Cancer has emerged as the fastest-growing ailment in India, with cases increasing by 12% in 2024, followed closely by cardiac diseases. According to Medi Assist Healthcare Services, the largest third-party administrator of health insurance, cancer cases are significantly more prevalent in women with rates 1.2 to 1.5 times higher compared to men. Conversely, men show a 1.3 to 1.5 times higher incidence of cardiac ailments.
For other illnesses, medical inflation remained in single digits. For instance, the cost of cancer treatment increased by 6.5%, while expenses for cardiac patients rose by up to 8%.
Cataract Surgeries Surge Among Senior Citizens
Cataract treatment has become the leading cause of hospitalisation for senior citizens. Awareness about surgery has increased, along with better facilities. This has led to earlier diagnosis and a rise in the number of surgeries.
Respiratory Ailments Impact Children
For children, respiratory illnesses were the top cause of hospitalisation in 2024. These conditions also recorded the highest inflation in treatment costs, rising by 10-13% year-on-year. Regions such as Delhi NCR, Karnataka, and Maharashtra experienced a significant increase in respiratory cases, partly due to severe air pollution and the lingering effects of COVID-19.
Regional Disparities
States like Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Haryana witnessed the highest rise in average hospitalisation costs across various ailments.
According to Dhruv Rastogi, Senior Vice President and Head of Data Science at Medi Assist, stated, “Our 2024 findings provide crucial insights into the evolving health landscape, from the rising incidence of critical ailments to the increasing financial burden on patients. These insights are vital for driving innovation in insurance products to ensure better health outcomes and cost management.”
