'India Needs Rs 1.63 Lakh Cr Investment In Healthcare By 2017'


New Delhi: The Indian healthcare sector will need a total capital investment of Rs 1,62,500 crore to provide accessible and affordable healthcare during the 12th Plan period, says a report.

India will need to add at least 6,50,000 beds by 2017 to help improve access to healthcare infrastructure from the current 1.3 beds per 1,000 population in 2011 to 1.7 beds per 1,000 population by the end of the 12th Plan period in 2017, said a report by by PricewaterhouseCoopers in association with industry body NATHEALTH.

"The addition of 6,50,000 beds in India by 2017 will require a capital investment of Rs 1,62,500 crore. This translates to more than 50 percent of India's annual healthcare expenditure," it said.

Elaborating on the requirements, the report said based on the publicly announced government plans approximately 1,30,000 beds will be put up in the government or the public sector.

"This will necessitate the addition of nearly 5,20,000 beds by the private healthcare providers implying a capital investment of around Rs 1,30,000 crore over the next four years," it added.

On the funding part, the report said: "Raising the needed Rs 1,30,000 crore will require an equity infusion of Rs 39,000 crore by the private healthcare providers and a long term debt funding of Rs 91,000 crore."

Source: PTI