India is experiencing a spike in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), driven by increases in heart disease, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.

NCDs contribute to 65% of total deaths in the country, with estimates that this figure could rise to 73% in the next decade.¹ Left unaddressed, it is estimated NCDs will cost India approximately US$ 3.55 trillion in economic losses by 2030.² NCDs account for 40% of all hospital stays and approximately 37% of all recorded outpatient visits in the country.³ The money to fund out-of-pocket expenses for treatment often comes from household savings and money borrowed from relatives⁴. Household spending on healthcare frequently diverts resources away other critical areas like education or day-to-day essentials.⁵

Historically, access to diagnostics has been difficult in India given the low penetration of accredited medical laboratories. India currently has around 1200 accredited laboratories, serving a population of 1.4 billion, compared to the US, which has 260,000 accredited medical laboratories and a quarter of India’s population.⁶

Traditional pathology models require a patient to spend substantial time and money travelling to the laboratory to both deposit samples and pick up results, often resulting in loss of income and additional expenses for transport.⁷

On a macro level, tackling NCDs now is a critical priority to help India’s healthcare system avoid being overwhelmed by a wave of new patients suffering chronic diseases. Already, the market for key chronic specialties has increased by five times over the last 10 years. Healthcare infrastructure remains incomplete, and lacking, with only 12 beds per 10,000 people (versus 29 globally) and only 9 doctors and 17 nurses per 10,000 people (versus a global average of 16 and 38 respectively).

Redcliffe is an omni-channel diagnostics platform combining digital and offline offerings to provide Indian consumers with quality testing at their doorstep.

Redcliffe offers more than 3,600 pathology tests with pricing 25-60% less than similar tests sold by incumbent operators. Its network of 1,700+ collection centres is supported by 70+ specialist labs across 200+ cities and enables timely and accurate results to be sent to consumers within 24 to 48 hours of testing.

The company has built its pathology labs to international specifications, providing a reliable option for consumers in a highly fragmented market. It is estimated there are nearly 100,000 clinical labs operating in India, with the vast majority lacking sufficient accreditation and compliance.⁸ Redcliffe’s labs are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), or are in the process of obtaining such accreditation, and its staff all undertake comprehensive training.

Redcliffe’s diagnostics tests are to be as much as eight times more cost effective than national coverage for protecting against the consequences of cardiovascular disease, while its tests for diabetes are less than two thirds the cost of the cheapest comparable screening and telemedicine interventions.⁹

Package testing has also been an appealing offering, providing consumers with a broad view of their wellness through tests such as thyroid health, Vitamin D and blood sugar levels. The increased access to information encourages consumers to play a more active role in the management of their health, empowering them with quality information in a convenient and accessible service.

To date, Redcliffe has grown within and outside metropolitan centres, with the latter being the key engine for growth. The group target cities with a population of 750,000 and above in a bid to build a closely knit regional and satellite lab network. Roughly 65% of total customers are classified as low-income consumers living in households earning less than US$11.20 per day.