Health Industry
Healthcare has become one of India’s largest sector, both in terms of
revenue and employment. Healthcare comprises hospitals, medical devices,
clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance
and medical equipment. The Indian healthcare sector is growing at a brisk pace
due to its strengthening coverage, services and increasing expenditure by
public as well private players.
India's competitive advantage lies in its large pool of well-trained
medical professionals. India is also cost competitive compared to its peers in
Asia and Western countries. The cost of surgery in India is about one-tenth of
that in the US or Western Europe.
The healthcare market can increase three-fold to Rs. 8.6 trillion (US$
133.44 billion) by 2022.
The Indian government is planning to introduce a credit incentive
programme worth Rs. 500 billion (US$ 6.8 billion) to boost the country’s
healthcare infrastructure. The programme will allow firms to leverage the fund
to expand hospital capacity or medical supplies with the government acting as a
guarantor and strengthen COVID-19-related health infrastructure in smaller
towns.
The
government announced Rs. 64,180 crore (US$ 8.80 billion) outlay for the
healthcare sector over six years in the Union Budget 2021-22 to strengthen the
existing ‘National Health Mission’ by developing capacities of primary,
secondary and tertiary care, healthcare systems and institutions for detection
and cure of new & emerging diseases.
The
Government of India approved continuation of ‘National Health Mission’ with a
budget of Rs. 37,130 crore (US$ 5.10 billion) under the Union Budget 2021-22.
In
the Union Budget 2021, the Ministry of AYUSH was allocated Rs. 2,970 crore (US$
407.84 million), up from Rs. 2,122 crore (US$ 291.39 million).
The
Government of India is planning to increase public health spending to 2.5% of
the country's GDP by 2025.
India's
competitive advantage also lies in the increased success rate of Indian
companies in getting Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) approvals. India
also offers vast opportunities in R&D as well as medical tourism. To sum
up, there are vast opportunities for investment in healthcare infrastructure in
both urban and rural India.
Rising income level,
greater health awareness, increased precedence of lifestyle diseases and
improved access to insurance would be the key contributors to growth. Health
insurance is gaining momentum in India. In FY21, gross written premiums in the
health segment grew at 13.7% YoY to Rs. 58,584.36 crore (US$ 8.00 billion). The
health segment has a 29.5% share in the total gross written premiums earned in
the country. In March 2021, gross written premiums of health insurance
companies in the non-life insurance sector increased by 41% YoY to Rs. 2,185.05
crore (US$ 294 million), driven by rising demand for health insurance products
amid COVID-19 surge.
The country had 393
Ayurveda and 221 homeopathy Government recognised colleges. As of April 2020,
number of sub centres reached 169,031 and number of primary health centres
(PHCs) increased to 33,987. The hospital industry size is estimated to touch
US$ 193.83 billion by 2020 and US$ 372 billion by 2022. As of February 2021,
420 e-Hospitals were established across India as part of the central government's
‘Digital India’ initiative.