India’s health‑care system continues to be dominated by the for‑profit private sector, which now delivers nearly 70% of all hospital revenue and accounts for more than 90% of total hospital beds, according to recent industry analyses.¹ These private facilities, especially in major urban centers, routinely offer clinical standards comparable to those in developed countries, supported by rapid investment, expanding medical tourism, and advanced tertiary care. However, this also means that treatment costs, diagnostic investigations, hospital stays, and post‑operative care are priced at market rates and can be very high for uninsured patients.

Meanwhile, the government’s share of national health expenditure, though rising, remains modest. In 2022, India’s total health expenditure was 3.31% of GDP,² significantly lower than OECD averages and far below levels seen in countries such as Australia, the UK, or the U.S.

International Comparison

The most reliable recent global data (World Bank 2022; OECD 2024–2025 updates) shows the following:

Key takeaway:

India spends far less on public health care relative to its GDP compared to developed economies, resulting in a higher dependence on private, out‑of‑pocket spending, especially for inpatient care, specialist consultations, and advanced medical treatments.

Public vs. Private Care Availability

Major Indian metros—Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata—feature excellent private hospitals and specialty centers, but the publicly funded system is chronically under‑resourced. Rural India continues to face severe shortages in:

• functioning clinics
• qualified physicians
• essential medicines
• diagnostic equipment

Several reports place rural doctor density as low as 0.12 per 1,000 people.⁴

For travelers and expatriates, this means that private care is the only reliable option, and in medical emergencies outside major urban centers, transport to a larger private facility is often required.

Health Insurance Considerations for Expats

Countries such as the UK, U.S., and Australia do not maintain reciprocal health‑care agreements with India. This means:

• Visitors and expats have no access to free or subsidized care.
• All treatment must be paid out‑of‑pocket unless privately insured.
• Costs for surgeries, emergency admissions, ICU care, and long‑term treatment can be substantial.

Given India’s reliance on for‑profit health care, expatriates are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive international health insurance with coverage for:

• inpatient care
• outpatient treatment
• evacuation and repatriation
• chronic condition management

1. FinVal Research. Indian Hospital & Healthcare Market Report, November 2025. https://finvalresearch.in/ (accessed January 15, 2026).
2. World Bank. “Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP) – India.” https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS?locations=IN (accessed January 15, 2026).
3. Down to Earth. “Economic Survey 2024–25: India’s Health Spending Doubles to Rs 6.1 Lakh Crore.” January 31, 2025. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/ (accessed January 15, 2026).
4. Gupta, R. P. Health Care Reforms in India: Making Up for the Lost Decades. Elsevier, 2016. (Cited for physician density ranges.)
5. OECD. Health Statistics 2025. https://www.oecd.org/en/data/datasets/oecd-health-statistics.html (accessed January 15, 2026).
6. WanderGlobe. “India Travel Advisory – June 2025.” May 20, 2025. https://www.wanderglobe.org/india-travel-advisory-june-2025 (accessed January 15, 2026).
7. The Indian Express. “After US, UK Updates Travel Advisory: Stay Clear of India‑Pakistan Border Areas.” April 25, 2025. https://indianexpress.com (accessed January 15, 2026).