From Hospitals To Homes: Redefining Patient Recovery In A New Era Of Care

India’s healthcare sector is continuing to undergo a significant transformation, adding immense value to the country’s economic development and job acceleration. The recent stats suggest that the market was valued at USD 372 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 638 billion by 2025, which is also projected to add 6.3 Mn jobs to the existing 6 Mn workforce by 2030. The significant shift in demographics and increased public and private partnerships in the sector led to its exploding growth across the country. 

Nonetheless, India’s population puts considerable strain on the present healthcare infrastructure, presenting challenges for healthcare providers in delivering service and quality care. In addition, the shift from chronic diseases to lifestyle diseases and the growing geriatric population requires a redefined approach to primary care. As per projections, the ageing population of India will account for 17 per cent of the national population by 2051. Subsequently, this prioritises the increasing need for better quality healthcare in the country.

Emergence of the Home Healthcare Sector

During the pandemic, home healthcare services emerged as the best alternative for patients when hospitals were inundated with COVID-19 patients and prevented geriatric patients from accessing healthcare services. The unmet patient demands led to the rise of home healthcare services, significantly reducing hospital visits, and making it highly convenient and efficient for care providers to deliver high-quality outcomes. 

Post the pandemic, the home healthcare scenario is continuing to become even more robust with the adoption of technology including telehealth, remote monitoring, and connected devices along with greater acceptance from stakeholders; doctors, hospitals and patients alike. Large private network hospitals have come aboard the idea of providing continued care to their patients via dedicated home healthcare verticals. The benefits of this are immense.

Complementary to Hospital Care

We are all aware of the significant gap in hospital bed ratios in the country. Alongside the large capital needed to support such infrastructure development and the long gestation periods to build commercial viability. Out-of-hospital care serves as a pivotal alternative in easing burden on overstretched facilities. By providing quality care at home, hospitals can be supported in improving the average length of stay and thereby unlocking bed capacity to take up more complex cases. 

Reduced Risk of Cross Infections

Patients at hospitals, especially those with co-morbidities and underlying low immunity, are vulnerable to infections despite adequate mechanisms in place. Hospital-acquired and other forms of infection can be greatly avoided with proper provisions in home-based care. This results in better clinical outcomes, ultimately leading to faster recoveries, and enhanced patient safety. 

Delivery at a Fraction of Costs

The Union History’s ageing study of India necessitates the use of nursing homes and home healthcare settings as approximately 70 per cent of seniors in India have chronic diseases. This puts a substantial financial strain on them, especially when their medical coverage is low due to the ageing factor. Out-of-hospital care offers high-quality medical services at a fraction of the cost of hospital stays. The use of technology to build efficiency in out-of-hospital care systems can further accelerate the low-cost delivery of quality care at home. 

Aided Recovery in Familiar Settings

Hospital environments aren’t the most comforting for patients. In India, extended family support is common and helps patients attain emotional stability. Patients heal holistically as they are more comfortable and less stressed at home or with their family which positively impacts their psychological and mental well-being. Homecare settings are tailored to provide personalised care to every patient, aiding recovery while considering their unique needs. 

Driving Innovation Across the Value Chain

The out-of-hospital care segment is spearheading innovation across healthcare’s value chain. Right from innovation in delivery models to solving for supply at scale, providing more advanced and effective point-of-care solutions and now even AI for devising personalised care plans. This also reflects the high growth CAGR for this segment within healthcare. 

Final Thoughts

While out-of-hospital care has made significant strides in addressing India’s growing healthcare demands, it still remains fragmented and largely unorganised. This exhibits the need to balance both challenges and opportunities for scaling its potential. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, boosting public-private partnerships, and encouraging technology investments can help streamline operations and enhance service delivery. With a precise focus on patient-centricity, out-of-hospital care could emerge as a transformative force in making quality care accessible and affordable for building an inclusive ecosystem. 

Vishal Lathwal

Guest Author CEO, Apollo Home Healthcare, Apollo Hospitals