Frontiers in Medicine
Out-of-pocket expenditure on medicine for chronic patients and its economic impact on Indian households: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Background Out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on medicines constitutes a substantial component of healthcare spending in India, particularly among patients with chronic diseases requiring continuous treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise evidence on medicine-related OOPE in India and assess its magnitude and variation across disease categories, healthcare settings, and provider sectors. Methods We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guideline …