This metric assesses the extent to which out-of-pocket healthcare costs contribute to deepening poverty among a nation’s populace. It identifies two groups: individuals already living in households with non-health expenditures below the $2.15 poverty threshold, who are
pushed further into deprivation due to healthcare expenses; and those whose total household spending initially exceeds this threshold but falls below it when accounting for out-of-pocket healthcare costs. The indicator highlights the financial vulnerability associated with accessing necessary health services and underscores the critical role that healthcare financing plays in economic stability, reflecting the broader implications of health expenditures on poverty and financial security within the community.
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