India Ranks Third in Ipsos Quality of Care Perception Index 2026
Why in News?
India has ranked third in the Ipsos Quality of Care Perception Index 2026, behind Malaysia and Singapore, according to the Ipsos Health Service Report 2026. The report highlights positive public perceptions of healthcare quality, accessibility and trust in India, while identifying affordability as a major challenge.
According to Ipsos, 68% of Indian respondents positively rated the quality of healthcare available to them. The findings are based on public perceptions and should not be interpreted as a direct ranking of clinical outcomes or overall healthcare performance.
Key Findings of the Ipsos Health Service Report 2026
Ipsos conducted the survey from 13 July to 7 August 2026, covering 22,528 adults across 32 countries. Major findings include:
- Global ranking: Malaysia ranked first, Singapore second and India third in the Quality of Care Perception Index.
- Perceived healthcare quality: 68% of Indian respondents rated the healthcare available to them positively.
- Access to doctors: 73% of Indian respondents said they could obtain a doctor’s appointment when needed, the highest result among the countries surveyed.
- Affordability: The report identified the cost of healthcare as an important challenge for India.
- Public trust: Indian respondents expressed relatively high levels of trust in their healthcare system.
The index considers public satisfaction, trust, perceived access to doctors and pharmacies, and whether healthcare systems are viewed as treating people equally.
Understanding Perception-Based Healthcare Rankings
A perception-based index measures people’s experiences, opinions and confidence in a healthcare system. It can provide useful information about accessibility, affordability and public satisfaction. However, positive perceptions do not necessarily indicate better clinical outcomes, lower mortality or universal access to essential services. Survey findings are also influenced by respondents’ experiences, expectations and socioeconomic circumstances. Therefore, the Ipsos ranking should be interpreted as a comparison of public perceptions across the 32 participating countries, rather than every country in the world.
Comparison with the Global Burden of Disease Study
The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study uses a different methodology to assess healthcare access and quality. Its Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index draws on mortality from causes considered amenable to effective healthcare, alongside standardised health data. In the GBD 2016 assessment published in The Lancet in 2018, India ranked 145th among 195 countries and territories. This ranking is not directly comparable with the Ipsos index because the two assessments measure different aspects of healthcare performance.
Healthcare Governance in India
Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, public health, sanitation, hospitals and dispensaries are primarily State List subjects. The Union Government also plays an important role through national health programmes, funding, policy coordination and centrally sponsored schemes. India’s healthcare system includes public and private providers delivering primary, secondary and tertiary care. Improving affordability, strengthening public health infrastructure, addressing workforce shortages and reducing regional disparities remain important priorities.
Important Facts for Exams
- Report: Ipsos Health Service Report 2026.
- India’s position: Third in the Quality of Care Perception Index.
- Top-ranked countries: Malaysia, Singapore and India.
- Positive healthcare quality rating in India: 68%.
- Respondents reporting access to a doctor’s appointment when needed: 73%.
- Survey coverage: 32 countries and 22,528 adults.
- Different assessment: GBD 2016 HAQ Index ranked India 145th among 195 countries and territories.
