Last Updated:May 25, 2025, 12:16 IST
With long wait times, overburdened facilities, and the rising need for chronic care, Indians are preferring on medical support that is delivered at the comfort of their homes.
The at-home healthcare industry makes care more accessible and patient-focused.
Healthcare in urban India has gradually moved beyond the walls of hospitals. Access becomes more challenging daily with long wait times, overburdened facilities, and the rising need for chronic care management. In response, many households are beginning to rely on medical support delivered at home. Reflecting this shift, the home healthcare market in India is projected to reach $21.3 billion by 2027, as per a 2021 report published by NITI Aayog.
Urban Healthcare Strain
Metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore grapple with an overburdened healthcare system. With growing population densities, hospitals and clinics often operate beyond their capacity, leading to long wait times, rushed consultations, and logistical hurdles in accessing care. Another key concern is accessibility. Whether it’s a two-hour wait for a 15-minute appointment or navigating congested roads to reach a clinic, urban residents face unnecessary delays and discomfort. This challenge becomes even more significant for senior citizens, individuals with chronic illnesses, or time-strapped professionals. Therefore, it requires an effective change that can address all problems at once.
Shift to At-Home Care Trends
The shift in how urban India accesses healthcare is being driven by demographic, societal, and technological factors. The rise of health-tech platforms has revolutionised medical care delivery, as these platforms leverage AI and digital infrastructure to bring high-quality medical facilities directly to patients’ doorsteps. Whether it’s a doctor’s consultation, diagnostic test, or management of a chronic disease, technology enables precision and rapid response, even in the most crowded cities.
Moreover, the behavioural shift induced by the pandemic has become the catalyst behind the evolution of these models. Today’s urban millennials and Gen Zs expect not just medical attention but a comfortable experience, complete with personalised treatment, digital records, reduced risk of exposure, and 24/7 availability of medical facilities, all within the safety of home. Demographically, the shift toward nuclear families, the increasing number of working professionals and elderly individuals in cities has created a growing demand for at-home solutions. Elder care, post-hospitalisation support, and chronic condition management are now key components of urban healthcare delivery.
What the Future Holds
The Indian government has begun recognising the growing need for home healthcare, especially in urban areas where traditional infrastructure is overstretched. Initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aim to build a connected digital health ecosystem, enabling smoother delivery of at-home services. The expansion of Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) to include all senior citizens above 70 offers greater access to care, some of which can be delivered at home. Moreover, state-level programs further highlight the shift, offering mobile clinics and doorstep medical support. These efforts reflect a gradual policy push toward decentralised, patient-centric care.
Given all, the future of at-home healthcare in metro cities will be defined by the deepening collaboration between government policies, technology, and medicine. There is an increasing reliance on AI, data analytics, and smart infrastructure to enhance service quality and patient outcomes. As urban populations demand more convenience and personalised services, this evolution is set to make healthcare more accessible, proactive, and integrated into everyday urban life.
(With inputs from Aditya Gupta, Founder, Kyno Health)
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
- First Published:
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