A recent study conducted by health-tech platform ekincare indicates a significant shift in the preferences of Indians regarding preventive health check-ups. According to the “Diagnostics vs Hospitals: Preventive Health Report 2025,” a remarkable 82% of users now prefer diagnostic centres over conventional hospitals for their health screening needs. The primary reasons behind this trend are the faster report delivery and fewer service-related issues associated with diagnostic centres, as compared to hospitals, which only garnered an 18% preference among users.
The report is based on data collected from more than 30,000 individuals across 300 cities in India, revealing a profound change in how preventive healthcare is accessed. For instance, in Mumbai, an astonishing 95% of preventive health check-ups were performed in diagnostic labs, while in Delhi-NCR, 87% of diagnostic reports were delivered within 48 hours. This efficiency stands in stark contrast to hospitals, where only 38% of such reports met the same timeframe. Bengaluru also reported a high satisfaction rate from diagnostics, with 84% of reports delivered promptly, whilst cities like Hyderabad and Pune mirrored this positive sentiment towards lab-based services.
The study further revealed that diagnostic centres were able to provide 71% of their reports within 48 hours, versus only 47% from hospitals, highlighting a clear advantage in speed. In terms of report accuracy, diagnostic labs demonstrated superior performance, as only 3.3% of their reports required corrections, compared to 4.4% for hospitals. Kiran Kalakuntla, CEO and founder of ekincare, commented that “people are clearly choosing speed and reliability,” emphasizing the growing reliance on diagnostic centres for preventive health checks.
This shift is especially significant in metropolitan areas, which comprise 75% of India’s diagnostic volume, showcasing a changing landscape in preventive medicine and patient preferences. The comprehensive results of this study not only underscore the importance of timely and accurate health reporting but also reflect a broader trend towards more efficient healthcare solutions in India.
-Raja Aditya
