New Delhi: Financial constraints and slow financing approvals are emerging as a major barrier in India’s elective healthcare sector, with nearly six in 10 patients leaving clinics without treatment after consultation, according to a nationwide survey by CarePay, a fintech platform for healthcare financial inclusion.
The survey of 3,100 wellness and elective healthcare clinics found that financial liquidity not lack of patient intent is the biggest reason for treatment drop-offs after consultation. Procedures such as IVF, dermatology, cosmetology, dental and wellness treatments often require upfront payments, with IVF cycles costing around
Rs. 1.2 to 1.5 lakh, pushing many patients to seek financing options.
Clinics reported that slow approval processes, uncertain financing outcomes, or outright rejection of loans frequently lead patients to abandon treatment plans at the payment stage.
According to the study, 41 per cent of premium clinics say most patients now demand no-cost EMI options, and 89 per cent of clinics recommend embedded multi-lender financing systems to improve treatment conversion rates.
“Patients are not refusing treatment because they cannot pay upfront. Wellness care in India has become aspirational and high-ticket, but household cash flows haven’t kept pace,” said Gaurav Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO, CarePay.
The survey highlights that over 52 per cent of clinics experience more than 20 per cent patient drop-offs post consultation when financing is unavailable, while 16 per cent report drop-offs exceeding 40 per cent.
Clinics using embedded financing solutions reported faster treatment decisions (51 per cent ), fewer drop-offs (30 per cent ), and higher treatment value (19 per cent). The ability to check financing eligibility within 30 seconds was cited as a key factor in maintaining patient momentum after consultations.
India’s wellness and elective healthcare market, estimated at over $50 billion in 2025 and projected to reach $100 billion by 2030, remains largely out-of-pocket and credit-underserved, making financing infrastructure increasingly critical for clinics seeking to convert consultations into treatments.
