Inside India’s healthcare services
When India became independent of the British rule in 1947 the private health sector was providing only 5-10% of the total patient care. Today it accounts for 82% of outpatient visits, 58% of inpatient expenditure, and 40% of births in institutions. India has a total of 43,486 private hospitals with 1.18 million beds, 59,264 ICUs, and 29,631 ventilators. On the other hand, there are only 25,778 public hospitals with 713,986 beds, 35,700 ICUs, and 17,850 ventilators. Total private infrastructure accounts for nearly 62% of India’s entire health infrastructure.
There is a profound dichotomy between India’s public and private healthcare services. The public healthcare infrastructure is compounded by out of date hospitals and unexperienced and unmotivated medical personnel. The public hospitals are usually overcrowded and the queues are so long that it became normal for patients to bribe the medical staff in order to shorten the waiting times. The private healthcare services are totally different; the hospitals have access to the latest medical equipment and the medical staff is well trained and motivated to deliver world-class healthcare services to its patients.
India’s ‘five-star’ hospitals take advantage of comparatively low labour costs and have facilities and services comparable to the most advanced hospitals in the developed countries, while continuously growing.
Ongoing investments in India’s healthcare system
The Indian healthcare system keeps on continuously developing. The number of doctors with recognized medical qualifications registered with State Medical Council of India has raised to 1.255.786 in September 2020 from 827.006 in 2010, a 52% increase in 10 years
The Government of India has set the goal of increasing healthcare spending to 3% of the GDP by 2020. Indian Healthcare market is expected to reach the threshold of 372 billion USD by 2022, driven by rising income and better health awareness.
Moreover, India is now looking at establishing academic medical centers for the delivery of higher quality care with leading examples of The Manipal & All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) already in place. As incomes rise and the number of available financing options in terms of health insurance policies increase, consumers become more and more engaged in making informed decisions about their health and are well aware of the costs associated with those decisions. In order to remain competitive, healthcare providers are now not only looking at improving operational efficiency but are also looking at ways of enhancing patient experience overall.
Why India?
According to one study, U.S. patients who have hip replacement surgery in India will save approximately 75% of cost, compared to the prices that patients could get in the U.S.
Foreigners in increasing numbers are now coming to India for private health care. They come from the Middle East, Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, for complex cardiac surgery or liver transplants—procedures that are not done in their home countries. They also come from the United Kingdom, Europe, and North America for quick, efficient, and cheap coronary bypasses or orthopedic procedures. A shoulder operation in the UK would cost £10 000 done privately or entail several months' wait under UK’s National Health System. In India, the same operation can be done for £1700 and within 10 days of first email contact.
Top Indian healthcare services providers
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi is maintaining its position as one of the best hospitals in India, on account of having the best doctors, along with excellent infrastructural and research facilities for various diseases. The institute, which was established in 1956, is also a leading training institute for medical students.
Christian Medical College (CMC) is another name that stands for excellence in the area of medical treatment, research and education, offering top health care services meant for all classes of the society. The CMC hospital is known for providing subsidized services for those who cannot afford expensive medical treatment. This hospital is situated in Tamil Nadu, India.
The city of Chandigarh is host to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), which is another top Indian hospital. The hospital has been serving people since 1960, providing high-quality medical treatment through experienced and qualified doctors and nursing staff.
One of the most widely acclaimed hospitals in the country is Medanta-The Medicity, which was established in 2009 in Gurgaon. This multi-specialty hospital is known for providing world-class facilities through its 20 specialty divisions and departments.
Apollo Hospitals chain is one of the most trusted names in the field of healthcare and hospitalization in India nowadays as it hires only the best medical staff. Throughout their hospital chain, patients can benefit from top facilities, including treatment, diagnostics, pharmacy and consultancy.
Fortis Hospitals is another chain of hospitals that offers its patients the best healthcare facilities world-class treatment, trained doctors, friendly staff and high-class infrastructure. There are 56 Fortis Hospitals all over India.
Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital located in New Delhi. The Minimal Access Surgery Department of the hospital is the first of its kind in South Asia. The hospital reserves 20% of its beds for financially weaker patients.
Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai, which was founded in 1978, represents one of the best medical facilities in the India, along with state of the art facilities, infrastructure and trained medical staff. This is also one of the top class hospitals in Mumbai.
King Edward Memorial Hospital is another world class Indian hospital. It was founded in 1926, in Mumbai. The facts that it has a modern infrastructure, a competent team of doctors (also 390 staff physicians and 550 resident doctors) and treats about 1.8 million outpatients and 78.000 in-patients annually have made it a preferred destination.
Conclusion
India is the place to get top healthcare services in exchange for very affordable prices. As private hospitals are the majority of healthcare services providers, there is a long list of hospitals and clinics available for patients with all kinds of budgets.
As each hospital has its own strengths and specialists, it is very important for the patients to have along a team of professionals that would help them choose a clinic or a hospital suitable for their healthcare needs that would offer a tailor made healthcare services.