Lending Momentum to Healthcare for a Glorious Viksit Bharat 2047

What makes India an increasingly favourable global healthcare destination, and the reason for you to move to India?

Around the year 2000, India’s healthcare system was experiencing a significant transformation, which created immense opportunities for innovation. My wife, Dr. Sonia Lal Gupta, and I, both of whom studied and worked at prestigious health institutions in the United States, were eager to be a part of this change. Driven by a strong sense of patriotism, we made the bold decision to leave lucrative opportunities and return to India in 2014.

I can confidently say that India has made big strides in healthcare augmented by technology. India’s well-equipped state-of-the-art hospitals are catering to the most complex cases with high success rates at affordable costs attracting patients from different parts of the world. It reflects the world’s trust in the expertise of Indian doctors and healthcare services. This trend is indeed transforming India into a global healthcare destination.

Considering the humongous population of India, what are the healthcare gaps, and Metro Hospital’s contribution towards equitable healthcare?

I believe that the foundation to equitable healthcare deliveries are based on 4 A’s – Affordability, Accessibility, Availability and Accountability. Despite constraints, India offers an array of public and private healthcare services, which can be accessed by people from every economic stratum with a spectrum of affordable services to opt from, according to their economic comfort.

Also, technology has played a defining role in enabling accessibility to remote regions through telemedicine. However, the presence of physical establishments and trained professionals to attend to patients, e.g., in Tier 3 towns, needs improvement. Unlike foreign countries, in India, patients can readily approach doctors, which addresses the availability factor.

Lastly, but most importantly, is accountability. In India, there is a strong framework of quality and accreditations such as JCI and NABH, as well as stringent protocols that healthcare institutions and professionals have to comply with, failing which they are penalised for the lapse. Metro Group of Hospitals is committed to upholding the ethos of compassion, ensuring quality and excellence through continual training and skilling, and making affordability a significant differentiator. Metro was established with the objective of serving the underserved by its Founder, Padma Vibhushan & Dr BC Roy National awardee and legendary cardiologist, Dr (Prof) Purshotam Lal.

How are you strategizing quality and affordable medical care in the diverse healthcare landscape?

Having trained and worked in both India and some of the leading healthcare institutions abroad, I’ve had the opportunity to experience two very different models of care. At our hospitals, we have integrated the best global practices into the Indian context. This includes upgrading our technology backbone and standardizing clinical protocols across our network. These changes have significantly improved operational efficiency—for instance, our streamlined daycare diagnostic services now reduce both cost and turnaround time for patients. We also focus on achieving economies of scale to ensure that high-quality, comprehensive care is accessible to all, regardless of a patient’s financial background.

How are responsible professionals and entrepreneurs shaping India’s healthcare into to realise India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 dream?

A healthy nation truly is a wealthy nation—and healthcare stands as one of the most critical pillars in realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. As responsible professionals, we are not only delivering care but also actively building the ecosystem. We operate a nursing college to train and empower a skilled paramedical workforce—vital for strengthening last-mile healthcare delivery. I’m particularly excited about our upcoming initiative, Metro University, which aims to shape the next generation of professionals and leaders.

Equally important is how we care for our ageing population. With this in mind, we launched Aurum in Gurugram—a state-of-theart senior living facility that redefines dignity, comfort, and security for the elderly. With India’s unparalleled entrepreneurial energy, growing focus on skilling, and healthcare innovation, I am confident that we are well on our way to transforming the Viksit Bharat 2047 dream into a tangible reality.

Cardiac Cath LabhealthcarehospitalsViksit Bharat