The healthcare industry will grow at a brisk pace despite India facing a crunch situation in ensuring enough manpower supply, especially at the management levels according to Shiv Raman Dugal, the chairman of Institute of Clinical Research, India (ICRI).

"Today, approximately 100,000 people serve in health management positions from middle management to CEO positions in organizations. As per the employment trends and industry estimates, this figure of healthcare management professionals is estimated to reach 2, 96,000 in 2011 and 7,00,000 professionals by the year 2012. It is anticipated that the health care employment will grow at 15 per cent per year. India is, therefore, undergoing a drastic change in the growth of healthcare services," Dugal told Pharmabiz, while analysing the trends in the sector.

The rate of healthcare industry in India is moving ahead neck to neck with the pharmaceuticals and software industries of the country. Much has been said and done in the health care sector for bringing about improvement. Till date, approximately 12 per cent of the scope offered by the healthcare industry in India has been tapped. The healthcare industry in India is reckoned to be the engine of the economy in the years to come, he said.

The health care sector encompasses health care instruments, healthcare in the retail market, hospital enrolled to the hospital networks. Rising income levels and a growing elderly population are all factors that contribute towards the growth in this sector. In addition, changing demographics, disease profiles and the shift from chronic to lifestyle diseases in the country with rising per capita income has led to increased spending on healthcare by community, he said, adding that the ICRI has devised courses in accordance with the growth potentials of the sector.

Quoting the recent 'Ma foi' Employment report, he said the healthcare sector had reported the greatest employment generation of 52,752 new jobs in Q1. It also stated that healthcare is creating the maximum number of new jobs for freshers at 36.7 per cent, said, pointing out that the country still did not have enough supply.