By Neena Bhandari
A casual search for wheelchair rentals in India led me to the HDU Healthcare website. I reached out via the WhatsApp number listed on its homepage, which was promptly answered by the company’s Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Ambrish Mishra. Explaining my requirements, I requested a self-propelled, collapsible manual wheelchair, preferably the Karma Ryder 2 model. He confirmed its availability and asked if I preferred pickup or delivery at the airport or to an address in Delhi. Opting for pickup, I was reassured the day before my departure from Sydney that the wheelchair was reserved for me. Upon arrival in India, I received exactly what I needed, allowing me to travel independently and comfortably across multiple cities throughout my stay in India.
The global medical equipment rental market size was valued at US$55.2 billion in 2022. It is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$87.6 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 6.3% from 2024 to 2030.
There has been tremendous growth and acceptance of home healthcare, especially since COVID-19, and sourcing high-quality medical equipment has become more manageable with several international manufacturers establishing offices in India.
International travellers and locals can arrange for a wheelchair via the HDU Healthcare’s WhatsApp +919560089955 or email support@hduhealthcare.com. Renting a self-propelled manual wheelchair, such as the Karma Ryder 2, costs ₹1,000 for 15 days and ₹1,500 for a month, with additional charges for security deposit. The rate for delivery and pickup is fixed at ₹1,000. Specialty wheelchairs, such as those with headrests, can be rented for ₹5,000 per month, and the rent for motorized wheelchairs is ₹10,000 per month.
The company currently maintains an inventory of about 500 rental wheelchairs and 200 wheelchairs for purchase. A dedicated technical team ensures equipment is regularly serviced and replaced when necessary.
Mishra says, “We also have provision for manpower needed for any kind of medical assistance. Our registered licensed staff are proficient in English and fully trained in providing assistance with medical equipment and wheelchair. We are collaborating with a Europe-based company, Motion4Rent. Our aim is to ensure that visitors have a positive experience during their travels in India”.
HDU Healthcare has centres in Delhi and Mumbai, ensuring 24-hour support. The company is planning to expand its reach and offer full-service capabilities in seven more cities — Pune, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh, Guwahati and Jaipur – by the end of 2025.
“Our medical team, led by Dr Dixit Thakur, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist, includes a wide network of doctors and nurses managing various critical patient needs at home”, says Mr Mishra, who has leveraged his experience in healthcare marketing and sales to assemble a proficient medical team.
“Since its inception six and a half years ago, the company has successfully managed 40,000 patients. Our services include ICU and nurse/attendant at home; rental and sale of specialist medical equipment from hospital beds and patient transfer chairs to DVT (deep vein thrombosis) pumps, ventilators and wheelchairs”, he adds.
HDU Healthcare’s home ICU services cater to two types of patients. “First, patients who need short-term critical care (7-14 days). It costs between ₹8,000 to ₹12,000 per day, which is significantly lower than hospital ICU charges that can be as high as ₹1 lakh per day. Secondly, patients who require long-term care following a stroke or other neurological ailments. For them, monthly costs range between ₹1.5 lakh and ₹1.8 lakh, which makes affordability a challenge for many families”, explains Mishra.
“Some health insurance companies in India are now covering home healthcare services and patients can claim reimbursements based on their cover. Even some government employees are entitled to reimbursements of up to ₹1 lakh, while certain private sector undertakings cover the full cost”, he adds.
Other companies in India
To rent a wheelchair: Portea Medical Pvt. Ltd. Call 1800 121 2323 or email bookings@portea.com or customersupport@portea.com
To buy a wheelchair: Forza Medi India Pvt. Ltd. Call +91 7289999888 or service@forzamedi.com
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Excellent article & information on wheelchair services and availability in india 🇮🇳 Thanks Neena for providing all the info of having access to good home care services. Every article of yours, that i have read, are very well researched and are an enjoyable read.