ISSUES AND CHALLENGES OF PUBLIC HEALTH ACCESSIBILITY AMONG URBAN POOR PEOPLE: A CASE STUDY OF MALAYSIA, IRAN AND INDIA

Abstract

Public health care clinics accessibility is known as an important issue for urban poverty level residences who have lower financial resources and facilities. The objectives of this study are to is over viewing and explaining the issues and challenges of public health accessibility among urban poor in three Asian countries i.e. Malaysia, Iran and India. This study used the method of literature review from online sources include: government documents, articles and publications related to poverty and health care access. All the papers were filtered for the different variables based on the model presented by the Institute of Medicine. Access concern exists in all three countries, only types and sources of the barriers are varying. Differences influence public expectations and opinion of policy makers. In general some Malaysians and Iranians do not have enough access to public health care providers in spite of a good coverage of healthcare services through public clinics in Malaysia and an acceptable coverage through health posts and health centers in Iran. India still faces so many structural, financial and personal barriers to deliver health care services through public urban health posts and urban family welfares.