For more updates follow Grant Thornton Bharat on WhatsApp
Delhi, India’s capital and one of its most populous urban centres, is home to a diverse and dynamic healthcare ecosystem. The city-state’s healthcare infrastructure is both vast and complex; however, it faces constraints with over 20 million residents and a steady influx of domestic medical tourists.
The Delhi Government supports flagship programmes like Ayushman Bharat Delhi, expansion of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, and investments in digital health platforms and critical care infrastructure.
The city boasts over 100 government hospitals, several super-specialty institutions, and a thriving private healthcare sector. Yet, the demand for services continues to outpace supply, especially in underserved areas.
Delhi’s healthcare system faces increasing pressure from three converging trends:
Delhi’s healthcare infrastructure is a complex mosaic of public and private providers, traditional and modern systems, tertiary institutions and grassroots clinics. Among the city hospitals, it can be observed that:
Hospital infrastructure expansion in Delhi is constrained by land scarcity, fragmented ownership, and regulatory hurdles. These constraints have shifted investment to NCR regions like Greater Noida and Faridabad, which reflect a strategic geographic rebalancing of healthcare development.
Delhi’s health system faces deep-rooted structural challenges that hinder its ability to deliver integrated, inclusive, and accessible care. These issues span service delivery, infrastructure, financing, and regulation, creating systemic inefficiencies and inequities.
Delhi’s healthcare system lacks primary care infrastructure and is heavily concentrated on tertiary hospitals, leading to overcrowding and long wait times for OPD consultations, diagnostics and speciality services. The concept of Ayushman Arogya Mandirs represents a strategic shift towards strengthening Delhi’s primary healthcare foundation. These centres are envisioned as comprehensive health and wellness hubs, offering preventive, promotive, and curative services at the community level.
Delhi’s hospital infrastructure expansion is constrained by land scarcity, fragmented ownership, and complex regulations. This has shifted investment to other NCR regions such as Noida and Faridabad, where projects such as Fortis and Amrita Hospital represent a strategic move towards more flexible and cost-effective development.
Delhi’s healthcare financing combines public schemes and private insurance. The recent adoption of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY expands access to affordable care, though reimbursement delays hinder private sector participation. Private insurance remains limited due to high costs and low awareness, while out-of-pocket expenses in private hospitals remain significantly high.
Small hospitals and family-run clinics in Delhi need to take approvals from multiple agencies — MoHFW, Delhi Health Department, MCD, and NDMC. Compliance with laws like the Clinical Establishments Act and Biomedical Waste Management Rules requires continuous monitoring and dedicated staff, which smaller providers often lack. This regulatory burden discourages new entrants and limits the growth of affordable care options.
The Delhi Government should expand Ayushman Arogya Mandirs across all wards, embed preventive healthcare initiatives in schools, workplaces, and communities, and conduct widespread awareness campaigns focused on non-communicable diseases and early detection.
The state government should ensure universal enrolment in Ayushman Bharat, promote affordable health insurance for all income groups, and provide targeted subsidies for chronic disease management and long-term care to strengthen healthcare access and financial protection.+
To improve ease of doing business for healthcare providers in Delhi, the government should streamline approvals through a centralised digital window, harmonise inspection standards across agencies, and establish a nodal body to guide small providers through regulatory processes and compliance requirements.
Government hospitals can partner with private diagnostic centres to reduce patient wait times. By utilising excess capacity in private facilities at pre-negotiated rates, public institutions can offer faster, more equitable access to quality healthcare services.
Delhi’s healthcare system is at a crossroads. With rising NCDs, an aging population, and increasing demand from medical tourists, the city must evolve beyond traditional models. By embracing Ayushman Bharat Delhi, investing in health financing, scaling digital health platforms, and fostering an integrated healthcare ecosystem, Delhi can lead India’s transformation towards a healthier, more equitable future. The integration of AI in healthcare India and a renewed focus on preventive healthcare will be key to managing future challenges and ensuring that every Delhiite — regardless of income or location — has access to high-quality, affordable care.
