CareCone 2026 – India’s Emerging Chain of Micro Hospitals
By Neetu Nigam, TFT Delhi Correspondent
Since April 7, 1948, the world has commemorated the anniversary of the founding of the WHO. From 2026 onwards, Indians recognise this date as the founding day of micro hospitals, which are shaping the future of India’s health industry. In India, 63-65% of deaths are due to NCDs(Noncommunicable Diseases) such as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Over 80% of the workforce reports high work- related stress. Economic losses from lifestyle diseases exceed one lakh crore rupees annually. The demand for accessible, AI- driven infection -free care has never been higher.
However, healthcare and the corporate sector often operate in silos. Care con 2026 aims to bridge this gap by bringing together corporates, hospitals, policymakers, insurers, and innovators in one platform to reimagine India’s healthcare future.
Dr Naresh Jaiswal, Vice President and Head of Operations at Pacific OneHealth with 33 years of medical experience, said, “Coming from a small village in Himachal Pradesh and practising at both national and international levels, I believe primary healthcare in Tier 2 cities remains vulnerable. People travel over an hour for treatment, and I feel the government is not paying enough attention to this issue.”
He added, “We are launching from Delhi NCR, where large corporate hospitals are overwhelmed with patients and long waits cause some people to lose loved ones due to a lack of primary care. These big hospitals are meant for tertiary care, not primary treatment, and sometimes compromise on services. Our vision is to establish a thousand-bed network to provide quality health infrastructure in metro and Tier 2 cities.”
When TFT correspondent Neetu Nigam asked whether the government’s micro- level clinics, like Mohalla Clinics in Delhi and PHC- CHC centres nationwide, inspired the chain of micro hospitals, Dr. Jaiswal replied, “It’ s not that we are less equipped than big corporate hospitals in terms of facilities and services. We contribute to secondary care, ensuring patients receive immediate and urgent treatment without feeling lost. Our goal is to bridge primary and tertiary care with affordable solutions.
There is no doubt that health is often neglected in our country. Despite increased government funding, it remains inadequate relative to the population. We have Mohalla clinics, primary, and community hospitals, but many still prefer private hospitals. In short, those unwilling to visit government hospitals can choose micro hospitals as an accessible alternative.”