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Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Aging and health facilities in Indian cities

solutions to address the escalating healthcare demand in is essential. Telehealth also plays a vital role in addressing
India. Telehealth has bridged the healthcare access gap in healthcare inequities and must be a focus. The inadequacies
recent times, especially for those with chronic conditions in health infrastructure remain a significant challenge in
(Bhatia, 2021), offering a possible solution for reducing India, and preparedness for demographic shifts should be
healthcare inequalities. However, telehealth services alone a top priority. Facilitating healthy aging is key to long-term
cannot fully address healthcare service delivery. Telehealth success and may also boost economic development. By
is also most effective for initial consultations, triage, promoting healthy aging, we can unlock the potential for
and follow-up care (Raj Westwood, 2021). An approach productive aging and capitalize on the economic benefits
that combines telehealth and enhanced healthcare that come with it.
infrastructure is essential, particularly for older adults
who prefer to stay at home while maintaining access to Acknowledgments
necessary healthcare resources (Markert et al., 2021). None.
Emphasizing the development of telehealth services,
alongside meticulous planning for their effective Funding
implementation, can improve healthcare delivery. The None.
integration of telehealth with enhanced infrastructure
can contribute to the improvement of India’s primary Conflict of interest
healthcare system in the future (Maroju et al., 2023). The authors declare they have no competing interests.
While this study provides valuable insights into the
adequacy of health facilities for India’s aging population, Author contributions
it is not without limitations. The data analyzed herein are Conceptualization: All authors
obtained from the 2011 Census of India as the new census Formal analysis: A.H. Sruthi Anil Kumar, Nawaj Sarif
is yet to be conducted; thus, the estimates may not fully Methodology: All authors
reflect the current situation. Writing – original draft: All authors
Writing – review & editing: All authors
5. Conclusion
This study examines the distribution of the aging population Ethics approval and consent to participate
and the inadequacies in healthcare infrastructure, including Not applicable.
hospitals, hospital beds, and essential healthcare personnel,
across a wide range of Indian cities. The findings underscore Consent for publication
the critical shortage of basic health facilities, competent staff, Not applicable.
and vital resources in numerous cities across the country.
The study finds notable regional disparities in the Availability of data
distribution of the older population among Class I cities. The present study used the secondary data collected from
Larger urban centers benefit from well-equipped, advanced the Census of India, 2011. The town directory data are
health facilities, but smaller cities, despite having similar freely available for use. The dataset can be downloaded
proportions of older residents, face persisting inadequacies. from https://censusindia.gov.in.
This discrepancy requires immediate attention.
Further disclosure
Given these significant findings, it is crucial to enhance
the quality of healthcare services in smaller cities, ensuring The paper has been deposited in a preprint server (doi:
that older adults in these cities have access to the same https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.03.15.24304353).
resources and capacities as those in larger cities. The
absence of appropriate healthcare alternatives poses a major References
challenge to the entire Indian healthcare system. A broad Adlakha, D., Krishna, M., Woolrych, R., & Ellis, G. (2020).
approach is necessary to prepare for the demographic Neighbourhood supports for active ageing in Urban India.
changes that will accompany the aging population. Psychology and Developing Societies, 32(2):254-277.
A comprehensive strategy should be formulated to support https://doi.org/10.1177/0971333620937497
individuals in aging healthily.
Agarwal, A., Lubet, A., Mitgang, E., Mohanty, S., & Bloom, D.E.
Thus, prioritizing the development of healthcare (2016). Population aging in India: Facts, issues, and options.
infrastructure in smaller cities to match that in larger ones SSRN Electronic Journal, 10162.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 49 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3993