Health Economics, Policy and Law
Volume 9 / Issue 02 / April 2014
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayIssue?jid=HEP&tab=currentissue
Articles
Trends in health and health inequalities among major states of India: assessing progress through convergence models
Srinivas Golia1 c1 and Perianayagam Arokiasamya2
a1 Assistant Professor, Department of Development Studies, Giri Institute of Development Studies, Uttar Pradesh, India
a2 Professor, Department of Development Studies, International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9209417&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1744133113000042
Abstract
Convergence in health and health inequalities reflects not only a sense of equity, but also provides a critical assessment tool for monitoring the health progress of differently placed individuals. This study examines convergence hypothesis for health and health inequalities across major Indian states, using both standard and cutting-edge convergence metrics. The findings lend support to the convergence in average health status among the states and the socioeconomic group of India, examined through select health indicators. However, results also suggest a setback in convergence in decline of health inequalities in recent times, particularly in life expectancy at birth, child immunization and underweight. Evidence signals that from the late 1990s, convergence in decline of health inequalities are replaced by emerging divergence. This paper contributes to health policy and planning by identifying areas where, India needs to work to achieve efficiency with equity in health status across geographical divisions and social groups.