The Indian healthcare system is moving faster than it ever has before, with AI-assisted diagnostics entering Tier 2 hospitals and the rapid increase in e-commerce for medical devices. This entire ecosystem is changing in how medical equipment India is acquired, how it is used, and what level of trust is placed in its quality. The transformation that is occurring in the medical equipment sector carries additional meaning for rehabilitation and therapy specialists.
India’s Medical Equipment Market Outlook 2030
According to 2023 statistics, the Indian medical device and equipment market was valued at about $11 billion, and it is projected to grow to over $50 billion by 2030. Source
What is particularly exciting about this moment in time for the medical equipment India ecosystem is that we are experiencing a double disruption. AI-based imaging devices and robotic surgical systems are now being utilized in corporate hospitals at the top end of the market, while the lowest end of the market is now able to access affordable, portable, and therapy-specific devices through their primary health centre or rehabilitation clinic located in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, where they had previously been underserved.
Rising Popularity of Occupational Therapy Equipment
Occupational therapy equipment is one of the fastest growing segments of India’s rehabilitation equipment market. The growing rate of development disorders, neurological issues and a growing number of elderly people in India requiring long-term support for their needs has all had a significant impact on the demand for high-quality occupational therapy equipment.
What is occupational therapy equipment?
Occupational therapy equipment covers a large number of products within a very broad category including, but not limited to, fine motor skill development; sensory integration equipment such as therapy swings, weighted blankets, tactile panels, and sensory bins; adaptive daily living aids; hand therapy tools and putties; cognitive rehabilitation kits; visual perception products; and children’s play-based therapy equipment. All these sub-sets of occupational therapy equipment are required to be produced using clinical-grade materials and to meet extensive safety requirements.
Reasons for increased demand for occupational therapy equipment in India
In India alone, there are estimated to be between 8 and 10 million children with an autism spectrum disorder, the elderly population in India is rapidly growing, requiring assistance with activities of daily living, and there is an increasing demand for rehabilitation due to post-stroke care, which the public healthcare system is in the process of scaling up to meet. At the same time, there has been a rapid increase in the number of special schools, integrated education programmes and early intervention centres, which all require high-quality, well-specified occupational therapy equipment from reputable suppliers.
Challenge of sourcing quality rehab equipment
The challenge of sourcing quality rehab equipment was, until quite recently, a difficult task, requiring navigation of fragmented access to import channels, long delays for delivery, and continued uncertainty regarding after sale service. The introduction of specialist Medical Equipment Online platforms – particularly those that are focused on therapy/ rehabilitation – has transformed the way rehab equipment are procured in India; as now ISO certified equipment can be procured at the best price possible.
How do I find Medical Equipment at the Best Price in India?
With the rapid growth of the rehab equipment market in India, buyers but now have increased choice (and consequently increased power) when purchasing rehab and therapy equipment. Below we will describe what savvy procurement teams and therapists are doing to ensure they are obtaining quality rehab/therapy equipment at the best prices available.
15 years of therapy-specific experience
Founded in 2011, Keeiko focuses solely on rehabilitation/therapy products of the highest quality. They don’t sell supplies to hospitals or diagnostic devices; they only sell rehabilitation/therapy products. Because of this focused offering, every one of 132 products has been selected, tested and supported by Keeiko with the clinical end user in mind. This allows Keeiko employees to respond meaningfully when a physiotherapist or occupational therapist calls for information about specific buoyancy specifications for an aquatic therapy flotation device or the sensory characteristics of a tactile wall panel since they understand how the product actually works in a clinical environment.
Leading Physiotherapy equipment online supplier
With 132+ products across five therapy disciplines (38 Physiotherapy, 45 Occupational Therapy, 24 Aquatic Therapy, 19 Sensory Integration, and 6 Speech Therapy), Keeiko provides one of the largest catalogues of therapy equipment in India by purchasing equipment from a single, accountable supplier. By working with a single supplier, therapy departments can consolidate purchases, streamline vendor management, and receive lower prices on medical products in India through volume-based pricing.
View the Keeiko product catalogue
Conclusion:
The landscape of India’s medical devices and therapy sector has hit a real turning point. Continued government reforms in regulatory (FDA) clarity, explosive growth in domestic manufacturing capabilities, the rapid growth of Medical Equipment Online Platforms, a greater understanding of the long-term value of Rehabilitation and the connection to overall health have all paved the way for massive transformation in this sector.
Therapists and therapist institutions (a Paediatric Clinic that is utilizing OT tools, an Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility that uses PT aids, or a Special Needs School using Sensory Tools) have never had a better opportunity to access quality medical devices at the best prices in India