The Indian hospital sector has experienced a substantial increase in investments, particularly from private equity firms.
Over the past six years, investments have grown by nearly six times, reaching a total of $4 billion this year. This marks a significant milestone, with the sector witnessing billion-dollar investments for two consecutive years.
Investors are showing confidence in the healthcare sector due to factors like increased patient awareness, particularly post-COVID-19. They are targeting various segments, including multi-specialty hospitals, regional healthcare providers, and super-specialty hospitals.
Examples of such deals include Ontario Teachers acquiring regional and multi-specialty play Sahyadri Hospitals, Temasek acquiring a majority stake in Manipal Hospitals, and IIFL PE investing in South-focused Kauvery Hospitals.
Additionally, there have been investments in single-specialty healthcare providers, including eye care, dental care, and infertility chains.
India currently has a significant shortfall in
healthcare infrastructure, with just over 0.5 hospital beds per 1,000 people as per WHO. This is considerably lower than China (4.3 beds per 1,000 people) and North America (2.8 beds per 1,000 people). The infrastructure gap investors say presents a compelling investment opportunity say experts.
The private healthcare market in India is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 12-14 percent as per PWC, making it a lucrative sector for investors. The market is valued at around $48 billion.
Investors anticipate further growth driven by factors such as increasing health insurance penetration (currently at 0.4 percent), a greater emphasis on preventive healthcare, and expansion into smaller cities and towns.
However, valuations in the healthcare sector have expanded significantly. The EV/EBITDA multiples have increased from 10-15x before the COVID-19 pandemic to 15-20x at present.
Well-located multi or single-specialty healthcare providers can command even higher valuations, with some reaching 15-25x EV/EBITDA. For example, Indira IVF was at around 20x and Manipal over 25x. Valuations have also been aided by EBITDA growing 5-10 percent post-COVID-19, along with other factors such as the scarcity premium.
While healthcare is currently a top sector for private equity funds in India, experts suggest that the pipeline for fresh investments may be slowing down, indicating there could be potential challenges in finding suitable opportunities in the future.
First Published: Sept 22, 2023 3:30 PM IST
