Inequity in access to inpatient healthcare services for non-communicable diseases in India and the role of out-of-pocket payments.

Background.: Growing evidence suggests that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) result in considerable economic burden for individuals and households. With the poor facing a greater burden of NCDs than the rich in India, we undertook this study to analyse the horizontal equity in utilization and vertical equity in out-of-pocket expenditure for NCD care.