Economic and Financial Consequences of Cancer from Patient's Family Perspective: A Case Study of Punjab

Abstract

International evidence is indicative of the fact that agriculture revolution has generated the much needed food security and at the same time it has raised alarming signs for the ecology also. Punjab, being the granary state of India, has been the leader of the Green Revolution. Punjab is the topper state in consumption of chemical fertilizers and pesticides per hectare. The health ailments, alarmingly on the rise, are being getting closely identified with indiscriminate chemical use in agriculture. The emergence of cancer cases evenly across the cotton belt of Malwa have been well documented, in the past, by news reports and research studies. In this context, the main objective of the present study is to analyze the economic and financial consequences of cancer from patient’s family perspective. Study is based on census survey of four villages of Muktsar district of Malwa region. Findings of the study will help to quantify the state or insurance support that can bring the family out of perpetual distress.

Keywords: Agriculture and Health, Economic of Cancer, Financing of Cancer

JEL Classification: O1