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Franchising Opportunity



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There exists a tremendous opportunity in the Indian healthcare industry.

This is clearly borne out by the following:

	Healthcare is the largest industry in the USA with a size of 13.7% of its GDP. The size of healthcare industry in India is currently just 5% of the GDP, but is expected to cross Rs.1000 billion in the next three years.
	Research reveals that there is a huge and growing market for birthing services in the country. According to NSSO 1998; McKinsey Analysis, 85% of inpatient spend is on five categories: cardio, cancer, accidents/ injuries, acute infections and maternity. Further, The Global Burden of Disease, WHO 1996; McKinsey Analysis, states that of the Rs 25,000 crore market for inpatient services in 2001, inpatient spending on maternity accounted for 17%. By 2012, the inpatient market is expected to increase to Rs 74,000 crore, with maternity and gyneac services accounting for 15% of the inpatient spend.
	With maternity services accounting for 15% of inpatient spend and the richest 15% accounting for 58% of this spend, it is evident that there is a sizeable population that can ‘afford’ quality maternity services.
	According to the report by McKinsey, the market for Maternity care in India is currently placed at around Rs 6,000 crore, out of which more than Rs 2,500 crore comes from the affluent class (with annual income above Rs 5 lakhs per annum). In 2012, this market is expected to grow to Rs 11,000 crore with the affluent class contributing more than Rs 6,400 crores in revenue. For example, in a large city like Bangalore, it is estimated that more than 400 babies are born per day, of which about 10-15% can afford a Boutique Birthing Centre.

The Role of Consumerism

The wave across various sectors in India has led to a more demanding consumer, whose awareness levels have risen significantly in the last few years. The consumer now has greater expectations and demands in terms of the quality of healthcare.

Today's consumer is sensitive to both-care and cure-and is hungry for information. And he is willing to dig deeper into his pockets to get that extra reliability, reassurance and convenience.

Further, literacy levels have shot up, women are coming into their own and the connectivity and communication boom gives rise to wider frames of reference and hence more aspiration to consume only the best. The rising income levels of young professionals - thousands of “nouveau-riche” yuppies, represent another tremendous opportunity. Lastly the changing payer mix (e.g., most “New Economy” companies are willing to pay for their employees’ child-birth expenses) will also have a big impact.

A boutique birthing centre like The Cradle is a step towards making superior standards of birthing services available to all those parents who want only the best and don’t want any compromises with regard to a significant milestone in their lives: the birth of their child. Importantly, the growing desire of young Indian women to demonstrate their independence and be treated as if ‘they are special’ will be well answered by a woman-focused facility.

The Apollo Hospitals Group is uniquely positioned to seize this opportunity through its latest initiative, “The Cradle”.