With increasing awareness about early disease detection and proactive health management, and growing cases of lifestyle ailments such as diabetes and high blood pressure, preventive health checks are rising rapidly in India. According to a report released by healthcare testing company Redcliffe Labs, about 60% of their diagnostic bookings are now preventive rather than illness-driven, “indicating that a growing number of consumers are choosing to monitor their health proactively rather than waiting for symptoms to appear”.
Incidentally, Gen Z turns out to be the most wellness-focused adult cohort, with nearly two-thirds of their diagnostic engagement linked to non-chronic and preventive health needs. “In contrast, millennials demonstrate a more balanced approach to healthcare, with preventive and chronic health-related bookings contributing almost equally to their overall diagnostic activity,” says the Redcliffe Labs report.
The growing trend seems to be visible across major pathology testing labs in India. At Agilus Diagnostics, preventive care currently contributes approximately 13-15% of its overall business and has recorded a robust growth of nearly 30% year-on-year in 2025, as per Deepak Narang, its COO. “This growth reflects a shift in consumer behaviour, with more individuals opting for regular health screenings to identify risks associated with metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other lifestyle-related conditions before symptoms appear,” says Narang, adding, “The growing adoption of preventive health testing continues to be a key driver for the diagnostics industry.”
Similarly, at Mahajan Imaging and Labs, diagnostics now account for nearly 70-80% of the overall testing volume, while preventive health screening contributes around 10-20%. “There has been a noticeable increase in awareness around preventive health, particularly among individuals with a family history of chronic diseases, corporate professionals and those becoming more proactive about long-term wellness. As healthcare increasingly shifts towards early detection and risk-based management, preventive screening is expected to play a much larger role,” adds Dr Shelly Mahajan, lab director at Mahajan Imaging and Labs.
At Dr Lal Path Labs, a leading medical laboratory company, while the share of patients opting for preventive check ups is lower, the trend is, however, growing, as per Shankha Banerjee, CEO, Dr Lal Path Labs. “Preventive testing remains a small but growing segment. Preventive and wellness testing currently accounts for less than 10% of our overall testing volumes, but we are witnessing a steady increase in demand, particularly in urban markets where health awareness is rising.”
Growing adoption
Today, the strongest adoption for preventive health checks is coming from tier 1 and 2 cities, while tier 3 markets represent the next big opportunity. “The scale of the trend is evident through TruHealth,” says Surendran Chemmenkotil, managing director of health company Metropolis Healthcare.
TruHealth, the company’s preventive and wellness portfolio, contributed approximately 19-20% of the total revenue, growing at 24% year-on-year in Q4 FY26 and 27% year-on-year for FY26.
“Importantly, preventive screening is also evolving in form. Consumers increasingly want health packages that go beyond a basic blood test to include services such as vital checks, ECG, doctor consults, personalised diet and nutrition and basic radiology,” adds Chemmenkotil.
“We are also seeing rising demand in specialised offerings such as TruHealth Cancer Screen 360, Women & Child Health panels covering reproductive health and fertility, cardiometabolic monitoring, cognitive health testing (mind) and genomics-led preventive panels,” shares Chemmenkotil.
Incidentally, there is a growing awareness across age groups. At Metropolis, for instance, preventive health check-ups are seeing the strongest traction among adults in the 30+ age group, particularly working professionals managing lifestyle-related risks such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders and cardiovascular conditions. “The 40-60 cohort is also emerging as an important segment, given the rising burden of chronic disease and the need for regular monitoring,” says Chemmenkotil.
At Agilus too, preventive health check-ups are increasingly being adopted by younger working professionals, particularly those in the 30-40 years’ age group, owing to rising lifestyle-related health risks and greater awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis, as per Narang. “This is followed by individuals in the 40-50 years age bracket, who are proactively monitoring their health to manage age-related risks,” he adds.
Dr Lal Path Labs, meanwhile, sees about 70-75% of their preventive health check-up volumes coming from individuals aged 40 years and above, with the 40-60-age group contributing the largest share. “This reflects a growing focus on early detection and proactive health management among middle-aged adults,” says Banerjee.
On the other hand, Mahajan Imaging and Labs’ highest testing volume over the past six months was recorded among individuals aged 50 years and above, with 43,673 tests, followed by the 30-40 age group with 18,929 tests and the 40-50 age group charting 13,453 tests.
Listing out the preventive tests preferred by this age group, Dr Mahajan says, “Commonly opted tests include HbA1c, lipid profiles, liver and kidney function tests, complete blood counts, vitamin D and vitamin B12 assessments, as well as cardiac evaluations such as ECG and echocardiography.”
Gendered split
Preventive healthcare is seeing participation from both men and women, although men currently account for a slightly larger share of the volume, contributing around 60% of preventive and wellness-related testing compared to 40% for women, as per Dr Mahajan. “Among men, there is a strong emphasis on monitoring metabolic and cardiovascular health through assessments such as lipid profiles, blood glucose and HbA1c testing, along with liver, kidney and vitamin evaluations. Women, meanwhile, are increasingly opting for a broader range of preventive screenings that often include thyroid assessments, iron and micronutrient studies, bone health evaluations, cardiac tests such as ECG and echocardiography, and cervical cancer screening.”
The Redcliffe report, too, shows that men engage more frequently with preventive healthcare. “Nearly 65% of their diagnostic bookings were linked to preventive health checkups. Among women, preventive screenings accounted for approximately 57% of preventive health checks,” the report adds.
Agilus Diagnostics has tracked a similar trend when comparing men’s and women’s adoption. While men have traditionally shown slightly higher participation in preventive screening due to increasing concerns around diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic health, women are rapidly bridging the gap through greater awareness of reproductive health, hormonal wellness, thyroid health, and preventive cancer screening.
At Dr Lal Path Labs and Metropolis, however, the companies tracked a more or less uniform demand from both men and women.
Several health and fitness fads have hit the young adult and middle aged population in the last few years. Be it the gym and fitness culture, the consequent boom of OTC (over the counter) protein and other supplements, digital health trackers or a multitude of other products and practices breaking into the health and wellness market. Among them, preventive and wellness related health check ups seem to be another emerging trend, although with no hidden risks to health or conditions applied.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. While the author has incorporated expert medical guidance while producing the story and ensured full authentic information is provided to the reader, you should always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read here.