Confusion over taking the right medical advice and lack of standard approach for diagnosing diseases are the major barriers that hinder access to healthcare for many in India in general and for cardiac diseases and diagnosis in particular. These barriers are more intense among rural and underserved communities. 

 According to a global market research report released by drug maker Abbott, about 42 percent of  Indian patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) or peripheral artery disease (PAD) described “confusion about what I was supposed to do next” as an important barrier to early and accurate diagnosis of the disease. The market research, which was conducted through the company’s multi-year global research program– Beyond Intervention — designed to examine the vascular patient experience from the perspectives of patients, physicians and healthcare leaders, also found that 40 percent of physicians in India believe that a “lack of standardized approach for diagnosing CAD/PAD” is a top obstacle to an accurate diagnosis for their patients. This is higher than the global average of 30 percent. Socioeconomic status, age and gender in underserved communities are the key contributing factors that impact patients’ access to care in most of the markets, including India, the report said.