India a global leader in health innovation and vaccines: Jitendra
New Delhi: Underscoring India's evolution into a global health leader, Jitendra Singh, minister of state for science & technology and earth sciences and MoS in the PMO, said India was now recognised globally as a leader in healthcare innovation,
pharmaceutical manufacturing
and
vaccine development
, exporting vaccines to over 100 countries under
Vaccine Maitri
.
"As we move forward, such partnerships will be key in shaping the future of global health from India," he said at the Times Now Doctors Day Conclave 2025, powered by Lupin.
Minister of state for health and family welfare Anupriya Patel laid out the Centre's ambitious vision for India@100 and said, "We are committed to creating a resilient, inclusive and technology-driven
healthcare ecosystem
by 2047, as we celebrate 100 years of independence. Our vision is to ensure accessible and affordable healthcare for every citizen.
The
National Health Policy
embodies this vision, shifting the focus from disease-specific interventions to a comprehensive and integrated approach rooted in universal health coverage. This is a paradigm shift - one that redefines how we view health and well-being, not just within India but also in alignment with global priorities."
Others who spoke at the event included Punjab governor and Chandigarh administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, Tripura governor Indrasena Reddy Nallu and Andhra Pradesh health minister Satya Kumar Yadav.
Kataria said since 2014, India's healthcare budget had grown from Rs 33,000 crore to Rs 99,000 crore, reflecting the govt's strong commitment to a Swasth Bharat under the leadership of PM Narenrda Modi.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Chhattisgarh set to become national, international centre for Ayurveda: CM Sai
Durg: Chhattisgarh, which has a rich forest cover, is poised to become a national and international centre for Ayurveda, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Sunday. He was speaking after inaugurating an advanced Ayurvedic medicine processing facility and central warehouse complex at Jamgaon in Durg district. The unit, developed by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation, will also have a herbal extraction set-up established through a public-private partnership with Sprayer Biotech Private Limited, he said. The CM said the unit is expected to generate 2,000 direct and indirect jobs. "With nearly 44 per cent of Chhattisgarh's landmass under forest cover, this initiative is both a privilege and a responsibility. The raw materials for Ayurvedic formulations will be sustainably sourced from our forests, ensuring tangible economic benefits for tribal communities," he said. He described the processing unit as the largest of its kind in Central India and a milestone that will enhance healthcare delivery while positioning Chhattisgarh as a recognised national and international centre of Ayurveda. The CM said that the state government is steadfastly fulfilling the guarantees made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Over the past 18 months, we have been resolutely advancing the state's development agenda. Every promise made to the 3 crore citizens of Chhattisgarh is being honoured with utmost priority," Sai said. He said the government's decision to hike the procurement rate for tendu leaves from Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,500 per standard sack is benefiting nearly 1.3 million tendu leaf collector families. He also highlighted the revival of the 'Charan Paduka Yojana', under which protective footwear is distributed to forest workers. Five women beneficiaries received footwear during the event. Appealing to citizens to participate in the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) campaign, the CM urged every individual to plant at least one sapling as a tribute to their mother and nature. Forest Minister Kedar Kashyap, who also attended the event, called the facility a vital step towards streamlining the collection, processing, and marketing of forest resources. He said that the state collects 67 varieties of minor forest produce, benefitting over 1.34 million forest-dependent families. The Ayurvedic processing unit reflects the efforts to integrate Chhattisgarh's abundant forest resources with modern scientific techniques, realising the 'Forest to Pharmacy' model, he said. Built over 27.87 acres at Rs 36.47 crore, the facility is projected to produce Rs 50 crore Ayurvedic products annually, said officials. Medicinal and minor forest produce like mahua, sal seeds, kalmegh, giloy, and ashwagandha will be processed into powders, syrups, oils, tablets, and avaleha under stringent quality standards, they said. The unit will also serve as a key hub for promoting the 'Chhattisgarh Herbals' brand across national and international markets. Technical training programmes will enable local youth to acquire skills and access new avenues of employment, they said. A modern warehouse with a capacity of 20,000 metric tonnes has also been constructed to facilitate long-term storage and quality control of seasonal produce. The initiative embodies PM Modi's vision of 'Vocal for Local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', they added. PTI
Economic Times
3 hours ago
- Economic Times
Big money is making a beeline for Indian hospitals
Indian hospitals are the new goldmine for deep pockets. Besides a rush of investment, a high-intensity consolidation is ongoing in India's hospital space. As per an ET report based on information from sources, IPO-bound Manipal Health Enterprises is leading the race to acquire Sahyadri Hospitals with a Rs 6,838 crore ($800 million) bid. Global investment firm Blackstone is a close second, sources said. IHH Healthcare-backed Fortis Healthcare and EQT Partners also submitted bids on June 23, which was the last day to submit binding financial bids. ADVERTISEMENT Also Read: Manipal Health Enterprises leads race to buy Sahyadri Hospitals The Pune-headquartered hospital chain, which operates 11 facilities across Pune, Nashik, Ahilya Nagar and Karad, comprising 1,300 beds, 2,500 clinicians and 3,500 support staff, is owned by Canada's pension fund Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP), which had acquired Sahyadri from Everstone Capital in August 2022 at a valuation of around Rs 2,500 crore, outbidding Max Healthcare. Everstone had bought the hospital chain three years earlier in 2019 from its founder, neurosurgeon Charudutt Apte, for about Rs 1,000 crore. The big money chasing Sahyadri for past several years is emblematic of the attraction Indian hospitals, especially smaller chains, have come to hold in recent times. Bulge-bracket private equity funds are increasingly investing in single-specialty Indian hospital chains that present a robust growth potential in emerging consuming centers, significantly widening the addressable market beyond their traditional metropolitan bailiwicks, ET had reported in locations, such as Lucknow , Vizag, Jaipur, Cochin, Siliguri, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar and Patna, private equity investors believe, hold great growth potential in healthcare, in lockstep with an increasing affordability quotient in tier- 2 or 3 towns, and a greater availability of qualified doctors and specialists. PE funds are looking for players that will give higher returns - and blockbuster exits when the investments run their course. ADVERTISEMENT 'A trifecta of factors is helping accelerate investor interest in the single specialty healthcare chains including significant growth opportunity in tier 2/3 cities, clearly visible unit economics and viability with best in class ROIs,' Vishal Bali, executive chairman, Asia Healthcare Holdings (AHH), a leading healthcare investment platform, with focus on single specialities like oncology, women and child care, fertility, urology and nephrology, had told ET. 'AHH has been the inflection point for Single speciality healthcare with all our companies in single speciality healthcare delivering consistent growth in revenues, ebitda and geographical reach along with ROIs' he PE monies in treatment areas such as IVF, nephrology, eye-care, oncology, mother & childcare among others, have become a credible prescription for future value creation, after nearly a decade-long hunt for multi-speciality assets across the country. According to an analysis done by Avendus, single-speciality hospitals account for over 40% of all PE investments in healthcare since 2019. This was just a bit over 15% between 2015 and 2018. Between 2020 and early 2025, the segment recorded 24 PE/VC investments totalling $1.8 billion, with 19 of those deals worth $1.2 billion closing in the last two years alone, shows data put together by Grant Thornton. ADVERTISEMENT Over the period of two years from 2022-24 Hospitals in India have become one of the preferred investment destination for Investors, attracting net investment of $4.96 billion from Private Equity and $3.2 billion through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). ADVERTISEMENT As per a report prepared by consultancy firm Grant Thornton Bharat in collaboration with the Association of Healthcare providers of India (AHPI), from 2022-24 hospitals in India undertook M&A deals worth $6.74 billion and attracted $4.96 billion from Private Equity (PE) investors. During the period, hospitals also raised $466 million through Initial Public Offering (IPO). The report which analysed 594 M&A and private equity transactions that took place during the period states that, 'Hospitals require diverse funding solutions to sustain growth, ranging from equity financing, debt financing, and foreign direct investment (FDI) to public-private partnerships (PPPs).' As per the investment analysis, the top three investment via PE route includes: Temasek Holdings $2 billion investment in Manipal Health (2023); $656 million by BPEA EQT in Indira IVF (2023); and lastly Blackstone Group $591.1 million investment in Quality Care (2023). A recent big deal was by a New York-based global private-equity and investment company, KKR, which in February bought a controlling stake in leading cancer care hospital chain Healthcare Global (HCG) from private equity peer CVC Capital Partners for nearly $400 million. By acquiring Baby Memorial Hospital last year, KKR made a comeback to the sector after one of its biggest paydays in India exiting Max Healthcare two years ago. ADVERTISEMENT Deal-making in India's healthcare sector has surged in recent years, with hospitals now commanding the largest share of foreign direct investment (FDI) within the sector, TOI had reported in December. In FY24, hospitals accounted for 50% of the FDI in total healthcare, translating to $1.5 billion. This marks a significant increase, as the share of hospitals in healthcare FDI has more than doubled from 24% in FY21, and has been rising from 43% in FY20, underscoring their growing prominence. The trend also reflects a strengthening investor preference for hospitals, alongside the traditionally favoured pharmaceuticals strong private equity interest in India's healthcare services companies is a highly credible indicator of the multi-decade growth potential inherent in the sector, as per a top executive at European investment bank Rothschild & Co. "We expect to see expansion of interest as international players evaluate the market and get more comfortable with the domestic landscape," Hedley Goldberg, partner and global head of healthcare services at Rothschild & Co, told ET in an interview in January. Besides a number of private equity deals, the hospital sector is also attracting big Indian businesses. While several corporates such as Tata, Birla and Hinduja have a presence in healthcare, none has made a significant pan-India presence. But the Bajaj Group is preparing to enter the healthcare sector by setting up a chain of hospitals in metros across the country., ET had reported last year. As per Bloomberg, it has earmarked Rs 10,000 crore as an initial investment. In recent years, healthcare companies and hospitals in India have been increasingly focussing on acquiring buildings and properties to expand their operations and strengthen their market presence. This trend is driven by the rising demand for quality healthcare services in urban and semi-urban areas, fuelled by a growing population, increasing health awareness and better insurance coverage. In December last year, billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries acquired technology-driven and oncology-focused healthcare platform Karkinos for Rs 375 crore. Reliance bought it under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). The healthcare sector, particularly hospitals, witnessed major expansion during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, after the situation eased, it became difficult for many standalone hospitals to sustain their businesses. Such hospitals have been seeing interest from two sets of bidders — those already in the industry and seeking to expand and those who want to turn around such entities before they sell to someone else. Promoter-driven strategic investment firms and hospital operators are scouting for stressed healthcare assets that they can acquire through the insolvency and bankruptcy process, as private equity firms often edge them out in the race for good assets by offering lofty the pharmaceuticals sector, including APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients), has been the investor favourite, attracting multi-billion-dollar deals. However, post-Covid, the hospital and diagnostics sector has come into the spotlight, drawing a wave of investors. The Indian hospital sector market cap surged 9x from Rs 37,500 crore in FY20 to Rs 3.5 lakh crore, brokerage firm JM Financial said last year in July. At a time when the sector was grappling with inefficiencies, high leverage and low ROCEs, Covid provided a much-needed impetus. This came from improved pricing, higher insurance coverage and dedicated shift towards complex surgeries such as transplants. India's top listed hospital chains performed well in the stock market leading up to this year. Apollo Hospitals' shares climbed 28% in 2024, while Max Healthcare Institute Ltd. soared 64%. The Indian hospital industry is poised to post a healthy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 12% over the next three fiscal years, credit rating agency CareEdge Ratings said last year. Growing incidence of lifestyle diseases and easing demand for affordable health care delivery are driving the healthcare market in India. A report released last year by HSBC Global Research on India hospitals said seven listed hospitals will add 14,000 beds in the next 3-5 years. A total of 22,000 new beds is expected, including those by other private hospital chains. Even with these additions, there will be no over-supply of beds in India. The report said that the addition of beds is triple the number of beds added between FY19-24 at 4,000. Most hospitals are now in a consolidation phase and planning to expand and add sees growth opportunities after making profits between FY19-24 because of low capex. A World Health Organisation (WHO) report said last year that India has only 16 beds per 10,000 people, which is abysmally low if compared with most of the developed and emerging markets. India requires 100,000 additional beds in the next 5-7 years just to meet its healthcare demand on the back of increasing non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiac disorders, and cancer., as per the HSBC report. The government's push to turn India into a global healthcare hub by promoting medical tourism is another strong growth driver for the hospital sector.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Silent Epidemic: Shefali Jariwala's Death Sparks Alarm Over Growing Heart Ailments In Young Indians
Last Updated: Data and doctors reveal a deeper and far more widespread crisis: a growing epidemic of cardiovascular disease affecting Indians – not only rich but also poor in far-flung areas. The sudden death of television actress and model Shefali Jariwala, popularly known as the ' Kaanta Laga girl," at the age of 42 due to cardiac arrest has once again stirred public concern over the rising incidence of heart-related ailments in India. While such cases involving young celebrities make headlines, data and doctors reveal a deeper and far more widespread crisis: a growing epidemic of cardiovascular disease affecting Indians – not only rich but also poor in far-flung areas. Heart ailments no more a rich man's disease According to the latest data under the central government's flagship Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) scheme, the maximum number of claims are for an angioplasty procedure that involves putting stents in the arteries of the heart to remove blockages, which could prove fatal. The scheme serves as health insurance for the bottom 40 per cent population of India – who are extremely poor and vulnerable, busting the myth that heart ailment is a rich man's disease. The data shows that a whopping Rs 1051 crore has been spent by way of claims under the scheme so far on the procedure named 'PTCA inclusive of diagnostic angiogram'. This is the procedure to perform angioplasty after an angiography is conducted that shows blockages in one's heart. As many as 1.05 lakh patients across the country have undergone this procedure under Ayushman Bharat scheme, implying a spend of Rs 1.05 lakh per patient. In comparison, chronic haemodialysis, though more common with over 15 lakh cases, has led to a lower cumulative spend of Rs 560 crore. The figures clearly indicate that cardiac procedures, though fewer in number, demand significantly higher financial resources — underlining the scale and severity of India's growing heart problem. In fact, several published studies highlight urban versus rural shift of heart ailments. Urban CHD (coronary heart disease) prevalence climbed from roughly 1 per cent in 1960 to 9–10 per cent in 2016 and rural prevalence went from less than 1 per cent to 4–6 per cent, according to a study titled 'Trends in Coronary Heart Disease Epidemiology in India" published in medical journal ScienceDirect. A 9-fold increase in urban CHD over four decades and around 2-fold in rural areas highlights rapid lifestyle transition. 'Five-fold increase in heart procedures" Cardiologists across India are reporting a dramatic surge in cardiac emergencies, especially among young adults. Dr Asit Khanna, Principal Consultant and Director, Cath Lab and Cardiology, Yashoda Super Speciality Hospitals, Kaushambi, told News18, 'The heart-related procedures at my facility have increased 5-fold in 7 years. It was 50 cases in 2018 (when I joined Yashoda), now it's 250 cases per month." Dr Prashant Pawar, Consultant Cardiology at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital, Vashi, also noted a worrying trend. 'Cardiovascular diseases have increased over the past 5 years. On average between 2016-2020, I used to see around 30 to 40 heart attack cases in a month. Over the past 3-4 years I see around 60-70 heart attacks cases in a month. Out of these heart attacks, 30-40 per cent patients are below 40 years and have blood clots (they have more thrombus)," he said. The picture emerging from these accounts is alarming: more young Indians are suffering from heart attacks, and when they do, their condition is often more severe. Supporting this clinical experience is market data from research firm Pharmarack, which confirms that cardiac drugs are now the top-selling segment in India's pharmaceutical market. The segment has grown at a steady 5-year CAGR of 10 per cent, and antihypertensive medications now make up half of all cardiac-related drug sales. What's more concerning is that categories associated with more serious cardiac complications and hospitalisations are growing in double digits. 'Drug sales patterns indicate a disturbing shift in age trends, with cardiac problems increasingly affecting people in the 30–40-year age group, compared to the 50–60-year age bracket in earlier decades," said Sheetal Sapale, vice president, commercial, Pharmarack. The data shows that the sales of heart failure therapies stood at Rs 717 crore in May 2021, which jumped to Rs 1322 crore in May 2025 — almost doubling in four years. India's 'Silent Epidemic' of NCDs The Apollo Hospitals' Health of the Nation 2024 report labels the spike in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), especially cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), as a 'silent epidemic." According to the report, CVD cases in India jumped from 380 lakh in 2005 to 641 lakh in 2015 — and the number continues to rise. Apollo's annual report 2023-2024 shows that in 2019, lifestyle-linked risks such as unhealthy diet, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and obesity contributed to 27 per cent of India's total disease burden, compared to 21% in 2010. These risks are directly linked to conditions like ischemic heart disease and stroke. About the Author Himani Chandna Himani Chandna, Associate Editor at CNN News18, specialises in healthcare and pharmaceuticals. With firsthand insights into India's COVID-19 battle, she brings a seasoned perspective. She is particularly More Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
