What, according to you, are the most critical forces shaping the future of healthcare in India, and how do you see the sector contributing to India’s journey towards becoming a $5 trillion economy?
As India advances toward its $5 trillion economic vision, the healthcare sector must be viewed as a powerful catalyst for economic growth. Beyond improving the well-being of citizens, the sector fuels employment, infrastructure expansion, and innovation which forms the key pillars of a thriving economy.
Government initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the National Digital Health Mission have made notable strides in expanding access. However, increasing public health expenditure, currently around 2 per cent of GDP and addressing regional disparities remain crucial. A comprehensive approach centered on accessibility, affordability, and sustainability will be vital to ensure equitable healthcare across both urban and rural regions.
Innovation and technology will continue to define the sector’s future. The rapid adoption of telemedicine, digital health solutions, and AI-driven diagnostics is already transforming healthcare delivery. These advancements not only enhance patient outcomes but also contribute significantly to economic momentum by generating employment and strengthening allied industries, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health tourism.
Despite progress, India’s healthcare spending remains at around 2 per cent of GDP. What policy reforms or public-private partnership models do you believe are essential to improve accessibility and affordability of healthcare?
A balanced public-private partnership (PPP) model holds transformative potential for India’s healthcare ecosystem. By combining the government’s expansive reach with the private sector’s agility, innovation, and operational excellence, PPPs can bridge critical gaps in accessibility, particularly between urban and rural areas. While urban centres continue to have a higher concentration of healthcare resources, rural regions—home to a significant share of the population—remain underserved. A strategic PPP model can address this imbalance by leveraging public infrastructure and integrating private expertise to deliver high-quality care across geographies.
This model also brings financial sustainability to healthcare initiatives. By channeling private investments and corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds into public infrastructure development, the model can address resource constraints.
Moreover, PPPs foster innovation introducing advanced technology, modern management practices, and digital health solutions into the public domain. The collaborative success seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in testing, treatment, and vaccine deployment, underscores the power of public-private synergies.
To ensure long-term success, PPPs must be carefully curated with clear roles and responsibilities for both parties. Transparency in operations, competitive bidding processes, and performance-linked incentives are essential for maintaining trust and efficiency within these partnerships. Additionally, policies must focus on scaling these models sustainably while tailoring them to address specific regional healthcare needs.
Additionally, a comprehensive approach that prioritises accessibility, affordability, and sustainability is crucial to achieving equitable healthcare across both urban and rural India. Leveraging innovation and technology will play a pivotal role in making healthcare globally competitive. The swift expansion of telemedicine, digital health platforms, and AI-driven diagnostics is already revolutionising the sector. These innovations enhance patient outcomes while simultaneously driving economic growth by generating jobs and strengthening allied industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and health tourism.
With technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and telemedicine transforming care delivery, how do you envision the role of digital health in bridging gaps in quality healthcare across tier 2 and tier 3 cities?
Technological innovation is transforming India’s healthcare sector by enhancing accessibility, efficiency, and patient outcomes. AI is advancing diagnostics, predictive analytics, and personalised treatment plans, while telemedicine is bridging the urban–rural divide by connecting patients in remote areas with medical experts. Wearable devices and remote monitoring enable real-time management of chronic diseases, ensuring timely interventions. Meanwhile, robotic-assisted surgeries and minimally invasive procedures are improving precision and recovery rates. Digital health platforms and electronic medical records are also streamlining data management, fostering better coordination among healthcare providers.
At Aster, our partnership with the Indian Institute of Science led to the establishment of the Aster AI Lab, which developed the AI Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) diagnostic tool, an innovation by our Neurology Department that is revolutionising nerve ultrasound analysis. Our Tele-Health Services further strengthen accessibility by leveraging technology to deliver comprehensive, high-quality care across regions.
We also recently introduced the Aster Health App, designed to make healthcare more convenient and integrated. With a simple tap, users can access essential medical services, and the app will soon expand to include pharmacy, diagnostics, and home care, building a holistic healthcare ecosystem. It also enhances in-hospital experiences by streamlining admissions, inpatient services, and payments.
The impact of these initiatives is clearly visible: AI-driven tools have significantly improved diagnostic accuracy, resulting in better clinical outcomes, while telemedicine has extended specialist care to remote areas, lowered consultation costs, and improved healthcare access for underserved communities.
The shortage of skilled healthcare professionals continues to challenge the sector. What steps should India take at a systemic level to ensure a future-ready healthcare workforce?
India continues to grapple with the persistent challenge of bridging the gap in skilled healthcare professionals. Addressing it requires a multi-pronged strategy beyond encouraging more people to specialise. We also need to focus on continuous upskilling and provide the existing workforce exposure to advanced technologies, along with effective integration of allied health professionals to strengthen the care continuum.
Aster has recognised this growing gap and has taken a proactive approach to address it through its education and training initiatives. The Aster Health Academy is one of our key initiatives to bridge this gap by offering specialised and advanced programs designed to upskill healthcare professionals, including those in primary care.
Additionally, Aster is working directly with medical colleges and hospitals across the country to provide real-world clinical exposure, mentorship, and job-shadowing opportunities for young doctors and medical students. These programs don’t just build technical expertise, they also help prepare professionals for broad, community-focused care.
Aster DM Healthcare is expanding its presence in India with significant investments and an increase in bed capacity. How does this growth align with your long-term vision for Aster’s role in the Indian healthcare ecosystem?
Aster has laid out a well-defined and ambitious expansion strategy to capitalise on the fast-evolving Indian healthcare landscape. As part of this plan, the company intends to add over ~2,368 beds across the country over the next few years. A total capital outlay of approximately ~Rs 2300cr has been committed to this growth initiative, of which Rs 350cr already invested in critical projects as of September 2025.
Of the ~2,368 planned beds, over 490+ will be added in FY26, 1,050+ in FY27, and the remaining 1080+ beyond FY27. This expansion includes 1439 beds in Bengaluru, 554 in Kerala, and additional capacity across other key regions, reinforcing Aster’s national presence. Key upcoming additions include 2 new hospitals in Bengaluru – a 430 bed and 500-bed facility on Sarjapur Road and Yeshwanthpur and 350 beds at Aster CMI Hospital, reinforcing our leadership position among the top three healthcare providers in the city. In Kerala, we are developing a new greenfield project: a 454-bed Aster Capital Hospital in Trivandrum and adding 100 beds to Aster Medcity and in Hyderabad a state-of-the-art 300-bed Women & Children’s Hospital is being planned and 75 beds at Aster Ramesh, Ongole.
A key milestone in our India growth strategy was the announcement of merger between Aster and Quality Care India Ltd. (QCIL), backed by Blackstone. This merger [subject to regulatory approvals] marks one of the most transformative moves in the Indian healthcare sector, positioning the combined entity ‘Aster DM Quality Care Ltd.’ among the top three hospital chains in India by revenue and bed capacity. Looking ahead, the merged entity will aim to increase bed capacity to around 14,190+ beds over the coming years. Of the planned,3,820+ bed additions by the merged entity, ~2,368 beds will be added by Aster and the remaining by QCIL.
The merger also paves the way for Aster to expand into new markets beyond its strong existing presence in Kerala and Karnataka, with increased reach into states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu.
Aster is also focusing on areas like oncology, cardiology, neurology, and precision medicine. How do you see these specialities and innovations strengthening Aster’s positioning and impact on patient outcomes?
Cancer care remains one of our foremost priorities at Aster, where we have made significant investments to build a holistic, technology-enabled ecosystem that supports patients through every stage—from early detection to advanced treatment and recovery. To strengthen our oncology services, we launched the Aster International Institute of Oncology – a state-of-the-art multidisciplinary international standard cancer care institute offering an entire range of oncology-related services backed by our highly experienced team of doctors, cutting-edge technologies and the latest innovations.
On the diagnostics front, we provide cutting-edge imaging technologies such as 3D mammography for accurate breast cancer detection, Digital PET CT, SPECT CT, Gamma Cameras, and 256-slice CT scanners, all of which enable precise imaging, staging, and monitoring of cancer progression.
Our treatment infrastructure features some of the world’s most advanced systems, including the Elekta Versa HD LINAC and TrueBeam for high-precision radiotherapy, as well as Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOERT), which delivers targeted radiation during surgery for improved outcomes. We also utilise state-of-the-art robotic platforms such as the 4th-generation Da Vinci Robot and SSI Mantra, enabling complex oncological surgeries with greater accuracy, precision, and minimal invasiveness.
In the last financial year alone, Aster successfully conducted over 1,865 robotic surgeries and 575 transplants, underscoring the growing trust and confidence patients place in our expertise. Through this integrated, patient-centric approach—powered by advanced technology and compassionate care—we are setting new benchmarks in cancer care across our network.
We have also introduced three pioneering initiatives: Precision Oncology Clinics, the Aster Cancer Grid, and Onco Collect software. These are designed to advance personalised cancer treatment through genomic profiling, ensuring therapies are tailored to each patient for improved efficacy and fewer side effects. The Aster Cancer Grid connects hospitals, researchers, and institutions to promote collaborative research, standardise clinical protocols, and facilitate multi-center clinical trials. Meanwhile, Onco Collect integrates patient data into a unified digital platform, supporting evidence-based decision-making and real-time outcome tracking.
Beyond treatment, we also focus deeply on patients’ emotional and physical well-being. Our Scalp Cooling System, for example, helps reduce hair loss during chemotherapy—a seemingly small intervention that makes a significant difference to a patient’s confidence and comfort during care.
By blending innovation, personalisation, and empathy, Aster continues to redefine the future of cancer care for the communities we serve.
Social responsibility plays a big part in Aster’s philosophy. How has the Aster Volunteers programme helped translate that commitment into real-world change?
Social responsibility has always been deeply embedded in Aster’s philosophy. The idea behind the Aster Volunteers programme was born from a simple yet powerful belief that healthcare should extend beyond the walls of hospitals and reach people where they are, especially those who need it the most. I envisioned Aster Volunteers as a structured platform that could channel the compassion, expertise, and commitment of Aster’s employees, doctors, and partners into meaningful community service. What began as a small initiative to make quality healthcare accessible to the underserved has now evolved into a global movement for good.
The Aster Volunteers programme mobilises employees, doctors, and medical staff to participate in free medical camps, health education drives, disaster relief efforts, and outreach missions in remote areas. Recently, we launched our 66th mobile medical unit that serve remote regions of states such as Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Assam, Karnataka, Gujarat, and others.
The Aster Volunteers team has also been among the first to respond during calamities such as the 2024 landslides in Wayanad and the train accident in Odisha, providing both relief and essential medical care. Following the devastating Kerala floods in 2018, we constructed and handed over more than 250 homes to families who had lost their shelter.
Over the years, this initiative has touched the lives of over 7.2 million people through various programmes, with more than 85,000 registered volunteers across geographies. From preventive health to emergency response, Aster Volunteers embodies our mission of “We’ll Treat You Well” — translating compassion into action and reaffirming our commitment to building healthier, more resilient communities.