In this paper, we study the factors that influence the choice of healthcare providers in the rural areas of a highly developed Indian state, Punjab. In particular, we examine the choice between government and private providers, and between medical professionals and informal providers. We also examine the joint choice of provider type and distance travelled, and possible factors influencing reported satisfaction with the quality of care received. We use data from a household survey of 489 households from 10 villages around the town of Nabha. We construct a measure of anticipated treatment cost in order to account for the endogeneity of actual costs in healthcare choices. Our results indicate that respondents who identified costs as a primary factor in their choice of provider were more likely to choose a nearby government provider and less likely to choose a distant private provider. Additionally, higher anticipated treatment costs were associated with a greater likelihood of choosing a government provider compared to a private provider and choosing a professional versus non-professional provider. Overall, cost sensitivity was negatively associated with patient satisfaction. Our results have important implications for understanding household decisions in the choice of government and private healthcare providers.

在本文中，我们研究了印度高度发达的旁遮普邦农村地区影响医疗保健提供者选择的因素。我们特别研究了政府和私人提供者之间以及医疗专业人员和非正式提供者之间的选择。我们还研究了提供者类型和旅行距离的联合选择，以及影响报告的对所接受护理质量的满意度的可能因素。我们使用对纳巴镇周围 10 个村庄的 489 户家庭进行的家庭调查数据。我们构建了预期治疗成本的衡量标准，以考虑医疗保健选择中实际成本的内生性。我们的结果表明，将成本视为选择提供商的主要因素的受访者更有可能选择附近的政府提供商，而不太可能选择遥远的私人提供商。此外，与私人提供者相比，较高的预期治疗成本与选择政府提供者以及选择专业提供者与非专业提供者的可能性更大相关。总体而言，成本敏感性与患者满意度呈负相关。我们的结果对于理解家庭在选择政府和私人医疗保健提供者时的决策具有重要意义。与私人提供者相比，预期治疗费用较高与选择政府提供者以及选择专业提供者与非专业提供者的可能性更大相关。总体而言，成本敏感性与患者满意度呈负相关。我们的结果对于理解家庭在选择政府和私人医疗保健提供者时的决策具有重要意义。与私人提供者相比，预期治疗费用较高与选择政府提供者以及选择专业提供者与非专业提供者的可能性更大相关。总体而言，成本敏感性与患者满意度呈负相关。我们的结果对于理解家庭在选择政府和私人医疗保健提供者时的决策具有重要意义。