A Vision for Empowerment Healthcare services are fundamental to reducing poverty. REACH aims to bring a low-cost basic level of healthcare to the most deprived communities in southern India. It is already helping a remote community of 130,000 to establish sustainable healthcare, funded through the regular contributions of community members. Through financial management structures developed by micro-finance organisations, self-help group members make a small weekly contribution (up to approximately Rs. 10 per month) to a healthcare fund, in addition to their regular savings schemes. The funds from the local self-help groups finance a local healthcare worker (HCW), who provides consultations for members, a monthly health camp, access to a local doctor and subsidised medicines, and emergency transportation to a local hospital.

For hospitalised Indians, more than 58% of their total annual spending is on healthcare.

In one district in central India, average annual expenditure on healthcare is 130% of annual income.

More than 40% of those hospitalised sell assets to cover expenses, or borrow at such high interest rates they may never repay loans.