Introduction: A Nation Funding Its Own Healthcare
In 2021, a crowdfunding campaign for a child with spinal muscular atrophy raised over ₹16 crore in India within weeks through social media appeals.[1] Cases like this highlight how families are increasingly depending on online donations to cover life-saving medical care. But this also raises a critical question: is medical crowdfunding a sign of solidarity, or does it expose the shortcomings of India’s healthcare system?
Why Crowdfunding Took Root in India
India relies heavily on out-of-pocket spending, which makes up nearly half of all health expenditures. [2] Health insurance coverage remains limited, reaching only about one-third of the population. As a result, many families face catastrophic costs when confronted with serious illness. In this environment, crowdfunding platforms provide an important alternative. Social traditions of collective support, combined with digital payments and the widespread reach of social media, have accelerated this trend.
The Double-Edged Sword of Medical Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding can bring immediate relief for urgent medical needs. It also raises awareness about conditions that are often overlooked and helps communities mobilize resources quickly.
However, its limitations are equally visible. Campaigns with stronger social networks or compelling stories often succeed over equally urgent but less visible cases. There are also risks of fraudulent campaigns and unverified claims, which can undermine trust. [3]
Families are often required to share sensitive medical details publicly, raising concerns about dignity and privacy.
Ethical and Social Concerns
Equity is one of the biggest challenges. Research shows that campaigns led by individuals from socially dominant groups raise significantly more funds compared to those from marginalized castes, even when medical needs are similar.[4] Digital literacy, language barriers, and limited online reach further restrict who benefits most. The emotional strain of constantly promoting illness online adds another layer of stress for families already in crisis.
The Policy Vacuum
India currently lacks clear laws regulating medical crowdfunding. Platforms largely operate in a grey zone without strong requirements for transparency, financial accountability, or patient verification. In contrast, some countries have implemented oversight mechanisms that protect donors and ensure campaigns are genuine. The absence of such regulation in India heightens risks for both patients and contributors. [1]
A Necessary Stopgap, Not a Sustainable Solution
While medical crowdfunding offers short-term relief, it cannot replace systemic healthcare reform. Its growth points to the limitations of India’s current financing system, especially the lack of universal coverage and weak insurance penetration. Reliance on public charity reflects policy gaps rather than a sustainable model for healthcare access.
A discussion on MedBound Hub raised a critical question: should a person’s access to healthcare depend on their ability to market their suffering?
Healthcare professionals and readers debated whether access to care should depend on a patient’s ability to tell their story effectively and attract donors.
Tying care to someone’s ability to “market” their suffering risks unfairness, as not everyone can express pain equally. Healthcare must remain a right, not a competition for attention.Sivani, Pharm D intern
Some also emphasized the ethical implications of making private medical struggles public, noting the emotional and social pressures families face.
Medical crowdfunding might save lives, but it also highlights problems in our healthcare system. Not everybody can raise funds. Success happens to be dependent on social reach, storytelling, or marketing suffering. It forces people to discuss their private issues in public, which adds emotional strain. Several campaigns fail, and some are prone to fraud or misuse. Its presence shows a system in which access to care has been left up to chance and charity rather than being guaranteed.Khela Hari Chandana Kalavakolanu, B.Pharm
The Way Forward
There is an urgent need to regulate crowdfunding platforms to improve accountability and transparency. Linking these platforms with formal health insurance schemes and government programs could strengthen trust and broaden reach. Above all, greater public investment in healthcare is essential to reduce dependence on crowdfunding and ensure healthcare is treated as a right, not a privilege.
Conclusion: Compassion Must Be Matched with Policy
Medical crowdfunding in India represents both solidarity and systemic weakness. It offers temporary relief but deepens inequities if left unregulated. Strengthening healthcare financing, expanding insurance, and investing in public health systems are vital steps toward ensuring that no family has to rely solely on online donations for survival.
References:
Press Trust of India. 2021. “Gujarat Couple Raises Rs 16 Crore through Crowdfunding for Treatment of Son’s Genetic Disorder.” India Today, May 5, 2021. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gujarat-couple-raises-rs-16-crore-through-crowdfunding-for-treatment-of-sons-genetic-disorder-1799205-2021-05-05.
Bhat, Lekha D., Sigamani Panneer, R. Bhagyalakshmi, Komali Kantamaneni, Kesavan Rajasekharan Nayar, and Louis Rice. 2024. “Medical Crowdfunding in India: The Need for a Strong Legal Enforcement System.” Indian Journal of Public Health 68 (3): 441–43. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijph.ijph_1081_23.
Cai, Y., S. Kamarudin, X. Jiang, et al. 2025. “Health Inequities in Medical Crowdfunding: A Systematic Review.” International Journal for Equity in Health 24: 166. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-025-02543-x.
Shah, Arpit. 2024. “Caste Inequality in Medical Crowdfunding in India.” The Journal of Development Studies 60 (11): 1793–1811.https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2024.2383438.
MSM