Category: Medical

Investment firm KKR is set to acquire a controlling 51% stake in Bengaluru-based cancer care hospital chain Healthcare Global Enterprises (HCG) from private equity firm CVC Capital Partners.

The move underscores KKR’s growing focus on India’s expanding healthcare sector, which has witnessed significant private equity-led consolidation in recent years.

Deal Details and Valuation
Following the purchase, KKR will initiate a mandatory open offer for an additional 26% stake. If successful, KKR’s total ownership in HCG will rise to 77%.

The definitive agreements are expected to be signed in the coming days.

Ownership Structure Post-Transaction
Despite the change in control, HCG’s founding family, led by Dr. BS Ajaikumar, will retain a 10.87% stake in the company. However, Dr. Ajaikumar will transition from his role as Executive Chairman to a non-executive position, where he will focus on research and development initiatives.

CVC Capital Partners, currently holding 60.36% of HCG, will reduce its stake to nine percent after the transaction.

CVC initially acquired its majority share in June 2020, investing approximately ₹1,049 crore through a combination of new shares and convertible warrants. It later increased its stake through a mandatory open offer.

KKR’s Renewed Focus on Healthcare
The acquisition signals KKR’s strategic push into India’s healthcare sector. Previously, the firm exited Max Healthcare in one of its most profitable deals in India.

However, in 2024, KKR re-entered the market by acquiring Baby Memorial Hospital, demonstrating its commitment to specialty hospitals and healthcare services.

India’s cancer care industry is growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17%, with HCG expanding even faster due to its aggressive growth strategy. KKR and CVC Capital Partners began bilateral negotiations in October 2024, drawing interest from several global private equity firms, including Bain Capital.

However, KKR ultimately secured the deal after months of discussions. Leading investment banks Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Allegro, and Ambit are advising on the transaction.

HCG’s Expansion and Growth Strategy
Founded in 2005, HCG operates 21 comprehensive cancer centers, three multispecialty hospitals across India, and an international facility in Kenya.

The company faced financial difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic due to debt-financed expansion and disruptions in cancer care services. However, it has since improved operational efficiency and pursued strategic growth initiatives.

In late 2024, HCG acquired MG Hospital in Vizag, a 196-bed facility with a strong 35% operating margin. Additionally, the company launched a 200-bed cancer care center in Ahmedabad. It is also expanding its North Bengaluru facility by 125 beds.

As reported by digitalhealthnews.com, HCG has plans to expand its capacity by adding 900 more beds over the next four to five years. This move aims to meet the rising demand for specialized cancer care. Chemindigest

Niti Aayog Member V K Paul on Saturday emphasized the need to expand skilling initiatives beyond traditional medical education, balancing quality with quantity.

India’s care sector is at a crucial juncture, requiring a strengthened workforce to meet both national and global demands, a statement said.

In a summit – Transforming the future of the skilled workforce in the care sector ‘organised by NSDC International here, Paul emphasized the need to expand skilling initiatives beyond traditional medical education, balancing quality with quantity, the statement said.

NSDC International is a wholly-owned subsidiary of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

Talking about skilling initiatives, Paul said that the NSDC International is playing a pivotal role in this effort, ensuring care professionals trained in India are globally employable.

He highlighted the importance of evolving curriculum, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and scaling up skill-based training programmes to address workforce shortages, including in specialized areas such as geriatric care.

“The private sector collaboration is essential to bridge the skill gap. With structured policies and strong industry-academia partnerships, India can enhance its healthcare skilling ecosystem and emerge as a key contributor to the global workforce.”

The summit witnessed participation of vice chancellors from 50 institutions and around dozen AIIMS chief working towards a stronger healthcare ecosystem, the statement said.

Paul further said, “India’s healthcare workforce is a critical asset to both the nation and the world. With increasing global demand for skilled professionals, structured skilling initiatives play a pivotal role in equipping our workforce with the expertise required to meet international standards.

“India, with its young and skilled workforce, has the potential to bridge this gap. At NSDC International, we are committed to developing a globally competent caregiver workforce by aligning skilling programmes with international accreditation, streamlining certification processes, and integrating cultural adaptability training”. PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US is a major milestone that will strengthen bilateral trade, investment, defence, and technology partnerships, industry body CII said on Saturday.

Welcoming the recently concluded visit, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said it eyes stronger trade and tech ties.

CII noted that the wide-ranging joint statement and initiatives announced during the visit under the framework of US-India COMPACT have set a clear forward-looking agenda for India-US relations, creating new opportunities for Indian industry and economic growth.

“A new chapter has been added to the India-US partnership, enabling much stronger collaboration in strategic sectors including defence, energy, semiconductors, space and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, advanced materials, and biotechnology.

“This creates an environment for the private sector on both sides to flourish in true partnership. The visit is especially significant as it will boost manufacturing in India, attract increased foreign direct investment and create jobs,” said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s discussions with President Trump strongly reaffirmed a commitment to expand trade and investment between the two countries, it stated.

CII welcomed the decision to work on the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement to reduce trade barriers and streamline regulatory processes, laying a strong foundation for increasing two-way trade.

It also expects that easier market access and regulatory harmonization will emerge from the proposed bilateral trade agreement dialogues, helping Indian products and services find greater foothold in the US market and vice versa.

The target of USD 500 billion in trade by 2030 promises to give a huge boost to exports of labour-intensive goods from India and industrial goods from the US, offering many new opportunities for Indian industry, said CII.

A critical area of partnership that featured in the discussion was around energy that is set to establish long term links as India strives to diversify its energy sourcing.

Given India’s ambitious net zero targets, the US with its vast gas reserves can play the role of a steady supplier to meet India’s energy demands, noted the industry body.

The discussion around nuclear reactors, coming close on the heels of India’s recently announced nuclear energy targets of 100 GW by 2047, has laid the foundation for technology collaboration and new fossil-free fuel options, it said.

Defence cooperation emerged as a prominent pillar of the visit, reinforcing the India-U.S. strategic partnership through expanded technology transfers, joint production, and industrial collaboration.

The industry body noted that the visit’s positive trajectory aligns with India’s broader economic goals. Stronger bilateral ties in trade and technology will fuel economic growth, boost export competitiveness and bring in capital and expertise to critical sectors. Money.Rediff

In terms of revenue, the global AI in medical imaging market is predicted to increase from USD 1.67 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 12.69 billion by 2033, According to Precedence Research.

The global medical imaging market surpassed USD 49.61 billion in 2024 and is estimated to be worth around USD 80.52 billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 4.96% from 2024 to 2034.

In terms of CAGR, The global AI in medical imaging market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 27.10% from 2025 to 2034, On the other hand, the global medical imaging market is expected to grow at 4.96% from 2024 to 2034.

Various applications of AI in AI in medical imaging market, such as improving image quality, data analysis, image analysis, prediction based on collected data, etc, are promoting growth.

The rising investments and fundings from various investors and governments, growing strategic alliances between pharmaceutical and technological companies, advancements in implementing AI for medical imaging and growing expenditure in healthcare settings for adopting advanced imaging techniques are the factors driving the growth of the AI in medical imaging market.

AI in medical imaging market overview
A new age of healthcare opportunities has been brought about by developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and medical imaging further enhancing medical practice and patient care. The rising investments in R&D activities for potential applications of AI in diagnostic imaging, increased focus on tissue-based detection with improved sensitivity for detecting imaging abnormalities, growing demand for faster and accurate imaging techniques, surge in strategic alliances among companies for advancing medical imaging, support from government bodies and rising public awareness for preventive care are driving the growth of the AI in medical imaging market. The AI-based image processing also makes customized treatment plans easier, which improves the way healthcare is delivered.

Rising healthcare expenditure is driving North America
North America held the largest global share of the AI in medical imaging market in 2024. The extensive adoption of modern medical technology is made possible by the region’s robust economic conditions and high healthcare spending. There are several well-known Al businesses and startups in the U.S. that specialize in medical imaging applications. For instance, a number of significant IT companies, including Microsoft, Intel, and IBM have invested heavily in creating image solutions that use Al.

Additionally, the area boasts a regulatory climate that is conducive to innovation. The accelerated clearance procedures for AI-based medical imaging devices by the U.S. FDA has reduced the time to market reach, further encouraging various healthcare companies to enter the market. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities in North America are becoming more receptive to incorporating these cutting-edge technologies into their clinical procedures.

Rising economies like India and China are driving the Asia Pacific
Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth in AI in medical imaging market during the forecast period. The growth of this region is driven by the rising investments in R&D activities, increasing healthcare expenditure for adoption of advanced medical imaging techniques, presence of key market players, supportive government policies for AI adoption and growing prevalence of chronic diseases driving the demand for accurate image diagnostics.

Furthermore, the significant government investments in large population countries like China and India is boosting the development of healthcare potentially leading to drive the market growth in the upcoming years. Precedence Research

California officials told legislators that the state is spending $9.5 billion on healthcare for illegal immigrants in the current 2024-2025 budget.

With the governor’s proposed budget including a $7 billion reserve withdrawal and deficits expected to soon rise to $30 billion, and federal funding likely to decrease, the state may face challenges in continuing to pay for this growing program.

During a budget hearing earlier this week, Assemblyman Carl DeMaio, R-San Diego, asked California Department of Finance officials how much the state has allocated to undocumented immigrant healthcare in the current budget.

“In the current year, to cover undocumented individuals in Medi-Cal, we’re spending $9.5 billion total funds,” replied a CDOF official, who said $8.4 billion of that comes from the state’s general fund.

“So it’s not the $6 billion that people continue to talk about in the media,” replied DeMaio.

“That was a budget act number. This is a revised number based on the governor’s budget updated estimates,” continued the official.

“If we cut that, at least using your math, we’d have a $1 billion surplus, my friends, we wouldn’t have to go into the rainy day fund,” said DeMaio in response.

Budget discussions are currently underway for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, with the governor’s proposed $322 billion state budget under debate as the state faces potential losses in federal funding due to changes in or noncompliance with federal laws or executive orders. Federal spending in California is set to be $171 billion, or more than one third of the total $493 billion state and federal budget for California, according to the California Budget and Policy Center.

US Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, introduced a bill to prohibit use of state or federal Medicaid funds for being used for non-emergency healthcare for individuals in the country illegally, which could complicate matters for the state.

According to insurer Blue Shield, the average wait time at a California emergency room is four hours and 34 minutes, while the national average is two hours and 43 minutes. Because federal law requires emergency rooms to provide care to anyone who needs it, ERs are often the only medical care uninsured individuals can receive, and often do not get paid for said services unless the government covers some losses.

While homeless and undocumented individuals qualify for Medi-Cal, many are not enrolled and use ERs as their only form of medical care.

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital CEO Dr. Elaine Batchlor says that rapidly rising numbers of emergency room patients covered by Medi-Cal — which could mean either through coverage, or hospital reimbursements for non-covered, non-paying patients — are driving the hospital to fiscal ruin.

“MLKCH opened in 2015 with state funding that projected approximately 30,000 annual visits to the hospital’s 29-bed Emergency Department. In 2023, the hospital saw four times that amount, making it one of the busiest EDs in the state,” said the hospital in a 2024 release. “The majority of these visits (76%) were Medi-Cal, which does not reimburse providers for the full cost of care.”

“We lose money on every one of those patient visits—a significant amount,” said Batchlor in a statement. “As the volume grew and continues to grow, we began to lose more and more money.”

With Medi-Cal reimbursement rates often lower than quickly growing costs of care, more care providers are choosing to either not accept Medi-Cal for routine care, or reducing the number of Medi-Cal patients they do see, making it even harder for the swelling number of Californians enrolled in Medi-Cal to find a doctor.

The majority of California children are enrolled in Medi-Cal, which is available to households making up to 138% of the federal poverty line for adult coverage and 266% of FPL for child coverage. Over 15 million Californians, or nearly 40%, are enrolled in Medi-Cal. The Center Square Media Bias Rating

A specialist in health economics believes that the SNS’ problem lies with its management capacity and that there may be a solution to the chaos. But the government has yet to act and patients continue to wait long hours to receive medical attention.

Closed A&E departments, a shortage of health professionals, waiting times far above of what is acceptable and a faulty new triage system. Portugal’s national health service is on the verge of collapse.

For Pedro Pita Barros, a specialist in health economics, the problem lies in the ability to organise and manage.

“To a certain extent it’s management too, but to a certain extent it’s competition with the private sector. It’s much more capable of working well in terms of recruitment and retention, of paying more attention to people. So we have two big tension points here, pure and hard management and a human resources issue. These will perhaps be the biggest challenges over the next three years,” the professor of economics at Nova School of Business and Economics explains to Euronews.

In May 2024, the government presented a Health Emergency and Transformation Plan to be implemented in 3 months to guarantee general access to healthcare.

Without much immediate progress in sight and with some hospital A&E units exceeding 30-hour waiting times, the Prime Minister said last week in a fortnightly debate in Parliament that the executive is still not satisfied with the results.

Pedro Pita Barros is hopeful that the plan will now stop being an emergency and become a programme of continuous improvement, which will also undergo adjustments itself.

“We have to get away from the idea that we’re going to be able to solve the problems of the National Health Service in a month or two. The problem isn’t making rules or yet another law to transform the national health service. The question isn’t whether we’re going to have a date when we reform the SNS, the question is how we can permanently adjust the national health service to the needs that arise,” emphasises the economist.

There are many complaints from users about the SNS, namely the compulsory pre-screening via telephone before going to emergency, which delays medical interventions even more, since in hospitals, patients are still subject to long waiting times.

“Just last week, with a relative of mine who was referred to the emergency room by Saúde 24, we were there for almost 12 hours. And as far as I can tell, I don’t think it was too bad. There were cases of patients who had been there since the night before. I went there at around 1pm and left at half past midnight,” an SNS user told Euronews.

The Movement of Public Service Users (MUSP) has already said in a statement that the Ministry of Health knows that “the long queues are the result of a lack of professionals and conditions to retain them and attract them to the SNS”.

In the MUSP’s opinion, the “government responds with a bureaucratic measure, hiring a health call centre, creating yet another barrier and delaying the treatment” to a serious problem that required serious and profound measures, namely more investment in the SNS and its professionals.

Between 2020 and 2024, the level of satisfaction with public healthcare in Europe fell from 74 per cent to 56 per cent, according to a report by German pharmaceutical company Stada. Only 49 per cent of Portuguese said they were satisfied with the response of the SNS.

In the Euro Health Consumer Index, Portugal ranks 13th out of 35 European countries. Leading the ranking is Switzerland, followed by the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark.

The Minister of Health has already recognised that “it is unacceptable” to have waiting times of tens of hours in emergency services and has promised to take action soon.

Euronews asked Ana Paula Martins’ office about the additional measures being considered by the government, but received no reply by the time this article was published. Euronews

Robert F Kennedy Jr, one of President Donald Trump’s most controversial cabinet picks, has been sworn in as the next US Health and Human Services Secretary.

The former presidential candidate will now oversee key health agencies with about 80,000 employees and a trillion-dollar budget. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle had questioned his baseless health claims and vaccine scepticism.

On Thursday, Kennedy was confirmed by a 52-48 vote. No Democrats backed him. Former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was the lone Republican to vote against Kennedy.

Trump swore Kennedy in himself in the Oval Office, marking another win for the president as he seeks to rapidly overhaul almost every level of government.

The Senate is putting in late nights and early mornings as they hurry to round out the president’s cabinet by confirming his remaining nominees. Lawmakers also approved Brooke Rollins as head of the Department of Agriculture by a vote of 72-28.

Kennedy is the second controversial cabinet pick to be confirmed this week after Tulsi Gabbard, another contested pick, was confirmed as director of National Intelligence in a narrow Senate vote on Wednesday.

He will now oversee agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Kennedy will also be charged with overseeing the US health industry which includes food safety, pharmaceuticals, public health and vaccinations. He ran for the White House himself in 2024 as an independent, but dropped out and backed Trump.

The president’s decision to tap Kennedy to lead the federal health agency drew scepticism from several Republicans. Many questioned Kennedy’s past comments on immunisations, his ties to groups making unsubstantiated health claims and his views on abortion.

Kennedy is the founder of the anti-vaccine group Children’s Health Defense, which gained prominence in the US for casting doubt on the safety and efficacy of childhood vaccinations and making the discredited claim that the shots are linked to autism.

Kennedy, the nephew of former President John F Kennedy, has denied that he is anti-vaccination, pointing out his own children are immunised. He insisted during his confirmation hearings that he merely supports more stringent studies and safety tests for injections.

Some Republicans have praised Kennedy for his criticism over the use of food additives and push to curb big pharma.

During the hearings, lawmakers also grilled Kennedy on his promotion of health misinformation and knowledge of the US healthcare system.

He was asked to explain his stance on abortion, as he previously indicated that he was in favour of abortion rights. He responded by telling lawmakers he agreed with Trump that access to abortion should be controlled by individual states and that “every abortion is a tragedy”.

The exchange drew scrutiny from Democrats who accused Kennedy of “selling out” his pro-choice values in order to secure President Trump’s nomination.

One of his hearings was interrupted by shouting protesters. But he also received loud applause when promising to make America healthy again, a slogan used by Trump’s administration.

Ahead of the hearing, Caroline Kennedy – the cousin of Robert F Kennedy Jr – urged US senators to reject him as the next health and human services secretary. She said Kennedy’s views on vaccines disqualify him from the role of being one of America’s leading health policymakers.

It wasn’t enough to dissuade several Republicans who previously withheld their support from Kennedy but wound up approving his nomination during Thursday’s vote.

Many eyes were on Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, a Republican, who chairs the Senate Health Committee.

Cassidy, a doctor, previously indicated that he was struggling with Kennedy’s stance on vaccines. He voted to confirm Kennedy.

“We need to make America healthy again, and it is my expectation that Secretary Kennedy will get this done,” Cassidy posted on X after the vote.

Others closely watched McConnell, a Kennedy critic and polio survivor. McConnell had warned Kennedy not to undermine the polio vaccine.

He voted against confirmation.

“Individuals, parents, and families have a right to push for a healthier nation and demand the best possible scientific guidance on preventing and treating illness,” McConnell said in a statement. “But a record of trafficking in dangerous conspiracy theories and eroding trust in public health institutions does not entitle Mr. Kennedy to lead these important efforts.”

The Senate continues moving forward with Trump’s nominees. After confirming Kennedy, lawmakers are expected to advance the nomination of Howard Lutnick as the next Secretary of Commerce.

This tees up the final vote for his confirmation to take place by the end of the week.

Lawmakers are also expected to take up the nomination of Kash Patel, Trump’s controversial choice to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after the pick received approval from a key committee on Thursday.

Trump’s pick to head the education department, Linda McMahon had her confirmation hearing on Thursday as well. BBC

Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav has directed government hospitals to dispose of all unused medical equipment and waste materials within 45 days.

To facilitate this, the minister has introduced relaxations and amendments to existing disposal guidelines. Committees will be set up at hospitals to identify and assess waste for auction. If the expected income exceeds Rs 25,000, the auction will be conducted through the e-auction portal or sold via the Metal Scrap Trading Corporation.

The minister stated that this initiative would clear hospitals of waste and create more space for healthcare services.

Previously, biomedical engineers from the AP Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation identified waste for disposal. However, a shortage of engineers and a lack of support from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research led to years of accumulation in hospitals. Deccan Chronicle

The World Health Organization on Tuesday wrapped up its executive board meeting, held against the backdrop of the United States — by far its largest donor — heading for the exit.

The agenda-setting eight-day gathering at the WHO’s Geneva headquarters wrestled with the impact of US President Donald Trump’s January 20 decision to start the one-year process of withdrawing from the UN health agency.

“We are operating with twin strategic goals: to mobilise resources and to tighten our belts,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in his closing remarks.

“We regret the announcement by the United States of its intention to withdraw, and it was also sad to see them participating less this week,” he said.

“I think we all felt their absence. We very much hope they will reconsider and we would welcome the opportunity to engage in constructive dialogue.”

The United States is on the executive board, but made only fleeting contributions throughout the eight-day event.

The board is composed of 34 member states, who nominate a board member who is technically qualified in health.

The board agrees the agenda and resolutions for the decision-making World Health Assembly in May.

“We have had to face new realities, with the announcement of the withdrawal of the US from the WHO,” said Barbados’s health minister Jerome Walcott, the board’s chair, as he closed the meeting.

“Despite the many challenges we faced, we have come together and found agreement on 40 decisions and seven resolutions, which aim to strengthen our work and to enhance good public health.”

Prioritising funding
If anything, the US move has driven home the need for more secure and reliable funding at WHO, which in recent years has relied heavily on voluntary contributions.

As part of a plan to swell membership fees to cover at least half of the organisation’s budget by 2030, the board recommended a 20 percent fee hike.

Boosting membership fees is seen as a way for WHO to reduce its reliance on a handful of major donors and ensure more predictable and flexible finances.

“This is a very strong signal of your support, and it’s a major step towards putting WHO on a more predictable and sustainable financial footing,” Tedros said.

“You said we need to prioritise based on realistic funding. We agree,” he added.

“You said we need to improve efficiency, enhance oversight and reduce unnecessary expenditures. We agree.”

Last week, the board also re-adopted a resolution on responding to the health conditions in the Palestinian territories.

The total planned costs required to implement the decision were given as $648 million, including $275 million for emergency response and $265 million for early recovery and rehabilitation.

Other topics discussed by the board included non-communicable diseases, mental health, skin diseases, environmental health, air pollution, the global health workforce, substandard and falsified medicines, maternal and newborn health, health emergencies, and universal health coverage. AFP

The global wearable technology market size is estimated to grow by USD 99.4 billion from 2025-2029, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 17.3% during the forecast period. Popularity of wearable devices as a payment method is driving market growth, with a trend towards development of low-power electronics. However, rising penetration of counterfeit products poses a challenge.

Key market trends fueling growth
The wearable technology market is experiencing significant growth, with smartwatches, swimmers, cyclists, runners, gym-goers, and athletes among the key consumer groups. Smart clothing and IoT-based apparel are also gaining popularity. Healthcare is a major sector, with smart wearables offering real-time health monitoring for patients and healthcare providers. Counterfeit products pose a challenge, but consumer electronics companies are innovating with electronic displays, connectivity, and mobile phone integration. Wearable technologies include fitness bands, AR/VR headsets, and pharma solutions. Older populations benefit from fall detection and gesture controls, while younger consumers drive demand for virtual and augmented reality devices. Wearables offer benefits for chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and obesity, and fitness enthusiasts and the tech-savvy younger population are key consumers. Data security is a concern, but the benefits of wearable healthcare devices, including health self-efficacy and autonomy, outweigh the risks. The market is expected to grow further with the integration of MEMS sensors, GPS, IMU, and fitness-tracking wearables. The consumer electronics segment is driving technological innovativeness, with digital health technology becoming increasingly important.

The global wearable technology market is experiencing significant growth due to the increasing demand for advanced wearable devices such as smartwatches, smart bands, smart rings, and Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs). To meet this demand, vendors are focusing on developing high-performance and low-power-consumption electronic components. These components, including sensors, processors, and batteries, are essential for enhancing the functionality and efficiency of wearable electronics. By adopting low-power-consumption semiconductors, vendors can create devices that offer extended battery life and improved performance. This trend is expected to continue as the market for wearable technology continues to expand.

Research analysis
Wearable technology is revolutionizing the way we monitor and manage our health and fitness. From smartwatches and fitness trackers for runners, cyclists, and swimmers, to IoT-based apparel for gym-goers, this market caters to various consumer needs. Healthcare professionals use wearables for remote patient monitoring, while consumers seek health self-efficacy through real-time data. Counterfeit products pose a challenge, but authentic wearables offer advanced features like electronic displays, connectivity to mobile phones, and health monitoring solutions using MEMS sensors, GPS, IMU, and clinical data. Wristwear includes fitness-tracking devices and head-mounted displays, expanding the realm of possibilities for this burgeoning industry. IoT-enabled garments and smart clothing further enhance the user experience, integrating electronic devices and electronic displays seamlessly into everyday life.

Market research overview
Wearable technology is revolutionizing the way we monitor and improve our health, with various types of devices catering to different consumer groups. Smartwatches, fitness bands, and IoT-based apparel are popular among athletes, adventurers, and fitness enthusiasts. Smart clothing and IoT-enabled garments are transforming the fashion industry, offering benefits like real-time health monitoring, connectivity, and even payment services. The healthcare sector is leveraging wearables for disease management, telehealth solutions, and medical practice, including pharma, surgical training, and health monitoring solutions. Consumers, from the younger population to older adults, are embracing wearable technologies as they offer benefits like health self-efficacy, health and autonomy, and technological innovativeness. However, concerns around data security and counterfeit products persist. The market for wearable technologies includes various electronic devices, from small sensors to smart hats, eyewear and headwear, footwear, neckwear, body wear, and more. The consumer electronics segment is a significant contributor, with companies exploring opportunities in multimedia industry, virtual reality, and augmented reality. Wearables are expected to become increasingly integrated with mobile phones, GPS, IMU, MEMS sensors, and mobile applications, offering clinical and non-clinical data to doctors and patients alike. The benefits of wearable technologies extend beyond fitness tracking, with applications in chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and obesity. As technological literacy grows, the purchasing power of consumers is driving the market forward, with companies continuously innovating to meet the diverse needs of their customers. Technavio