Driving India's healthcare infrastructure

Over the last few years, India’s healthcare infrastructure has seen major transformation. One of the primary triggers of this transformation has been the pandemic. The pandemic challenged the industry by stretching the need for infrastructure and service delivery to maximum limits. India emerged as a great example and pioneers in managing the crisis. This further set the stage for more investments and innovation to deal with future life-threating diseases, pandemics and growing the country’s healthcare and life sciences sector.

Presently, India's healthcare infrastructure is diverse and encompasses a wide range of facilities, from primary healthcare centres to tertiary care hospitals. Our healthcare system, one of the largest in the world, is expected to grow to USD 50 billion by 2033. This, being driven by increasing investment from both public and private players.

But what gives India a competitive edge over others?

India boasts of a large pool of well-trained medical professionals, including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff, many of whom are globally recognised for their expertise. Their presence makes establishment of healthcare facilities and the quality of service an easy given.

This also raises opportunities for medical tourism, with people from all over the world choosing to get procedures done in India, by renowned medical practitioners.

Another benefit in India is its cost-competitiveness. The cost of medical services in India is significantly lower than in other developed countries, making it a popular destination for medical tourism.

In addition, India has emerged as a hub for innovation, research and development due to its relatively low cost of clinical research.

While India is at the cusp of being a healthcare hub, what we have at present is still inadequate. With a growing population and increasing demand for quality healthcare services, the need for robust healthcare infrastructure has become paramount.

Real estate plays a crucial role in supporting this transformation by providing modern, well-equipped healthcare facilities. Developers and investors are partnering with healthcare providers, both public and private, to build and expand healthcare facilities across the country. These collaborations are driving the development of state-of-the-art hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, laboratories and specialised treatment centres.

The key factors driving real estate investment in healthcare include:

Government support: The Indian government has implemented various policies and incentives to promote investment in the sector. Initiatives like the National Health Policy and Ayushman Bharat have given a significant thrust to healthcare infrastructure development.

Rising disposable income: India’s middle class is growing and so is its disposable income. This is also leading to a corresponding increase in the demand for quality healthcare services. To cater to this, investors are developing healthcare facilities that cater to specific needs. This includes multi-specialty hospitals and specialised treatment centres.

Capitalising on medical tourism: India is on its way to become the preferred destination for international patients looking for affordable yet high-quality healthcare services. With the country emerging as a global hub for medical tourism, developers and investors can continue to create state-of-the-art medical infrastructure.

Technological advancements: Advanced technologies such as telemedicine, digitized patient records, and smart infrastructure are enhancing patient care and optimizing operational efficiencies. This, in turn, is improving patient outcomes and making healthcare services more accessible and efficient.

Presently India’s healthcare system is grappling with two challenges – catering to a growing population and improving service delivery quality. This has created a tremendous opportunity for the real estate sector to play a pivotal role in supporting India's healthcare infrastructure. Investments in healthcare real estate are fuelling the development of modern healthcare facilities, addressing this gap to a large extent.

Today, developers are actively collaborating with healthcare operators to build modern and well-equipped healthcare facilities, in metros as well as tier 2 and tier 3 cities, ensuring that quality healthcare becomes accessible to a larger population.

India's healthcare industry is undergoing a paradigm shift, with real estate emerging as a vital force driving the development of healthcare infrastructure. The sector is ensuring the creation of modern and accessible healthcare facilities through several initiatives, including strategic partnerships, reuse and retrofitting, technological integration, and more. As India strives to provide quality healthcare to its growing population, the collaboration between real estate developers, healthcare operators, and government agencies will play a pivotal role in driving the transformation for years to come.

JLL is India’s premier and largest professional services firm specialising in real estate. The Firm has grown from strength to strength in India for the past two decades. JLL India has an extensive presence across 10 major cities (Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi, and Coimbatore) and over 130 tier-II and III markets with a cumulative strength of close to 12,000 professionals. The Firm provides investors, developers, local corporates, and multinational companies with a comprehensive range of services. These include leasing, capital markets, research & advisory, transaction management, project development, facility management and property & asset management. These services cover various asset classes such as commercial, industrial, warehouse and logistics, data centres, residential, retail, hospitality, healthcare, senior living, and education. For further information, please visit jll.co.in.