7 Top Healthcare Professions to Explode in Demand by 2030 in India

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants

India has been going through the problem of shortage of doctors for decades now. In fact, in some of the rural and remote areas, there are no doctors available at all. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can become the frontline workers in those areas. They deliver many of the routine and preventative care services, reducing burden on physicians and improving access to care — especially in underserved or rural areas.

Many analyses anticipate strong double-digit growth (20–40%+) by 2030 for advanced-practice nursing and PA roles, driven by expanding primary care needs. At present, the doctor-population ratio in India is 1:1,263 and the nurse-population ratio is 2.1 per 1,000 population. Hence, there is going to be a massive demand for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the coming days.

Relevant Courses to Pursue after Class 12:

• Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery

• BSc Nursing

• BSc Physician Assistant

Related Article: Why BSc Nursing is a Great Choice for PCB Students for Jobs in India and Abroad

Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists

With factors like ageing population, rehabilitation requirements after surgeries (orthopedic, cardiovascular, neurological), increase in sports-related injuries, and lifestyle issues, there is a growing demand for physiotherapists and occupational therapists. These professionals play a vital role in helping patients recover mobility, manage chronic pain, and/or regain daily-living skills after injury or illness.

India has only 0.59 physiotherapists per 10,000 population as of now; and the minimum requirement is 1.0. As per projection, there could be 20 - 25% growth in demand for rehab-support roles by 2030. The medical rehabilitation services market in India is projected to reach a revenue of USD 11.2 Billion by 2030.

Also Read: why Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) course is emerging as a smart career choice after Class 12.

Relevant Courses to Pursue after Class 12:

• Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT)

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT)

Mental Health Professionals (Counselors, Therapists, Psychologists)

In today’s era, a lot of people are affected by stress, burnout, anxiety, and depression, especially post-COVID. Additionally, with an ageing population, cases of neuro-degenerative disorders like dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease are also increasing. Hence, there is going to be massive demand for counsellors, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

As per current data, 15% of adults need mental health intervention and there is a massive treatment gap of 70-90%. In India, we have only 0.75 psychologists or psychiatrists per 100,000 population against WHO’s recommendation of 3 per 100,000. Unaddressed mental health issues could cost India over USD 1 Trillion by 2030.

Relevant Courses to Pursue after Class 12:

BSc Psychology

BSc Counselling Psychology

BSc Behavioural and Neuro Psychology

Telehealth Nurses and Virtual Care Coordinators

Post-COVID the trend for virtual or remote healthcare practice is permanent. Telehealth nurses and virtual care coordinators who can work with remote-monitoring devices, patient portals, wearable data, and AI-augmented triage systems will be in high demand. As telemedicine and remote care expand globally, such roles will be essential to deliver continuous, accessible care.

Image Credit: Ken Research

There is already a rising demand for remote consultations. In fact, this can really solve a lot of problems for the people based in the rural areas in India. The telehealth market in India is estimated to grow at a rate of 20 - 28% by 2030.

Relevant Courses:

Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery

BSc Nursing

PG Diploma in Telehealth

Genetic Counselors

Genomic testing and genetic screening are becoming increasingly popular in urban India. With India witnessing an increase in lifestyle diseases, cancer risk assessment, personalized medicine, prenatal screening, and chronic-disease risk profiling will become more common. Hence, there will be a massive demand for genetic counselors. Interpreting complex genetic data, explaining risks, guiding patients, and collaborating with clinicians will make this a rapidly growing niche.

Image Credit: Ken Research

Genetic counselling plays an important role in modern medicine by translating complex genomic data into personalized medicine and healthcare. Globally, the role of genetic counselors has grown immensely. Although India is still pretty underdeveloped. However, given the recent trends, the job outlook for genetic counselors in India looks promising.

In recent times, several hospitals have tied up with genetic testing providers throughout India. Diagnostic laboratories are also entering this space. Plus, people are also becoming more aware of genetics and hereditary disorders. The genetic testing market in India was valued at around USD 70 million in 2024 and is expected to grow at a rate of around 20 - 22% by 2030.

Relevant Courses after 12th:

• BSc Genetics

• BSc Biotechnology

• B.Tech Biotechnology

Medical and Health Services Managers / Administrators

As healthcare delivery becomes more tech-enabled, data-rich, and complex, there will be a growing need for personnel who will be integrating clinical data, working with multidisciplinary teams, and leveraging AI tools. There will be a massive demand for administrators, operations experts and leaders who can understand and manage medical workflows and technology.

Interestingly, not only the metros and urban areas, but the rural areas are also witnessing an increasing demand for hospital administrators and healthcare management professionals.

Back in 2017, there were around 3,463 healthcare management professionals in India. However, as per various studies, the requirement at that time was 11,304 professionals. As of now, India has 0.72 healthcare management professionals (HMPs) per 100,000 population against the minimum requirement of 2.97. So, as per estimates, there will be a 30 - 35% growth in healthcare management roles by 2030.

Relevant Courses:

• BSc, BBA, or BVoc Healthcare Management

• BSc / BBA Hospital Administration

• BSc Community Health Administration

• PG Diploma in Hospital Administration

• MBA in Healthcare Management

• Master of Public Health (MPH)

Diagnostics: MRIT and MLT Professionals

Diagnostics is the backbone of the modern medical and healthcare system. 60 - 80% medical decision-making is based on diagnostic reports - be it X-Ray, MRI scan, ultrasonography, or blood test report. This field is going to be ruled by:

• MRIT: Medical Radiology (or Radiography) and Imaging Technology

• MLT: Medical Laboratory Technology

Image Credit: Ken Research

In the field of diagnostics, imaging technicians & medical radiologists (I would actually call them radiographers) and medical laboratory technologists (e.g. pathology technicians, clinical biochemists, medical microbiologists, etc.) are the unsung superheroes.

Here are a couple of short videos on radiology (radiography) jobs:

Additionally, AI is going to play a massive role in the diagnostic space. So, the demand for AI-skilled diagnostic professionals will be even more in the coming years.

Image Credit: TechSci Research

WIth the growing expansion of diagnostic chains throughout India, not only the metros or Tier-1 cities, but smaller towns are also seeing an increase in diagnostic services. According to rough estimates, Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities contribute 40% of the total revenue in the diagnostics space. By 2030, around 140 million households will be in the middle-class category. So, it’s estimated that there will be an increase in diagnostic services by 3 - 4 times. The Indian diagnostic services market is estimated to grow at a rate 12% and reach USD 15 - 16 Billion by 2030.

Relevant Courses after 12th:

BSc Medical Radiology and Imaging Technology (BMRIT)

BSc Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT)

So, are you still in doubt about whether to pursue a career in the allied and healthcare space? Here are two more relevant articles for you - Why You Should Pursue Allied & Healthcare Courses (in 2026 and Beyond) and Top Allied and Healthcare Courses in India after 12th.