Urban health challenges

Source: The post Urban health challenges has been created, based on the article “India’s cities, their non-communicable disease burden” published in “The Hindu” on 2nd December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health.

Context: The article discusses poor health outcomes in urban areas, especially among marginalized workers. It highlights the need for better implementation of health policies, better access to healthcare, and the use of technology for health monitoring. It calls for collaborative action to create healthy cities for all. Urban health challenges.

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What Are the Challenges Faced by Urban Marginalized Workers?

1. Marginalized workers, like gig workers, drivers, and sanitation workers, face poor working conditions.
2. Many lack health insurance and work in unhygienic environments. Sanitation workers, for example, clean cities while deprived of hygiene and nutrition.
3. Financial Instability: High out-of-pocket (OOP) medical costs lead to financial crises during health emergencies.
4. Limited Healthcare Access: Public healthcare systems fail to serve marginalized groups adequately.

How Is Urbanization Affecting Health?

1. Urbanization has led to 50% of the world’s population living in cities, projected to reach 70% by 2050.
2. In India, 49% of the urban population lives in slums, facing poor living conditions (UN-Habitat, 2022).
3. Rapid urbanization contributes to fragmented, overburdened health systems.
4. Hazardous environments and limited healthcare access harm marginalized groups like migrant workers and slum dwellers.
5. India’s workforce includes 41 million inter-State migrants (Census 2011), adding to health challenges.
6. Rising non-communicable diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension) are noted despite reduced tobacco use (NFHS 2005-2021).

How Can Technology Help Improve Health Outcomes?

1. Real-time Health Monitoring: Tools can monitor hypertension and diabetes, enabling individuals to track their health (“health in our hands”).
2. Screening through technology offers two advantages:
3. It provides population-level data for epidemiological modeling and public health planning.
4. It raises individual and community awareness of health risks.
5. Community-based Health Education: Technology aids in creating sustainable health promotion activities, reducing health system burdens. It helps inform people about healthcare pathways and social protection schemes, reducing out-of-pocket expenses.

What Should be Done?

1. State-level NCD action plans must focus on primary healthcare access for marginalized groups.
2. Collaboration is needed between local bodies, health departments, and communities.
3. Community-led health surveillance systems can address non-communicable diseases (NCD) challenges in urban settlements.

Question for practice:

Discuss the challenges faced by urban marginalized workers and how technology can help improve their health outcomes.