Healthcare for the Transgender Community

Like in many other fields, transgender people are highly ignored in the conversation around healthcare.

Transgender people in India are often deprived of the right to healthcare entitlements because of their gender non-conformity. People from the community face many obstacles accessing healthcare due to social stigma, discrimination, and lack of awareness.

There are around 5 lakh transgender people in India, as of 2014.

Many feel uncomfortable while visiting government hospitals because a lot of times, hospital staff make derogatory remarks and ask transgender women to sit among men even after telling them that they identify as women (or vice versa).

The stigma associated with HIV/AIDS is a fundamental barrier in seeking healthcare for HIV-positive trans people. They might face this stigma not only from co-patients but also from some medical professionals themselves. They are asked uncomfortable questions about their sexual lives and their genitals and face staring and unwanted curiosity from other patients.

In addition to this, the Covid-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected several members of the community. Since a lot of trans people rely on stepping out of the home to earn their income, they are at a higher risk.

Although many healthcare professionals are non-discriminatory, the healthcare issue is not just an individual problem but a systemic one. Only when there is proper education about the trans community will there be a real impact.

Access to quality healthcare is a basic human right. Therefore, every individual in our country should have access to it- while also being treated with the respect they deserve.