As much as technology and modernisation have made our lives easier, equally has it led to an increase in lifestyle diseases. One of the leading preventable causes of death in the modern world is obesity. While changes to diet and exercising are indeed the main treatments, it can be, at times, difficult to remove those stubborn fats. Fortunately, a number of top obesity management hospitals in India are more than adequately equipped to handle this. These hospitals employ advanced medical facilities and highly skilled staff to provide complete and thorough care to the patients – from accurately identifying the causes and containing the risk factors to preventing further complications. Not only is India equipped to handle its domestic patients, being globally recognised as the hub for the very best hospitals for obesity management, the country sees a steady influx of tourists from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, France, etc., for a number of procedures ranging from liposuction to bariatric surgery.
Greater health awareness coupled with ease of access to corresponding healthcare services have contributed to the growth of the Indian healthcare industry, with the sector expected to grow to US$ 280 billion by 2020. It is important to note that as much as globalisation and the increase in international tourism have contributed to the exponential growth of this sector, there have also been several notable domestic factors that have contributed to this growth.
• An increase in urbanisation have also contributed to an increase in problems associated with modern living. This, in turn, has led to a shift from communicable diseases to lifestyle diseases. The demand for specialised care for obesity control and obesity management have also contributed to the growth of the sector.
• Obesity management hospitals and clinics in India offer complex procedures at an incredibly affordable rate. While a Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass procedure can cost more than US $30,000 in the United States,the same procedure could be done in US$ 6,000-7,000 in India. It is important to note that the low cost of these services does not mean low quality of services. Healthcare is cheap in India as compared to other “western”/”developed” countries because of lower labour costs. A large population means a large batch of readily available pool of labour – doctors, nurses, janitors, etc – and this brings down the cost per head per hour, especially when compared to the West. Further, low labour costs bring down the taxation on the same since the two are directly correlated.
• Investments from the private sector into the healthcare industry in general but in the obesity management sector of that industry in particular has also grown over the years. Many big players such as Apollo, VLCC, Manipal Group, etc. are venturing into the sector and are setting up specialised centres across the country. Since it’s the capital, setting up the best obesity management hospital in Delhi is priority for both the public and private sector.
In a country where around 13% to 50% of the urban population and 8% to 38.2% of the rural population suffers from obesity, setting up proper centers for the care and treatment of these ailments, along with creating an adequate number of physicians with expertise to plan and chart effective obesity management plans, has been a high priority for the government. Especially when a number of studies have shown that increase in obesity leads to an increase in associated co-morbidities like T2DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia, coronary heart disease (CHD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), obstructive sleep apnea and certain cancers. Meanwhile, recognising the incredible potential of growth and business, the private stakeholders have more than doubled their investments in setting up the infrastructure to make the most of the market.
With consistent efforts by the government to strengthen the domestic infrastructure and incredible growth opportunities across different segments supported by increasing awareness and changing lifestyles, India is set to become a global hub for obesity control and management in the coming years.
