India has ranked third globally in the Ipsos Quality of Care Perception Index, behind Malaysia and Singapore, according to the Ipsos Health Service Report 2026. The survey found that 68% of Indian respondents rated the quality of healthcare available to them positively, while 64% said they trusted the healthcare system to provide the best possible treatment when needed.
The findings reflect public perceptions of healthcare rather than an assessment based directly on clinical outcomes, population health indicators or actual access to treatment.
Ipsos, a global market research company, surveyed adults across 32 countries and ranked them according to their perceptions of healthcare quality. Malaysia topped the list, followed by Singapore, India, Vietnam and Australia.
India Scores High on Access to Doctors and Pharmacies
One of the report’s key findings was India’s performance on appointment flexibility. India ranked first among the 32 surveyed countries, with 73% of respondents saying they could easily secure a doctor’s appointment when necessary.
The survey also found that 81% of Indian respondents reported easy access to pharmacies. These findings suggest that many respondents perceive routine access to healthcare services and medicines as relatively convenient.
However, positive perceptions of access and quality coexist with concerns about the cost of treatment.
Affordability Remains the Biggest Challenge
Despite the favourable ratings, healthcare affordability emerged as a major concern in India. According to the report, 74% of Indian respondents agreed that good-quality healthcare remained financially out of reach for significant sections of the population. Meanwhile, 42% identified affordability as the country’s most critical ongoing healthcare challenge.
Respondents also raised concerns about other aspects of healthcare. Poor-quality treatment was cited by 36%, low standards of cleanliness by 28%, and safety concerns by 25%.
The findings highlight a gap between the perceived availability of healthcare services and people’s ability to afford the treatment they need. While access to doctors and pharmacies received positive ratings, the cost of quality care remained a substantial concern.
Diabetes Tops India’s Health Concerns
The report also examined the health issues that concern people in India.
Diabetes emerged as the leading health priority, cited by 40% of respondents. Mental health followed at 37%, while stress was identified by 33%. Obesity concerned 20% of respondents, and drug abuse was cited by 14%.
The results point to widespread concern about chronic diseases and psychological well-being, alongside other public health challenges.
How the Survey Was Conducted
The Ipsos Health Service Report 2026 was based on a global survey conducted between July 13 and August 7, 2026. Ipsos interviewed 22,528 adults across 32 participating countries.
The respondents were online adults under the age of 75. In 13 larger countries, including India, the United States, Britain and Japan, approximately 1,000 people were surveyed in each country. In the remaining 19 countries, including Malaysia, Singapore and Hungary, approximately 500 people were interviewed per country.
The report combines respondents’ assessments of perceived healthcare quality, trust in treatment, accessibility and expectations about the future of local health services.
Although the results offer insight into public confidence in healthcare systems, perception-based rankings should not be confused with independent measurements of treatment effectiveness, health outcomes or universal access. The survey’s findings on affordability also underline that positive views of healthcare quality do not necessarily mean that treatment is financially accessible to everyone.
