Digital health in India - statistics & facts

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in India compounded with population projections and other key health indicators, such as morbidity and fertility rates accelerated India’s shift toward revolutionizing its healthcare services through digital technology. The digital health movement in India decisively seeks to deliver services, with the patient being at the center of all solutions.

Open digital health ecosystems (ODEs) – Ayushman Bharat scheme

The Indian government, through its implementation of several digital programs, has paved the way for building an effective and comprehensive digital healthcare architecture under the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM). The launch of the NDHM in August 2020, aimed to create an ODE. This was one of India’s responses to achieving sustainable development goal 3 - providing universal health coverage along with safe and effective vaccines for all by 2030. Some of the key features of such a system include digital health registries, a unique digital patient ID or Aadhaar, interoperability, and automated processes for claim settlement issues along with cashless transactions. The Ayushman Bharat scheme launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare incorporates many features of an ODE. The program’s overarching goal is to alleviate poverty by addressing the health care needs of the economically weaker sections of society. Under this scheme, primary health care expenses are incurred by the patient. However, secondary and tertiary health care are expensed to the government. Despite the scheme’s seeming progress, it is also met with grave challenges such as the scarcity of doctors and trained medical professionals in the country. Additionally, there exist high numbers of infectious diseases among the rural population and a national budget with a relatively low investment in healthcare, including urban and rural heathcare programmes.

COVID-19 – the catalyst for digital transformation

In a country like India, where the access as well as affordability of quality healthcare is still considered a luxury, aside from the vaccine, measures taken by the government to curb the spread of the virus have been relatively ineffective. The pandemic has highlighted the significance of a universal health coverage in conjunction with the need for strong public health systems. A solid primary healthcare system, for instance, facilitates triaging patients, thereby, affording better utilization of tertiary care infrastructure and resources which are scarce. In addition, the disease burden stemming from non-communicable diseases account for a larger share than communicable diseases. This underscores the importance of a health care delivery system that focuses not solely on episodic care, but more, on a comprehensive health care plan that is inclusive of prevention and primary health care as opposed to only secondary and tertiary. Further, the forced lockdown by the Indian government during the pandemic triggered the rise in digital practices among health-related stakeholders, specifically among patients and doctors. Over 50 million Indians used teleconsultation services during the pandemic.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Dec 19, 2023

Key insights

Share of funds received by healthtech startups in 2021
2.2bn USD
Estimated value of e-pharmacy market
2.7bn USD
Healthtech sector with leading number of deals in 2021
Fitness and wellness
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks
Editor’s Picks
Current statistics on this topic

Number of investment deals in the digital health industry worldwide from 2010 to 2021

Digital health

Investment deal count in digital health industry globally 2010-2021

Wireless broadband subscribers in India from December 2016 to December 2023 (in millions)

Mobile Connections and Data

Wireless broadband subscribers in India 2016-2023

Private equity and venture capital investments in the health-tech sector in India from 2013 to 2022 (in million U.S. dollars)

Investment Funds

PE/VC investments in health-tech India 2013-2022

Recommended statistics

Overview

7

Overview

Key driver - Connectivity

4

Key driver - Connectivity

Hospitals

5

Hospitals

Telemedicine and eHealth

6

Telemedicine and eHealth

Emerging technologies

5

Emerging technologies

Ayushman Bharat

4

Ayushman Bharat

Healthtech startups

4

Healthtech startups

Further reports

Get the best reports to understand your industry

Digital health
Digital health
European digital health market
European digital health market
Digital healthcare in the United Kingdom
Digital healthcare in the United Kingdom
Digital healthcare in Italy
Digital healthcare in Italy
eHealth in Colombia
eHealth in Colombia

Contact

Get in touch with us. We are happy to help.
Statista Locations
Contact Meredith Alda
Meredith Alda
Sales Manager– Contact (United States)
Email
support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)

Contact Yolanda Mega
Yolanda Mega
Operations Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm (SGT)

Contact Ayana Mizuno
Ayana Mizuno
Junior Business Development Manager– Contact (Asia)
Email
asia.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 10:00am - 6:00pm (JST)

Contact Lodovica Biagi
Lodovica Biagi
Director of Operations– Contact (Europe)
Email
eu.support@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9:30am - 5pm (GMT)

Contact Carolina Dulin
Carolina Dulin
Group Director - LATAM– Contact (Latin America)
Email
latam@statista.com

Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm (EST)