§1How big it is

§2Ways to get started

  • Diagnostic collection centre or pathology lab
  • Day-care / dialysis centre
  • Home nursing and elder care
  • Physiotherapy clinic
  • Small nursing home empanelled under PM-JAY

See the Business Encyclopedia

§3Hubs and clusters

  • Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, NCR, Mumbai, Kochi - well-known medical hubs (not from an official list)

§4Licences and registration

  1. Clinical establishment registration under the Clinical Establishments Act 2010 or state act
  2. AERB licence for X-ray, CT and other radiation equipment
  3. Bio-Medical Waste authorisation from SPCB
  4. PCPNDT registration for ultrasound
  5. Fire NOC; drug licence for in-house pharmacy
  6. NABH / NABL accreditation (optional, needed for many insurers)
  7. Udyam Registration (MSME) - free, online, PAN + Aadhaar based
  8. GST registration (mandatory above turnover threshold or for inter-state supply / e-commerce sale)
  9. Shops & Establishment registration or Factory Licence (Factories Act / state rules) depending on size and power use
  10. Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the State Pollution Control Board - category (Red/Orange/Green/White) as per CPCB 2025 harmonised list; White category is exempt from consent
  11. IEC (Importer Exporter Code) from DGFT if you import or export

§5Regulators

  • Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; National Health Authority (PM-JAY empanelment)
  • State Health Departments (Clinical Establishments Act or state nursing home acts)
  • NMC (doctors), INC (nursing), AERB (X-ray/CT radiation safety)
  • CPCB/SPCB (Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules 2016)

§6Government help

  • AB PM-JAY empanelment for cashless patients [PIB Jan 2026]
  • PM-ABHIM infrastructure support [PIB Jan 2026]
  • Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABHA, Health Facility Registry)
  • Cross-sector schemes that also apply (detailed in the programmes file): Udyam benefits, PMEGP, PM Mudra Yojana, CGTMSE credit guarantee, Stand-Up India, MSE-CDP (cluster development), RAMP, MSME ZED and Lean certification, MSME Champions, TReDS, Startup India (SISFS seed fund, Fund of Funds, CGSS), RoDTEP, EPCG, Advance Authorisation, Districts as Export Hubs, ODOP (One District One Product)

All schemes

§7For exports

  • Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) covers products; medical value travel via Heal in India - not checked

§8Pros and cons

Merits

  • Demand rising; PM-JAY and insurance widen paying patients [PIB Jan 2026]

Demerits

  • Capital-heavy for hospitals; doctor and nurse availability
  • PM-JAY package rates are low and payments can be delayed
  • High medico-legal and compliance load

Sources

  1. PIB year-end review: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare - Initiatives & Achievements 2025 (1 Jan 2026)