Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and kidney disorders are increasingly affecting Indians at younger ages. Yet outcomes vary markedly, and these differences are not always explained by the biological severity of illness. Increasingly, evidence and clinical practice point toward something far more fundamental: how early individuals seek help, how consistently they follow treatment, the strength of the support systems around them — and the ability of our health ecosystem to innovate, adapt, and meet people where they are.
In India, health-seeking behaviour remains uneven across socio-economic groups, genders, and regions. Women often delay care due to household responsibilities or lack of autonomy, while men may postpone treatment because of social expectations around “managing on one’s own”. These patterns, though different in origin, lead to the same result — late diagnosis, preventable complications, and avoidable hospitalisations.
At the same time, our systems must evolve: caregivers need stronger peer networks, communities need simple digital literacy, and innovations — especially through start-ups — must enable care to reach the last mile.
Below are some of the most common behavioural and structural gaps that clinicians encounter:
Delayed help-seeking across genders: A significant proportion of individuals ignore or minimise symptoms until daily functioning is affected. Women frequently de-prioritise their own health, especially when caregiving responsibilities or financial dependence come into play. Men often delay care because of cultural expectations to appear resilient or self-reliant. Whether it is persistent fatigue, breathlessness, chest discomfort, or swelling, the window for early intervention is often missed, making management more complex and more expensive.
Unequal access to caregiving support; need for peer groups: Indian households operate on deeply gendered caregiving norms. While women traditionally shoulder most caregiving responsibilities, their own access to consistent care and post-diagnosis support is comparatively weak. Men, particularly those living alone or working away from family, may similarly lack day-to-day health monitoring. Both scenarios result in inconsistent care and poorer long-term outcomes. However, an important and often overlooked solution is the creation of peer-support groups — for caregivers and for patients. Peer groups reduce emotional burden, improve accountability, normalise help-seeking and create community-level reinforcement for treatment adherence.
Treatment fatigue, low adherence: Chronic illnesses require lifelong discipline, but treatment adherence is a universal challenge. Individuals tend to discontinue medication when they “feel better” or when routines become difficult to maintain. A major opportunity exists in simple, accessible digital tools — SMS reminders, WhatsApp-based follow-ups, community kiosks, or low-literacy-friendly health apps. Digital literacy does not need to be complex; it must be practical, intuitive, and culturally aligned, enabling even first-time users to stay connected to care.
Emotional isolation: Emotional wellbeing plays a pivotal role in physical disease control. Many individuals hesitate to express fear or fatigue due to stigma or the pressure to appear composed. This emotional bottling negatively impacts blood pressure, glycaemic control, and immunity. The loss of a partner intensifies the risk: without companionship, shared decision-making, or emotional reassurance, chronic disease progression accelerates. Peer support, counselling, and community engagement are essential clinical interventions — not optional add-ons.
Taking care to community
A major shift in India’s health landscape will come from taking care outside hospital walls. This means: community-based screening for chronic diseases, doorstep follow-ups by trained caregivers, mobile clinics, local health volunteers and start-up–driven micro-care solutions.
When care reaches homes and neighbourhoods, families seek help earlier, adhere better, and avoid complications. This requires enabling policies, training, and most importantly, innovation and a thriving start-up ecosystem that can build scalable, low-cost, human-centred health solutions.
Strengthening health-seeking behaviour
Shared, not gendered, caregiving: Chronic-care responsibilities must be redistributed equitably. Families can create simple, shared systems for medication checks, clinic visits, lifestyle goals, and symptom monitoring.
Building practical health accountability: Tools such as shared calendars, digital reminders, peer groups, and community-health platforms improve regularity and adherence.
Removing stigma around emotional support: Counselling should be considered proactive care — not a sign of weakness. Workplaces and families must normalise early mental-health support.
Workplace policies: Polices at workplaces must enable continuity of care. Flexible schedules, chronic-care leave, and wellness programmes improve health outcomes and productivity.
Enabling innovation: Health-tech and community-care start-ups must be encouraged to: build tools for low-literacy populations, support caregivers, enhance monitoring, and take formal care into homes and communities.
Making healthcare inclusive
Improving health-seeking behaviour in India requires a shift in both mindset and infrastructure. People need strong support systems, simple digital tools, relatable peer groups, and accessible professional care. But equally, India needs innovation — from small community ideas to large-scale start-ups — that brings care closer to every household.
By combining behavioural insight with system-level innovation, India can ensure that individuals with chronic conditions live longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.
(Dr. Deepak Padmanabhan is senior consultant, strategic lead – Cardiac EP Collegium, Narayana Health, Bengaluru. deepak.padmanabhan.dr@narayanahealth.org)
Published – November 24, 2025 03:27 pm IST
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