Key Takeaways
- 67,000 projected openings: India’s healthcare GCCs are expected to generate this many job opportunities during 2026.
- Experienced candidates dominate: Around 93% of projected demand is for professionals with three to 12 years of experience.
- AI and data demand surges: Demand for data, analytics and AI roles is forecast to rise 147.3% from 2023 to 2026.
- Bengaluru and Hyderabad lead: The two cities account for 58.4% of projected healthcare GCC hiring demand.
- Entry-level hiring weakens: Fresher hiring demand fell 12.4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, even as overall quarterly demand increased.
- AI adoption expands: AI penetration across healthcare GCCs could increase from around 60% in 2026 to 80–90% by 2030.
Healthcare GCC Hiring in India Approaches a New Milestone
India’s healthcare global capability centre industry is becoming an increasingly important part of global healthcare operations. Quess Corp’s India Healthcare GCC Outlook 2026 estimates that the sector will generate 67,000 job openings during 2026, reflecting demand for specialized talent across technology, research, clinical development and regulatory functions.
The ecosystem currently comprises 155 healthcare GCCs employing approximately 320,000 professionals. These centres support multinational pharmaceutical companies, medical-device manufacturers, healthcare service providers and technology businesses. Their responsibilities increasingly extend beyond routine back-office operations to include research, product development, analytics and digital healthcare capabilities.
The hiring outlook follows a substantial increase in demand during 2025. Healthcare GCC hiring demand rose from 32,000 roles in 2024 to 63,200 in 2025, an increase of approximately 97.5%, according to the report. The projected 67,000 openings for 2026 would represent further growth, although the forecast should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every position will be filled.
The findings were reported by YourStory on October 23, 2026.
Why Healthcare GCCs Are Hiring More Specialized Professionals
Healthcare GCCs traditionally handled functions such as finance, customer support, IT services and administrative operations for multinational organizations. Their responsibilities are expanding as global healthcare companies move more complex work to their Indian centres.
Three areas are particularly important.
Artificial intelligence and data analytics: Healthcare organizations need professionals who can work with data, develop analytics systems and support AI-powered applications. These capabilities can be applied to research, operational planning and digital healthcare products.
Clinical research and development: Pharmaceutical and medical-device companies rely on research, clinical development, biometrics and statistical analysis to support product development and evaluate outcomes.
Regulatory, quality and compliance: Healthcare products operate under strict regulatory requirements. Companies need professionals who understand documentation, quality processes, compliance standards and the requirements governing regulated markets.
These functions require a combination of technical knowledge and healthcare-domain expertise. As a result, employers increasingly seek candidates who can contribute to specialized projects without requiring extensive initial training.
Which Healthcare Skills Are Growing the Fastest?
Quess Corp’s report identifies data, analytics and AI as one of the fastest-growing areas of projected hiring demand.
| Job family | 2023 demand | 2026 projected demand | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data, Analytics and AI | 1,781 | 4,404 | 147.3% |
| Regulatory, Quality and Compliance | — | 6,147 | 108.4% |
| R&D, Clinical Development, Biometrics and Statistics | — | 5,421 | 82.5% |
Source: Quess Corp’s India Healthcare GCC Outlook 2026. Dashes indicate that comparable 2023 figures were not included in the cited summary.
The figures show that demand is not limited to conventional healthcare occupations. Technology professionals, data specialists and experts in regulated processes are increasingly important to healthcare GCC operations.
For candidates interested in technology, this creates potential opportunities in data engineering, analytics, AI and software development. However, the specific qualifications required vary by role. Healthcare-focused AI positions may require knowledge of medical data, privacy requirements or clinical workflows in addition to technical skills.
Regulatory and clinical roles follow different career paths and may require relevant scientific, healthcare or compliance qualifications.
Why Experienced Professionals Have an Advantage
One of the report’s most significant findings is the concentration of hiring demand among mid-career professionals.
Of the 67,000 projected openings, 38,391 are expected to target candidates with three to seven years of experience, while another 23,856 are aimed at professionals with seven to 12 years of experience.
| Experience level | Projected openings | Approximate share |
|---|---|---|
| 3–7 years | 38,391 | 57.3% |
| 7–12 years | 23,856 | 35.6% |
| Combined 3–12 years | 62,247 | 92.9% |
| Other experience levels | 4,753 | 7.1% |
| Total | 67,000 | 100% |
The figures indicate that experienced candidates account for almost 93% of forecast demand. The remaining openings may include entry-level and other experience categories; the report summary does not establish that all remaining positions are exclusively for freshers.
The preference for experienced professionals presents a challenge for new graduates and career changers. Employers may be seeking candidates who can manage complex systems, work within regulated environments and contribute to projects with limited supervision.
At the same time, a smaller share of entry-level openings does not mean that all fresher opportunities have disappeared. It suggests that candidates may need to demonstrate relevant practical skills and industry knowledge to compete for available positions.
Entry-Level Hiring Faces Pressure Despite Overall Growth
Healthcare GCC hiring demand increased by 6% quarter-on-quarter in the second quarter of 2026, according to the Quess Corp report. However, entry-level hiring demand declined 12.4% year-on-year during the same quarter.
This divergence suggests that growth in total hiring is not translating equally across experience levels. Companies can increase recruitment while prioritizing specialized professionals over candidates entering the workforce for the first time.
For early-career candidates, practical experience may become increasingly important. Internships, relevant certifications, portfolio projects and demonstrable technical skills can help candidates show that they understand the work involved.
Employers and educational institutions also face a longer-term challenge: if organizations consistently recruit experienced workers without developing junior talent, the future supply of qualified specialists could become more constrained.
Bengaluru and Hyderabad Lead Healthcare GCC Hiring
India’s healthcare GCC activity remains concentrated in a small number of major cities. Bengaluru and Hyderabad together account for 62.2% of the existing healthcare GCC workforce and 58.4% of projected hiring demand for 2026.
| City | Existing talent base | Projected 2026 demand | Key capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bengaluru | 109,000 | 23,600 | Technology, AI, data, digital health and medical-device engineering |
| Hyderabad | 90,000 | 15,500 | Pharmaceuticals, clinical development, research and analytics |
| Mumbai | 42,000 | 6,200 | Regulatory functions, medical affairs and commercial operations |
| Delhi NCR | 35,000 | 6,100 | Payer operations, healthcare technology and shared services |
| Chennai | 19,000 | 2,900 | Healthcare operations and technology services |
| Pune | 13,000 | 2,600 | Engineering, analytics and pharmaceutical functions |
Source: Quess Corp data reported by CXOToday. Figures are rounded.
Bengaluru’s concentration of technology and digital capabilities makes it an important centre for AI, data and medical-device engineering. Hyderabad benefits from its pharmaceutical, research and clinical-development ecosystem.
For job seekers, the figures provide a useful indication of where healthcare GCC activity is concentrated. They do not guarantee that a particular role is available in a city, and candidates should check individual employers’ current vacancies.
The Healthcare Talent Gap Is Becoming More Specialized
Despite employing approximately 320,000 people, the sector continues to face shortages in specialized job categories.
Quess Corp identifies a supply-to-demand ratio of only 1.6 professionals per opening in both data, analytics and AI, and market access, patient services and analytics. The corresponding ratio across healthcare GCC job families is 4.8:1.
These figures suggest that the industry’s challenge is not simply the number of workers available. It is whether candidates possess the right combination of technical, functional and healthcare-specific skills.
For example, a data analyst working with healthcare companies may need to understand sensitive patient information, data quality and applicable privacy controls. A regulatory professional may need to interpret complex requirements while coordinating with scientific and product teams.
Training programmes that combine technical education with healthcare-domain knowledge could help address this gap. Employers may also need to invest more in early-career development if demand continues to grow.
AI Could Become a Core Healthcare GCC Capability by 2030
Artificial intelligence is expected to be one of the fastest-growing capabilities across healthcare GCCs. Quess Corp estimates that AI penetration could rise from approximately 60% of centres in 2026 to between 80% and 90% by 2030.
Potential applications include research workflows, clinical development, operational automation, analytics and digital healthcare products.
AI adoption could create demand for software engineers, data scientists, machine-learning specialists and professionals who can integrate AI systems into healthcare operations. It may also increase the importance of governance, privacy, validation and regulatory expertise.
However, higher AI adoption does not automatically translate into an equivalent increase in jobs. Some tasks may become automated, while new responsibilities emerge around building, monitoring and governing AI systems. The overall employment effect will depend on how individual organizations deploy the technology.
The Bigger Picture
India’s healthcare GCC industry is moving toward higher-value work, including AI, research, clinical development and specialized regulatory functions. The projected 67,000 openings reflect the sector’s continued hiring activity, but the concentration of demand among experienced professionals highlights a potential mismatch between employer requirements and the available talent pipeline.
For the industry to sustain its growth, recruitment will need to be supported by stronger training and career-development pathways. Candidates who combine relevant technical or scientific knowledge with practical experience may be better positioned to access specialized roles, while employers and educational institutions will need to develop the next generation of healthcare technology professionals.
FAQs
1. How many jobs are India’s healthcare GCCs expected to generate in 2026?
Quess Corp projects 67,000 job openings in India’s healthcare GCC sector during 2026. This is a forecast of hiring demand, not a guarantee that every opening will be filled or that all positions represent newly created net employment.
2. Which skills are most in demand in healthcare GCCs?
The report highlights data analytics, AI, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, clinical research, research and development, biometrics and statistics. Demand varies according to the company’s business and the role’s responsibilities.
3. Are healthcare GCC jobs mainly for experienced professionals?
The report estimates that approximately 93% of projected demand is for professionals with three to 12 years of experience. Entry-level opportunities remain possible, but the findings indicate a strong preference for mid-career specialists.
4. Which Indian cities have the most healthcare GCC hiring demand?
Bengaluru and Hyderabad lead the forecast, with approximately 23,600 and 15,500 projected openings, respectively. Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Chennai and Pune also have established healthcare GCC operations.
5. Will AI create more healthcare GCC jobs by 2030?
AI adoption is expected to expand across healthcare GCCs, potentially increasing from around 60% of centres in 2026 to 80–90% by 2030. This could support demand for AI, data and integration skills, although the net effect on employment remains uncertain.
Looking Ahead
India’s healthcare GCC sector is expected to continue expanding its role in global research, digital health, pharmaceutical operations and technology development. The 67,000-opening forecast signals ongoing recruitment activity, but the concentration of demand among experienced specialists will remain an important factor for both employers and job seekers.
The longer-term opportunity will depend on whether India can expand its supply of professionals with the right combination of healthcare knowledge, technical ability and regulatory expertise. As AI becomes more deeply integrated into healthcare operations, companies that invest in training and practical skill development may be better positioned to meet future hiring needs.
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