Lifestyle diseases to rise in India - a study

Mumbai, Mar 16 (UNI) Lifestyle related ailments, which account for 13 per cent of cases needing hospitalisation in the country last year, are likely to go upto 20 per cent by 2016 accordin to a study.

A CRISIL research report says over 4.24 crore people suffered from cardiovascular diseases, 33 lakh from cancer and more than 3.75 crore from diabetes in the country last year. These three diseases collectively accounted for 13 per cent of the hospitalised cases but generated 36 per cent of the in-patient revenues in 2006.

''By 2016, we expect them to collectively account for 20 per cent of the hospitalised cases, accounting for 52.5 per cent of in-patient revenues,'' points out research team head Sudhir K Nair.

In its annual review on the healthcare sector, the market research agency says the cost of 229 crore treatment cases was Rs 1,25,300 crore last year. The current Rs 1,25,300 crore healthcare delivery market is projected to grow to Rs 2,17,200 crore by 2011 and Rs 3,64,200 crore by 2016, it adds.

''We expect the market to grow on account of an increase in treatments coupled with an increase in the average billing of the hospitalised cases. Also, with a rise in income levels and an increase in health insurance, the demand for tertiary ( specialist) care hospitals will grow in turn leading to a rise in the per capita expenditure on healthcare'', says Nair.

The report says India has around 10.50 lakh beds but would require an addtional 6.32 lakh beds by 2016. To meet the projected demand and maintain the ratio of beds to potential demand, the report states that India will need around Rs 66,800 crore worth of investments by 2011 and an additional Rs 98,500 crore for the next five year period of 2011-2016. Thus, the country would require investments of Rs 1,65,400 crore over the next 10 years to expand its bed volumes by 6,32,000 from 10,50,000 to 16,82,000.

Despite planned supply, shortage of beds will, however, increase across cities except in Bangalore. The report points out that, currently, Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata face an acute shortage of beds, whereas Chennai is the only city which has surplus beds (3,931 beds) to treat patients from other cities and medical tourism patients as well.

''Over the next 5 years, Mumbai is expected to top the list with a shortage of 15,327 beds, while Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore will face a shortage of 10,785 beds, 8,171 beds, 2,704 beds and 651 beds, respectively, says Nair, adding that Chennai will be the only city with a surplus of 1,814 beds.

Indian Healthcare delivery sector requiring an investment Rs 1,65,400 crore over the next ten years, will thus witness a major transition in terms of the quality of services provided and India's competitiveness in the global arena, the report says.

Apart from a change in demographics, improvement in health awareness and a rise in incomes, a change in the disease profile, rising penetration of health insurance and increasing opportunities from medical tourism will fuel the demand for healthcare facilities in India, the study concludes.

UNI