It’s sad to see people still struggling to get access to healthcare services in spite of a growing number of hospitals and medical facilities. But can investment bridge this gap? With increasing healthcare demands but limited infrastructure, the challenge of supplying affordable and accessible healthcare has created a vital opportunity for strategic investment.
The population of India has crossed over 1.4 billion in 2024, but ensuring healthcare access is still an issue. Today, major healthcare infrastructure is in urban areas, which leaves the rural population with restricted access to basic medical services. This gap is the reason that there is a growing demand for increased healthcare infrastructure, advanced hospital facilities and accessible medical treatment.
This imbalance is attracting investors to contribute to enhancing healthcare accessibility while unbolting promising business prospects. This is where Everstone Capital Asia plays a vital role by putting money in healthcare and improving accessibility across different regions.
The Current Healthcare Challenges:
The rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension has put huge pressure on the existing healthcare infrastructure. This burden is the reason for a larger number of hospital chains, affordable medicines, reasonable medical devices and improved healthcare services.
The lack of accessible healthcare infrastructure is a medical and economic challenge. Families that belong to a lower socioeconomic background often delay treatment due to higher expenses or long travel distances. The companies are, therefore, investing in healthcare infrastructure, resulting in enhanced health outcomes while opening a new avenue for investors.
How Investment Can Bridge the Healthcare Access Gap
It is not only the concern of getting the financial returns; investment in healthcare can change lives too. When investment firms direct their capital towards medical equipment, hospitals and cheap treatments, it leads to tangible enhancement in healthcare access. For instance, Everstone Capital Asia, which is a part of Everstone Group, has made an important contribution towards improving the healthcare sector in developing countries like Thailand, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. By investing in healthcare chains, they have enabled these institutions to expand, improve the medical standards and improve patient safety.
A prime example of this is their association with Sahyadri Hospitals, one of the largest hospital chains in Maharashtra, India. Everstone’s investment in Sahyadri has helped the chain extend its reach to underserved communities. The additional funding was used to increase bed capacity, upgrade fire safety systems, and establish biomedical waste management plants. Additionally, a portion of the investment went into ensuring Sahyadri’s transition towards a renewable energy mix, reducing operational costs while promoting sustainability.
Additionally, the company has also enabled Sahyadri to hire more staff during high-demand periods, ensuring that the patients are well taken care of. They came up with extended medical insurance coverage that safeguarded hospital staff, which assured high-quality care delivery and consistency. This strategic investment enhanced health outcomes and created varied employment opportunities, which was a definite win for all stakeholders.
The Investment Opportunity in Healthcare Access
The shortage of healthcare access has created a demand that significantly outweighs supply, making it a high-potential investment avenue. India’s healthcare industry is expected to reach $372 billion in 2025, driven primarily by demand for accessible healthcare in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities.
This demand increased many investment opportunities for companies in the area of hospital infrastructure and health-tech innovations. Investors who pitch in and invest in the growth of these areas make a positive social impact while generating strong financial returns.
Also, investments in the healthcare sector can stimulate employment, economic upliftment and skill development in the regions where hospitals expand. For instance, the expansion of Sahyadri Hospital has opened many job opportunities in local communities, consequently contributing to regional economic growth.
Investing in Healthcare: A Balanced Approach
While the healthcare sector has challenges, its investment potential cannot be ignored. Investment groups like Everstone Capital have already demonstrated how strategic funding can bridge the gap in healthcare access while generating long-term returns.
As Sameer Sain, co-founder of Everstone Group, has often emphasized, investing in sectors with a clear social impact, like healthcare, generates strong returns and contributes to societal well-being. This investment philosophy has allowed Everstone to work closely with management teams to ensure improved patient outcomes, broader healthcare access, and long-term profitability.
By investing in critical infrastructure, affordable treatments, and health-tech solutions, investors can help turn challenges into opportunities. Countries with large rural populations, like India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, offer particularly promising opportunities. Not only does it improve the overall standard of living, but it also fosters economic development and sustainable growth.
