Accessing Care in the Himalayas: Challenges Faced by Women in Sikkim

Women’s access to modern healthcare is a key indicator of social development. This study examines the challenges faced by women in Sikkim, where difficult terrain and dispersed settlements limit healthcare access. Using a mixed-methods approach with data from 500 women, the study combines quantitative analysis with qualitative insights. Findings reveal that geographical barriers, including long travel distances and poor transport, significantly delay care. Health system constraints such as shortages of professionals, limited diagnostic facilities, and weak referral systems further restrict access. Socio-economic factors, including high out-of-pocket costs and financial dependency, discourage timely healthcare utilization. Additionally, socio-cultural norms, stigma, and reliance on traditional healing practices influence health-seeking behavior. Although institutional deliveries have improved, gaps persist in antenatal, postnatal, emergency, and mental healthcare services. The study concludes that women’s healthcare access in Sikkim is shaped by interconnected structural, economic, and cultural barriers, requiring context-specific and gender-sensitive policy interventions