As digital adoption accelerates, the healthcare market in India is booming and evolving fast. However, with 1,600+ languages spoken, clear communication is often the best medicine. After all, in a country where a head nod can mean yes, no, or maybe – depending on the angle – translation and cultural understanding aren’t just helpful, they’re life-saving prescriptions for better care.

Population

India’s population of over 1.5 billion faces a complex health landscape marked by a dual burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. Life expectancy has risen to around 71 years, compared to 82 in the UK, and the infant mortality rate has declined to approximately 25 per 1,000 live births (2025). Despite this progress, significant health challenges remain.

Communicable diseases such as tuberculosis (with over 2.5 million reported cases in 2024), malaria and diarrheal diseases still impact large portions of the population, particularly in rural areas. Although the country has made important progress in this area – polio has been eliminated and the HIV/AIDS epidemic largely contained, tuberculosis (TB) remains a major concern, especially with the rise of multidrug-resistant TB strains. Vector-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya continue to challenge urban health systems, particularly during monsoon seasons.

At the same time, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer are rapidly becoming dominant health threats. Combined with injuries, NCDs now account for over half of India’s total disease burden, marking a significant shift in public health priorities from infectious to chronic conditions. Cardiovascular diseases alone are responsible for about 28% of all deaths, while diabetes affects an estimated 77 million people, and cancer causes around 900,000 deaths annually. Adult obesity, however, is among the lowest in the region, with only about 8.0% of people with a BMI  ≥30, compared to 25.5% in the UK.

Another major contributor to ill health is air pollution, causing an estimated 1.7 million premature deaths annually. Mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety disorders, affect roughly 1 in 7 Indians, though service coverage remains limited.

Health market

India’s healthcare system operates through a three-tier structure: primary care at rural health centers, secondary care at district hospitals and tertiary care at specialized medical institutions. Both the public and private sectors play significant roles, with the private sector providing a large portion of outpatient and inpatient services.

Public healthcare in India is funded by both central and state governments, with total government health expenditure at around 3.3% of GDP, compared to 10.9% in the UK. Many people also access care through private providers, resulting in a relatively high level of out-of-pocket spending. This means individuals often pay directly for services at the time of care.

Healthcare workforce availability varies significantly across regions. Over the past two decades, India has significantly expanded medical, nursing and technical education, boosting its health workforce. In 2020, physician density was still low at 7 per 10,000 people, but numbers for nurses and midwives, dentists and pharmacists have improved since 2005. Yet concerns remain about the quality of care and its uneven distribution, with most concentrated in urban areas. Programs like Ayushman Bharat are aiming to expand access to healthcare services across the country. Continued investment in infrastructure, workforce and health financing will help support the system’s long-term growth and accessibility.

Market Expansion and Growth Drivers

India’s healthcare market is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, projected to grow to $638 billion by 2025. This expansion is driven by a combination of rising incomes, growing disease burden, increased health awareness and strong public and private sector investments. Key growth areas include digital health, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and medical tourism. These developments present significant entry points for UK companies with expertise in health technology, infrastructure and clinical innovation.

Digital Health: A Key Growth Segment

One of the most dynamic sectors is digital health, where India is rapidly adopting telemedicine, such as the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform, AI-based diagnostics and electronic health records. Revenue in the digital health market is projected to reach $6.33 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 11.82%, resulting in a projected market volume of $9.90 billion by 2029. UK businesses specializing in digital platforms, remote monitoring and data analytics are well-positioned to provide solutions that align with India’s focus on improving access and efficiency, particularly in underserved regions. The Indian government’s digital health initiatives and openness to international collaboration further strengthen this opportunity. The market’s largest segment will be digital fitness and well-being, with a total revenue value of $4.12 billion in 2025.

Surge in Medical Devices & Diagnostics

India’s medical devices and diagnostics market is growing rapidly, projected to reach $7.1 billion in 2025 and expand at an annual rate of 9.1%, hitting around $11.0 billion by 2030. India’s demand for advanced devices is driven by expanding healthcare infrastructure and a rising population, creating strong opportunities for innovation and foreign investment. UK companies are well positioned to provide high-quality diagnostics, imaging systems and surgical equipment – especially as the India-UK Free Trade Agreement is set to lower tariffs and streamline regulations. Among key sectors, cardiology devices are expected to take the lead, with a projected market value of $1.0 billion in 2025.

Pharma & Biotech Partnership Opportunities

Beyond technology and equipment, UK pharmaceutical and biotech companies can benefit from India’s strong manufacturing base by forming research & development (R&D) partnerships, licensing deals or investing in cold-chain logistics and biosimilars. After all, the country ranks among the top manufacturers and exporters of generic medicines and vaccines. There is also growing potential for UK firms to engage in public-private partnerships, particularly in developing single-specialty hospitals and health infrastructure in smaller cities.

Legal and regulatory conditions

India has a well-defined regulatory framework for the approval and marketing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals, overseen by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. For pharmaceuticals, all new drugs require approval through the New Drug Application (NDA) process. Clinical trial data, quality assurance and safety documentation must be submitted, in line with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and its accompanying rules. In cases of urgent or unmet medical needs, India also offers expedited approval routes such as Emergency Use Authorizations and Compassionate Use Programs to accelerate patient access to essential treatments.

Medical devices are classified into four categories based on risk. Lower-risk devices (Class A and B), such as gloves and surgical forceps, can be approved by state licensing authorities, while higher-risk products (Class C and D), such as pulse oximeters and pacemakers, require central CDSCO clearance. Domestic manufacturers also require a manufacturing license.

International health market

International companies seeking to market medical devices in India must comply with the Medical Device Rules (MDR), 2017, regulated by the CDSCO. An Indian Authorized Agent is essential for handling submissions, and all imported devices require an import license based on their risk classification. Compliance with Indian standards is mandatory, though CE (Conformité Européenne) and UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) markings can help streamline approvals and build regulatory confidence. Companies must also follow local labeling requirements, including listing prices in INR.

International pharmaceutical companies marketing in India must also comply with regulations set by the CDSCO. They are required to obtain marketing authorization through submission of clinical trial data and product dossiers in line with Indian guidelines. Compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), labeling, packaging and pricing rules under the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) is mandatory. As with medical devices, appointing a local Authorized Agent is crucial for managing regulatory interactions. Drugs already approved by mature regulatory authorities, such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), can significantly support the application process.

Internationalization

Internationalization is driving India’s healthcare growth by fostering global research and innovation. With a diverse workforce, clear and culturally sensitive communication is vital. Expert linguists play a crucial role in accurately translating and localizing materials related to medical devices, pharmaceuticals and health apps, ensuring clarity for patients, healthcare professionals and regulators. Their deep industry knowledge and cultural insight help businesses deliver precise, relevant content, enabling smoother market entry and stronger connections across India’s varied healthcare landscape.

While English and Hindi are widely used in business and regulatory contexts, Hindi is not India’s national language – the Constitution does not grant that status to any single language. Instead, 22 scheduled languages are officially recognized, including Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu. Six languages – Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Odia – hold ‘classical language’ status for their deep literary heritage.

Summary

India’s healthcare market presents significant opportunities for international companies, especially in cardiology devices, diagnostics and telemedicine, driven by a growing middle class and expanding infrastructure. However, challenges remain in meeting regulatory demands, acquiring import permits and following local labeling rules. The country’s regional language diversity demands tailored communication strategies to engage varied patient populations, while urban-rural healthcare disparities require flexible distribution models to ensure broader access.

Localizing content into key regional languages is essential – not only for regulatory compliance but also to connect meaningfully with patients and healthcare professionals. Adapting communication to these languages enhances understanding, builds trust and supports better health outcomes, making a multilingual approach rooted in cultural awareness critical for success.



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autor_eurotext_100Author: Eurotext Editorial Team

We explain how internationalization works, provide tips for your translation projects and outline some of the technology and processes used. We also report on current e-commerce developments and cover a range of language-related topics.