LGBTQ healthcare access must move beyond STDs, realignment surgeries

We are moving towards the end of the third pride month during the pandemic, yet we have lost the opportunity to raise the issue of LGBTQ people right to healthcare. India’s unequal and under-resourced healthcare system severely affects marginalised communities. In this context, discussion on LGBTQ healthcare access is crucial. Apart from facing blatant discrimination and prejudice by healthcare providers, India’s queer community is also vulnerable to mistreatment, misdiagnosis, and overcharging.

The Census (2011) estimates that around 4.87 lakh people in India identify as transgender persons. But the larger LGBTQ+ population might be even higher in India. Multiple small-scale studies have shown that health indicators for queer population continue to remain poor.

COVID-19 and its impact

The COVID-19 crisis devastated the life and livelihoods of marginalised communities. The problems faced by the Transgender persons during COVID-19 are a reflection of multiple levels of challenges faced by them in accessing healthcare. Despite Government’s claims to ‘empower’ the transgender persons through various provisions under The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, data showed only 6940 transgender persons received direct benefits transfer and ration from the government agencies. This help covers less than 1% of the estimated transgender persons estimated in the census, which is certainly not enough for a community whose livelihoods were destroyed overnight due to lockdown.