Profile of and expenditure on morbidity and hospitalizations among elderly-Analysis of a nationally representative sample survey in India.

Introduction: Understanding morbidity pattern and associated expenditure is essential for implementation of appropriate healthcare and social security measures for the elderly. This study aims to assess the proportion of ailing persons (PAP) in the last 15days, the utilization of hospitalization services in the last 365days and the expenditure incurred for hospitalizations among the elderly in India.

Methods: This study analysed data from a nationally representative survey by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) in 2014-15 on 36,480 rural and 29,452 urban households.

HIV prevalence among persons suspected of tuberculosis: policy implications for India.

Background: HIV testing of persons referred for tuberculosis diagnosis (TB suspects) is recommended by World Health Organization but is not a policy in India, where HIV prevalence among TB suspects has never been reported. The current Indian policy of offering HIV testing only to TB cases may limit opportunities for early HIV diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: All adult TB suspects examined for diagnostic sputum microscopy in Mandya district (2 million population), in December 2010, were offered voluntary HIV counseling and testing.