INTRODUCTION

Healthcare, in itself, is a high-cost sector

for both end-users and providers, billing
at an average of 10.5% of GDP on a
global basis. (World Healthcare Outlook,
Economist Intelligence Unit). The costs
support several ancillary industries, be it
pharmaceuticals on one end or the health
insurance segment on the other.
 Currently, India stands at a cross-road of
high-end, multi-specialty private healthcare
services on one end and lack of doctors,
support staff, medicines and facilities at the
other. High-end facilities and education
platforms are concentrated near metropolitan
centers (World Health Organization in its
2012 report said that only 26% of healthcare
professionals were available to address the
needs of 72% of the countrys population).
SCOPE
Considering the demand, the domestic
healthcare sector is expected to rise to
$100 billion by 2017, according to the
India Brand Equity Foundation. And 71%
of this growth is expected to take place
in hospitals.
 Investment in private healthcare is going up
too. The sector was the second favorite
destination for foreign investment in 2013,
receiving 27 investments worth $181 million
from the US. Overall, hospitals and diagnostics
centers received an FDI of $2191.91 million,
while medical and surgical appliances (medical
equipment) received $741.80 million in the last
13 years. (April 2000-December 2013)
according to the Department of Industrial Policy
and Promotion.
Challenges facing Indian
healthcare
Year-on-year, the challenges facing the
sector have remained the same. While
we are looking at a $100 billion growth
by 2017, the perennial problems facing
India are still those arising from
malnutrition (infant mortality, lacking
overall development), sanitation and
access to affordable hospitalization and
clinical care.
 On the other end of the spectrum, availability
of a skilled workforce both doctors and
nursing and support staff is cringing.
Doctor-nurse density per 10,0000 persons
of the Indian population is an abysmal 19
(6.5 doctors + 13 nurses).
Most of the skilled medical workforce is
being sought out by countries in Europe and
the Middle East and retained by attractive
compensation packages there vs India.