AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING: NEED FOR AN INTEGRATIVE APPROACH FOR THE HOLISTIC GROWTH OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY OF KERALA, INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the significant achievements of Kerala in diverse socio-economic variables, especially in the healthcare and allied fields, recurring instances of epidemics have been haunting the State. Though the global pandemic Covid-19 has subdued, heath issues still continue. The latest instance is the Nipah virus outbreak in 2023, for the fourth time since 2018. This causes undue hardships to the public as it affects their livelihood. Besides, it severely affects sectors like tourism as tourists get repelled due to such epidemics. Given the high out of pocket (OOP) costs to the patients due to the low government health expenditure (GHE) even in a State like Kerala with high hospital and allied health infrastructure, shows the looming need for more affordable healthcare services through public private partnership (PPP) mode or other such alternatives. Equally vital is the need for putting in place an affordable housing system that ensures ‘Affordable Housing For All’ (AHFA) as housing is a key determinant of good health. In fact, AHFA is a national goal of the Govt. of India (GOI), and so also is Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Given the mutual relation between housing and health, the paper suggests an integrative approach to attain AHFA and UHC goals. More extensive ICT integration by the Govt. of Kerala (GOK) is noted in this paper. Kerala having already set its goal to transform itself into a ‘Knowledge Society’ it should now go for an  integrative approach to refine its housing and healthcare sectors, the paper suggests. Methodology: A descriptive-analytical cum exploratory approach was used. Primary data from 120 households in Ernakulam, and also secondary data from Government and other authentic sources were used. Basic statistical tools were used for data analysis. Results: From an extensive survey of the past studies, a looming need for ICT for better   efficiency and competitiveness of varied sectors of Kerala economy is noted. Good ICT infrastructure could support the State to more effectively suppress the Covid-19 threats, than any other State in India, and Kerala emerged as a global role model also. Despite this Kerala suffers from various health-related threats. An ICT-based integrated system that ensures universal health (in line with UHC national goal), and affordable housing (in line  with AHFA national goal)’ has been suggested. Higher GHE by governments, both GOI and GOK, and alternative investments in healthcare sector through PPP mode have been suggested, since then only OOP costs can be reduced to affordable levels. Conclusion: Given the vast capacity of the affordable housing units to keep most of the epidemics at bay in respect of the poor and homeless masses on the one hand, and the immense potential of the housing sector to attract investments in many other sectors given the wide linkages of housing on the other hand; a holistic approach that ensure    universal health (UHC) and housing for all (AHFA) is an imperative for a nation like India. This is especially relevant for a State like Kerala as it faces recurring cases of health-related issues which affect Kerala’s strategic sectors like tourism. ICT-use is vital in this process given its key benefits, like, integration of the varied sectors.