second wave of Covid-19, hospitalisations across the nation soared. Now, struggling Indians are using crowdfunding to repay their medical debt

As India struggles to recover from Covid-19, many are using crowdfunding as a substitute for health insurance or government support.

In India, a trip to the ICU and treatment for Covid-19 costs one family over 80 thousand dollars. And this price is growing by the day.

It has one of the lowest rates of public spending in the world at just 1.2% of the nation’s GDP. Almost 75% of Indians don’t have access to health insurance.

The pandemic has meant growth for crowdfunding cites

The three largest crowdfunding sites in the country – Ketto, Milaap and Give India – have collectively raised around $161 million during the pandemic.

Ketto says its grown four times during both waves, raising more than $40m for 12,000 Covid-19 relief campaigns.

“In many cases, crowdfunding became an alternate safety net to fill the existing gaps in the healthcare system,” said Ravina Banze and Irfan Bashir. They are co-authors of ‘Crowdfunding: The Story of People.’

India struggles to pay its medical debt

One study by the Duke Global Health Institute and the PHFI estimates that 75% of India’s self-employed and half of its salaried workforce could not afford to pay for critical medical care.

The burden falls heaviest on India’s poorest. last year, this group increased by 230 million Indians, according to researchers at Azim Premji University.

“Having unexpected medical emergencies is a recipe for disaster when most people live under the constant threat of financial instability,” Mr Bashir said.