Indian healthcare sector is growing at a rapid rate. It has been estimated that by year 2020, the sector will grow at a cumulative average rate of 16.5% and will touch US$ 280 billion (Rs. 18,48,000 Crore) revenue mark (KPMG India). In terms of workforce requirement, it is estimated that the sector will create 40 million (4 Crore) new jobs (reported by AIMA in collaboration with BCG and CII). As of date, hospitals constitute the largest segment of the healthcare sector and account for approximately 70% of its revenue. For managing the rapidly growing hospitals, the demand for professionally trained hospital administrators is increasing rapidly. The rapid growth in demand for qualified hospital administrators is also backed by exiting evidence that suggest that professionally managed hospitals generally have superior clinical outcomes, higher degree of patient satisfaction, and have higher likelihood of patients recommending the hospital to others.
In India, there is severe paucity of professionally trained hospital administrators. Limited numbers of academic institutes are focused on producing trained hospital administrators, while, the demand for qualified administrators is increasing rapidly. As a result, in many hospitals, senior practicing doctors are also performing the role of administrator. However, it places a significant demand on these doctors, making it difficult for them to devote adequate time to both clinical and administrative work. As a result, either clinical or administrative work gets neglected, ultimately resulting in poor quality of care and/or poor patient satisfaction. Lack of trained administrators also result in inadequate second line of leadership in many hospitals and pose a serious challenge to the sustainability of healthcare initiatives taken by the hospitals. Hence, professionally qualified hospital administrators not only have a very good career prospects but also are pivotal to the growth of hospitals in India. They will have self-satisfaction of serving the suffering people in time of need in the hospitals.