82% people prefer diagnostic centers over hospitals for preventive checkups

As the nation steadily embraces preventive healthcare, what’s striking is the shift in where people are now choosing to seek it. According to the newly published “Diagnostics vs Hospitals: Preventive Health Report 2025” by ekincare, 82% of individuals now prefer diagnostic centres for their preventive health checkups, compared to just 18% who opt for hospitals. Diagnostic centres consistently emerge as the more trusted choice, offering quicker report delivery, fewer service issues, and a more seamless customer experience. The report shows diagnostic centres have 30% fewer report errors and deliver 71% of results within 48 hours significantly faster than hospitals, which deliver only 47% within the same time period.

The study draws on appointment and ratings data across India’s top five metros; Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Pune, and Hyderabad, representing 75% of the country’s diagnostic volumes. It offers a comparative view of customer satisfaction, accuracy, speed, and service quality between diagnostic centres and hospitals for services such as annual checkups, pre-employment screenings, and lab tests.

“What we’re seeing is a structural shift in how preventive healthcare is being delivered and consumed in India,” said Kiran Kalakuntla, CEO and Founder, ekincare. “The modern health-seeker values speed, transparency, and control and diagnostic centres are meeting those expectations more consistently than hospitals. This data is a wake-up call for how India’s preventive healthcare ecosystem must evolve,” he added.

Key highlights from the report:

• Turnaround time: 71% of reports from diagnostic centres are delivered within 48 hours, compared to only 47% from hospitals.
• Report accuracy: Just 3.3% of diagnostic centre reports needed corrections, as opposed to 4.4% from hospitals—indicating 30% fewer errors.
• Customer ratings: 81% of diagnostic centre visits received a 4-star rating or higher, versus 79% for hospitals.
• Service issues: Customers report 56% lower instances of long wait times and 33% fewer complaints about staff behaviour at diagnostic centres.
• Geographical insights:
  • Mumbai: 95% of preventive health appointments were fulfilled at diagnostic centres.
  • Hyderabad: Diagnostic labs outperformed hospitals with 94% better staff behaviour ratings and 74% higher hygiene scores.
  • Bengaluru: 84% of diagnostic reports were delivered within 48 hours, compared to 53% at hospitals.
  • Delhi-NCR: 87% of reports from diagnostic centres were delivered within 48 hours vs. just 38% at hospitals, with 70% fewer wait-time complaints.
  • Pune: Only 0.7% flagged poor staff behaviour at diagnostic centres, compared to 6.3% at hospitals.

As India pivots from reactive treatment to proactive well-being, the rise of diagnostic centres reflects a deeper shift in the country’s relationship with health itself. Preventive healthcare is becoming a behavioural norm. And diagnostic centres, with their accuracy, efficiency, and superior service experience, are emerging as the preferred partners in this shift. This is about redefining the first step in staying healthy.
MB Bureau