\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 traditional and modern medicine, mental well-being, and specialised care, reflecting a comprehensive approach to personal health management.
Justdial, India’s No. 1 local search engine, has recorded a substantial 23% 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% increase in overall healthcare searches.
Perhaps the most telling trend is the remarkable 41% nationwide surge in searches for psychologists, with cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, and Kozhikode showing increases of 43%, 36%, and 29%, respectively. This dramatic rise in mental health-related queries signals a significant shift in attitudes as Indians increasingly recognise and prioritise mental well-being alongside physical health.
The focus on physical wellness is equally pronounced, with orthopaedic care searches rising by 38% across India. Cities like Lucknow and Delhi led this trend with 37% and 36% increases, respectively, while Bangalore and Patna both saw 32% 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% increase in searches for gynaecologists and obstetricians. Cities like Pune (33%), Hyderabad (31%), and Mumbai (29%) 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% in healthcare searches, with Delhi leading at 20%, followed by Hyderabad at 17% and Chennai at 16%, non-metro cities demonstrated even stronger growth. Chandigarh emerged as the frontrunner with a 31% increase, followed by Lucknow at 23% and Surat at 22%, suggesting a rapidly growing health consciousness in smaller urban centres.
Notably, the surge in searches for Ayurvedic doctors, showing an 18% increase nationwide with particularly strong showings in Delhi (29%) and Mumbai (21%), indicates a growing interest in traditional healing methods. This trend, combined with a steady 13% 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.