Feb 10 2017

By 2050, India’s population is expected to reach 1.7 billion people, creating the most populated country in the world. Growth of the Indian population and transition of its demography will need for leapfrogging in healthcare delivery including transformation of public healthcare system. Major shifts await healthcare industry in India.
What lies ahead?

India’s demographic and epidemiology profile will witness a change by 2050 which will demand healthcare sector needs to evolve. India’s population is projected to be 1.7 billion in 2050 with maximum number of people in the working age group of 15 to 64 years and average life expectancy at 80+ years. The old age population is expected to grow to 14% (from 4% at present) with geriatric health care specialized services such as dementia, nutritional services and home care services expected to have a larger role. The shift in demographic patterns and lifestyle trends will necessitate preventive healthcare to reduce cost of healthcare spend. Moreover nearly 51% of India’s population is expected to live in cities by 2050 (up from 30% in 2015). Increased urbanization may offer some advantages to the health care practitioners such as a larger set of population will be accessible for availing healthcare services at relative lower costs.

Trends shaping future health

India is leapfrogging the use of technology innovations such as mobile health devices, technology integration with healthcare data and telemedicine strategies which could reduce the burden from health system while still trying to boost healthier lives, reducing disabilities and increasing life expectancy. This trend will continue to evolve as there will be a shift in population profiles, disease burden and care protocols by 2050 and a future will emerge where chronic diseases are things of the past, patient dependency on public healthcare systems is minimal and more preventive care is sought for, life threatening diseases such as TB, Cancer or AIDS are cured and people lead healthy lives post treatment.