23 per cent increase in healthcare-related searches across the country: Justdial, ET HealthWorld
Mumbai: As India navigates through 2024, a significant shift in health consciousness is becoming increasingly apparent, with citizens actively seeking diverse healthcare solutions. This evolving health awareness spans across traditional and modern medicine, mental wellbeing, and specialised care, reflecting a comprehensive approach to personal health management.
Justdial has recorded a substantial 23 per cent increase in healthcare-related searches across the country, comparing January-October 2024 to the same period in 2023. This surge in health-related queries paints a compelling picture of changing healthcare priorities among Indians, with particularly strong growth seen in non-metropolitan cities, which registered a 25 per cent increase in overall healthcare searches.
Perhaps the most telling trend is the remarkable 41 per cent nationwide surge in searches for psychologists, with cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Kozhikode showing increases of 43 per cent, 36 per cent, and 29 per cent, respectively. This dramatic rise in mental health-related queries signals a significant shift in attitudes as Indians increasingly recognise and prioritise mental wellbeing alongside physical health.
The focus on physical wellness is equally pronounced, with orthopaedic care searches rising by 38 per cent across India. Cities like Lucknow and Delhi led this trend with 37 per cent and 36 per cent increases, respectively, while Bangalore and Patna both saw 32 per cent growth. This attention to bone and joint health goes hand in hand with a growing emphasis on women’s health, as evidenced by a 28 per cent increase in searches for gynaecologists and obstetricians. Cities like Pune (33 per cent), Hyderabad (31 per cent), and Mumbai (29 per cent) showed particularly strong interest in women’s healthcare services.
The data reveals an interesting contrast between metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. While metro cities showed a collective increase of 15 per cent in healthcare searches, with Delhi leading at 20 per cent, followed by Hyderabad at 17 per cent and Chennai at 16 per cent, non-metro cities demonstrated even stronger growth. Chandigarh emerged as the frontrunner with a 31 per cent increase, followed by Lucknow at 23 per cent and Surat at 22 per cent, suggesting a rapidly growing health consciousness in smaller urban centres.
Notably, the surge in searches for Ayurvedic doctors, showing an 18 per cent increase nationwide with particularly strong showings in Delhi (29 per cent) and Mumbai (21 per cent), indicates a growing interest in traditional healing methods. This trend, combined with a steady 13 per cent increase in searches for general physicians, suggests that Indians are increasingly adopting a balanced approach to healthcare, combining modern medicine with traditional wellness practices.
This comprehensive shift in healthcare seeking behaviour, as reflected in Justdial’s search data, indicates a maturing understanding of health among Indians. From mental wellness to reproductive health, from specialised care to traditional medicine, the data points to an encouraging trend: Indians are taking a more proactive and holistic approach to their health and well-being.
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