Fortis Healthcare Expands Obesity Clinics Amid Rising Drug Demand

Fortis Healthcare is prioritizing obesity treatment and developing obesity clinics throughout India to address increasing demand for weight-loss drugs and therapies.

The initiative is taking place as India is set to be the world's second-largest population of obese people in 2050.

The arrival of blockbuster weight-loss drugs like Mounjaro and Wegovy has led to a substantial increase in patient interest within just months of their approvals. Both drugs have seen sales more than double after arriving in 2022, reflecting the tremendous demand for medical treatments for obesity.

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"We are witnessing a sharp rise in patient interest and demand for structured guidance on weight management and newer obesity-related therapies," Fortis Managing Director and Chief Executive, Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, said in an interview earlier this month.

Fortis Healthcare, which is partially owned by IHH Healthcare from Malaysia, currently operates 28 hospitals and is management of Gleneagle facilities in India. The business has previously established five obesity clinics in Delhi and outlying areas including Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. There are plans to open 13 more in Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Haryana, which will house endocrinologists, bariatric surgeons, nutritionists, dieticians, and psychologists who specialize in obesity treatment.

According to Pharmarack, the obesity drugs market has increased five times since 2021 to 6.28 billion rupees or $71.16 million. Analysts expect that the market will grow faster when local generic manufacturers launch cheaper versions of Novo's product next year. In the future, Fortis plans to invest 7 billion rupees in four years to grow hospital capacity in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, and Punjab, with a target of high-teens revenue growth.