A new analysis suggests that quitting tobacco could improve the economic prospects of more than 20.5 million households across India. The biggest benefits are expected among the most disadvantaged, especially in rural areas, where health and spending shifts can translate into faster income growth. Middle-income families may also see meaningful gains as costs fall and productivity rises.
India’s health insurance coverage has risen sharply, with rural areas now outpacing urban centers in the share of people insured. The survey links the jump to expanding government schemes. However, it also reports continued out-of-pocket hospital spending. Hospitalisation is increasingly driven by infections, even as institutional deliveries reach nearly universal levels.
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