Barriers to Healthcare Access among Migrant Workers in Informal Sectors: A Sociological Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31305/rrjss.2024.v04.n02.008Keywords:
Migrant workers, informal sector, healthcare access, social exclusion, India, public health, sociologyAbstract
Migrant workers in India's informal sector constitute a significant yet marginalized segment of the population, particularly vulnerable to health disparities due to structural and systemic barriers. This review-based research paper examines the sociological dimensions of healthcare inaccessibility among migrant labourers, analysing how factors such as class, caste, gender, legal status, and geographic dislocation impede equitable healthcare access. Drawing on secondary data from academic literature, policy documents, and reports by civil society organizations, the study situates healthcare inaccessibility within the broader framework of social exclusion, labour precarity, and urban inequality. The paper further explores how state policy, public health infrastructure, and social attitudes collectively shape the health-seeking behaviour of migrant workers. The findings highlight the urgent need for inclusive, portable, and rights-based healthcare policies that recognize the specific needs of internal migrants in informal employment.
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