What is a significant barrier to patient access in healthcare?

A significant barrier to patient access in healthcare is the lack of transportation or reliable means to reach healthcare facilities. This is crucial because if patients cannot get to a healthcare provider, other aspects such as the quality of care or affordability become irrelevant. Transportation challenges disproportionately affect certain populations, including those in rural areas, low-income individuals, and the elderly, who may not have easy access to public transport or the means to travel to medical facilities.

While long wait times for appointments, high costs of procedures, and limited availability of specialists are also substantial barriers, they usually come into play after the patient has managed to reach the healthcare setting. Transportation issues are a primary hurdle that prevents individuals from even accessing care in the first place, making it a foundational problem in addressing overall healthcare accessibility.