For many waste pickers, seeking healthcare can become a choice between waiting to receive care and losing a day’s wage. During our study, some community members spoke about long waiting times, moving between different rooms and undergoing multiple tests at government facilities. 

A woman we interviewed explained the repercussions of the long time she had to spend at the government hospital, “₹500–600 rupees is getting spent, one day's work is also gone, this (illness) doesn't get cured either, whole day ‘go to this ward, go to that ward,’ they say.”

Given these realities, usually they prefer visiting nearby private facilities or pharmacies for health issues which they feel do not warrant admission. This saves time, although it is more expensive, but still saves them from losing a day’s wages.