Out of Pocket Spending (OOPS) on HIV/AIDS:Reflections from Dharwad District in Karnataka

In this paper a modest attempt has been made to estimate the magnitude of HIV / AIDS specific out of pocket expenditure. The paper is based on the primary survey of 350 HIV/AIDS patients in Dharwad District in Karnataka state. The study reveals that the per capita expenditure on HIV/AIDS affected persons was Rs. Rs.8465 in Dharwad district during the year 2009-10. On an average the households, government and external agencies/NGOs spend Rs.6996, Rs.748 and Rs.724 respectively. Thus, the major portion of the total expenditure (i.e. 82.6 percent) has been spent by the household from Out of Pocket (OOP). The study further reveals that HIV/AIDS epidemic has severely affected the economic, social and psychological status of the families.