India has secured the third position globally in the Ipsos Quality of Care Perception Index 2026, ranking behind Malaysia and Singapore, according to the latest Ipsos Health Service Report. The findings highlight strong public confidence in healthcare quality and access in India, while underscoring persistent concerns over affordability, patient safety and the capacity of healthcare services.

The survey, conducted across 32 countries and involving 22,528 adults, found that 68% of Indian respondents rated the quality of healthcare available to them positively, while 64% expressed confidence that the healthcare system would provide the best treatment when needed. Malaysia ranked first, Singapore second and India third in the country comparison.

India also recorded the highest result among the 32 surveyed countries for ease of obtaining a doctor’s appointment, with 73% of respondents saying they could secure an appointment when needed. Additionally, 81% reported easy access to pharmacies, indicating favourable public perceptions of access to essential healthcare services.

The survey identified a significant gap between confidence in healthcare and its affordability. 42% of respondents identified the cost of treatment as a major healthcare challenge, while 74% agreed that many people in India cannot afford good healthcare. Concerns about the healthcare system being overstretched were reported by 59% of respondents, and 62% said they experienced long waits for doctor appointments.

Quality and safety concerns also featured in the findings. Poor-quality treatment was cited by 36% of respondents, inadequate cleanliness standards by 28%, and poor safety by 25%.

The report also highlighted public expectations around future healthcare improvements. 54% of Indians expected healthcare quality in their local area to improve, compared with a global average of 31%. Diabetes emerged as the leading health priority, cited by 40% of respondents, followed by mental health at 37%, stress at 33% and obesity at 20%.

Ipsos conducted the online survey between July 13 and August 7, 2026. Approximately 1,000 respondents were surveyed in 13 countries, including India, while samples of around 500 were collected in the remaining 19 countries. The global country average was not adjusted for population size.

The results offer an encouraging picture of public confidence and perceived accessibility in India. However, the affordability findings underline the importance of expanding financially accessible care, strengthening healthcare infrastructure, improving patient safety and addressing waiting times. The ranking should be interpreted as a measure of public perception rather than a direct assessment of clinical outcomes or the performance of every healthcare facility.