Healthcare and Lifesciences
UK-India: Building Tomorrow's Health Solutions
India is rapidly emerging as a global economic and geopolitical leader, set to become the world’s largest economy in coming years and a developed nation by 2047 (1)opens www.weforum.org in a new tab. In this context, the UK is deepening its partnership with India, especially in Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Digital Innovation as reaffirmed by the UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This partnership extends far beyond Free Trade Agreement negotiations. Through the UK–India 2030 Roadmap, both nations are advancing Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Med-Tech, and Health Services together. From co-developing COVID-19 vaccines to scaling digital health tools, this partnership is already delivering tangible impact. India’s growing digital and healthcare infrastructure offers fertile ground for UK-led innovation.
The UK government has launched a bold new Life Sciences Sector Planopens www.gov.uk in a new tab as part of its flagship Industrial Strategy, a ten-year mission to harness British science and innovation to drive long-term economic growth and a stronger, prevention-focused NHS. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has pledged a stable, long-term strategy to boost investor confidence, accelerate R&D, and position the UK as Europe’s leading life sciences economy by 2030 and third globally by 2035. This strategy supports eight high-growth sectors, including life sciences, creative industries, and financial services.
The UK and India are uniquely positioned to lead in healthcare collaboration, building a future rooted in science, technology, and inclusive growth, setting a global benchmark in health and sustainability.
Export to India
India's healthcare market, with its pharmaceutical sector supplying over 50% of global vaccine demand and a rapidly growing biotech ecosystem targeting 10,000 startups by 2025, presents exceptional opportunities for UK businesses to enter a market that currently imports 70-80% of its medical devices and is transforming into a global healthcare innovation hub (1)opens www.ibef.org in a new tab.
Learn more about exporting to IndiaInvest in the UK
The UK's world-leading healthcare and life sciences ecosystem, spanning six key sectors from Medical Device Technology to Digital Health, offers unrivalled access to world-class research institutions, a robust regulatory framework, and collaborative opportunities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that provide the perfect environment for scaling medical innovations globally.
Discover investment opportunities in the UKPartner with the UK
The UK continues to shape the future of global health and life science innovation through a blend of scientific excellence, regulatory strength, and a collaborative healthcare landscape.
The UK’s world-leading and globally competitive healthcare and life sciences ecosystem (1), delivers new treatments, innovations and health systems, positioning the country at the forefront of medical advancements and patient care. The UK has deep-rooted expertise - across 6 Broad categories: Medical Device Technology, Education & Training, Life science, Healthcare Infrastructure services, Digital Health and Clinical services.
Its integrated ecosystem, world-class research institutions, and a robust regulatory framework, creates an environment that fosters scientific advancement and patient-centered innovations. The UK offers opportunities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each contributing distinct strengths to the healthcare landscape.
Indian companies can leverage the UK's world-class healthcare and life sciences ecosystem through the landmark UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which provides unprecedented access to procurement opportunities, reduced tariffs on medical devices, and collaborative frameworks that enable Indian firms to partner with UK institutions across our six key sectors while benefiting from streamlined regulatory pathways and joint innovation programmes.
Core Capabilities
Medical Technology & Digital Health:
The UK excels in developing and scaling breakthrough healthcare technologies. It supports a dynamic startup ecosystem, alongside established organisations, focusing on Artificial Intelligence (AI)- driven diagnostics, wearable health technology, remote monitoring and personalized medicine-facilitated by access to diverse datasets and collaborative research and development environments.
Visit The UK's Digital Health Playbookopens digitalplaybook.co.uk in a new tab to explore the breadth and depth of the UK's expertise in Digital Health by connecting with internationally-active innovators.
Life Sciences:
The UK is home to one of the strongest, most productive health and life sciences industries globally. This success attests to the strong science base and commitment to building a complete ecosystem that brings together innovation, development, commercialisation and access to patients at world-leading levels, enabling innovators to benefit from a complete development cycle and businesses to grow and thrive. The UK has large and well-established life sciences clusters in London, Cambridge, Oxford, the Edinburgh-Glasgow Corridor, and across the North of England. There are also emerging clusters in areas across the UK.
Healthcare Education and Training:
The UK trains a globally respected workforce through a combination of rigorous academic programmes, clinical training and professional skill development. Institutions across the UK lead in medical education, public health, nursing and allied health sciences.
Past Events
UK India Nutraceutical and OTC Wellness Trade Cohort - November 2025
The UK's Department for Business and Trade Healthcare and Life Sciences team led a three-day Nutraceutical and OTC Wellness cohort to Hyderabad and Bengaluru from 12-14 November 2025.
7 British nutraceutical and OTC wellness companies engaged with leading Indian retail pharmacies, e-commerce platforms, quick commerce providers and industry associations across both cities. Closed-door roundtables in Hyderabad and Bengaluru brought together manufacturers, distributors, regulatory consultants and industry partners to explore the growing Indian nutraceutical market and highlight UK strengths in nutraceutical innovation and manufacturing.
UK-India Medtech, Diagnostics & Digital Health Trade Cohort - December 2025
The UK's Department for Business and Trade Healthcare and Life Sciences team led a five-day Medtech, Diagnostics and Digital Health cohort to Delhi and Mumbai from 1-5 December 2025. The mission brought 7 British medtech and diagnostic companies to showcase cutting-edge solutions in Artificial Intelligence-powered diagnostics, digital pathology, smart medication delivery and connected health technologies in the Indian market. Engagements across both cities spanned regulatory meetings with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), roundtables with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), visits to Dr. Lal's diagnostic network and Transasia BioMedical, alongside distributor engagement sessions with over 33 pan-India distributors and a chief executive officer roundtable bringing together leaders from India's leading hospitals and diagnostic chains.
UK-India Pharmaceutical Trade Cohort - February 2026
The UK's Department for Business and Trade Healthcare and Life Sciences team led a four-day Pharmaceutical cohort to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Mumbai from 16-19 February 2026. 7 innovative British pharmaceutical companies engaged directly with India's leading pharmaceutical organisations across all three cities. In Ahmedabad, pitching sessions with Zydus Group, Cadila Pharmaceuticals and Alembic Pharmaceuticals demonstrated a clear appetite for UK-India collaboration. In Hyderabad, a roundtable at BioAsia 2026 in partnership with Telangana Life Sciences brought together organisations including Bharat Biotech, Syngene International and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories for highly technical bilateral discussions. The mission concluded in Mumbai with bespoke pitching sessions at Lupin, Cipla and USV Private Limited, three organisations shaping India's global pharmaceutical footprint. Engagement throughout the cohort moved well beyond introductions, laying strong foundations for long-term UK-India pharmaceutical partnerships.
UK-India Chemicals Trade Mission - March 2026
The UK's Department for Business and Trade led a Chemicals Trade Mission to Mumbai and Ankleshwar, bringing together a diverse group of British chemical companies ranging from university spin-offs and small and medium enterprises to a multinational founded in 1845. The delegation held productive discussions with Reliance Industries in Mumbai before travelling to Ankleshwar, one of India's largest chemical clusters, for pitching sessions with the Ankleshwar Industries Association, targeted business-to-business meetings and a visit to integrated speciality chemical manufacturer, Atul Limited. Delegates also participated in the International Chamber of Commerce Chemical Industry Outlook Conference, attended by over 750 industry leaders, further reinforced the significant potential for UK-India collaboration in chemicals, sustainability and innovation.
Speak to an Expert
Submit your query to the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) expert team today for tailored advice, insights and technical market guides on maximising healthcare sector opportunities under the new trade deal.
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