Suneeta Reddy calls healthcare and medical tourism as India’s next engines of services-led growth

New Delhi: Suneeta Reddy, President, AIMA and Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, set out a clear blueprint for services-led growth with healthcare at its core, while speaking at the 52nd National Management Convention of the All India Management Association (AIMA).

She also pushed for a sharper national push for medical value travel to drive jobs, foreign exchange and inclusive development.

Suneeta Reddy was speaking at the high-powered panel moderated by Sunil Kant Munjal, Past President, AIMA and Chairman, Hero Enterprise on “Global Trends and Future Strategies: Resilience and Adaptability” alongside Vishal Kampani, Vice President, AIMA and Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JM Financial Ltd and Sanjay Kirloskar, Past President, AIMA and Chairman & Managing Director, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.

Reddy emphasized that India’s services sector is ready to take centerstage. She noted that services have been expanding at 11–15% annually and already power India’s exports. “With a demographic dividend unlike any other, this is the time to invest in skilling and job creation in services, especially healthcare. India can be a global exporter of knowledge, people and services,” she said. Pointing to the external account, she added, “Our $90 billion trade deficit with the US can be offset by exporting services. Medical Value Travel alone is a $100 billion global opportunity by 2030; India should target a $20 billion share.”

On healthcare financing and capacity, Reddy called insurance “the key enabler” to unlock scale and access. “India has just one bed per 1,000 people versus the WHO’s recommendation of three. Bridging the gap will require building 42 lakh additional beds, and insurance must catalyse investment without inflating costs,” she said, urging a value-chain approach where insurers, hospitals, suppliers and clinicians collaborate to keep care affordable while improving outcomes.

Reddy also spotlighted India’s natural edge in integrated wellness. She shared that Apollo Hospitals has acquired a 60% stake in an Ayurvedic company with a presence in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai. “Integrating Ayurveda with modern medicine can benefit chronic disease management. We’ve seen exceptional outcomes in inflammatory conditions, and this India-led model deserves global attention,” she said.

On technology, Reddy described Artificial Intelligence as a powerful complement to clinicians. “AI has what we sometimes lose – patience. It works until a solution is found. In a field where consistency, empathy and outcomes matter, this is transformational,” she said, underlining AI’s role in decision support, early warning systems and precision care.

Delivering the keynote and welcoming the Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Reddy linked tourism’s resurgence with healthcare and wellness. She cited the momentum in spiritual and cultural tourism – from the Kumbh Mela’s seamless handling of millions of visitors to transformative projects in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and called for an integrated “Experience India” agenda that combines culture, adventure, wellness and medical care. “With e-visa facilitation and world-class clinical outcomes, India can be the world’s most trusted destination for healing and wellness. A focused push on medical value travel can add $20 billion in foreign exchange, create high-quality jobs and strengthen India’s services surplus,” she said.