Hyderabad, India — Even as the United States imposes heavy tariffs on Indian exports and tightens its H-1B visa policies, Hyderabad continues to draw global corporations, underscoring the city’s growing prominence as a strategic hub for healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. The recent inauguration of HCA Healthcare’s first Global Capability Centre (GCC) in India is a testament to this trend.
HCA Healthcare, a Fortune 100 leader with a network of 192 hospitals and 2,500 care sites across the US and UK, has chosen Hyderabad as the cornerstone of its global digital operations. The company’s new facility spans 400,000 square feet across four floors in Sattva Knowledge Park, HITEC City. HCA plans to invest $75 million (₹650 crore) by the end of 2025 and scale up its workforce to 3,000 by 2026.
The GCC will focus on areas such as IT, supply chain management, procurement, HR, finance, and accounting, serving as a backbone for HCA’s worldwide hospital and care teams. This move highlights how global corporations are increasingly looking beyond traditional hubs, choosing Hyderabad for its unique combination of talent, infrastructure, and affordability.
Industries and IT Minister D. Sridhar Babu, speaking at the inauguration, emphasized the city’s strategic edge: “Hyderabad is the gateway to a complete global ecosystem of healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences. With world-class hospitals, over 800 pharma companies, and a thriving GCC-driven R&D base, Telangana has built one of the finest healthcare infrastructures in the world.”
Global Headwinds vs. Local Strengths
The timing of this expansion is notable. Over the past year, the U.S. has tightened immigration policies, including stricter H-1B visa requirements, and increased tariffs on certain Indian exports as part of its domestic economic strategy. Traditionally, such measures have posed challenges for Indian tech and service sectors that rely heavily on U.S. markets.
However, Hyderabad appears to be bucking this trend. Experts point to several reasons:
- Shift Towards Remote Global Operations: The pandemic accelerated global companies’ shift toward distributed teams. Setting up capability centres in India allows companies like HCA to reduce dependency on physical mobility while maintaining high operational standards.
- World-Class Talent Pool: Hyderabad has emerged as a talent magnet, offering skilled professionals across IT, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences at competitive costs.
- Policy Support and Stability: Telangana’s government has actively promoted policies favoring foreign investment, including ease-of-doing-business reforms and targeted incentives for healthcare and pharma sectors.
- Integrated Ecosystem: The city’s unique mix of IT expertise and pharmaceutical R&D makes it a one-stop destination for healthcare innovation.
Future Outlook: Hyderabad as a Global Healthcare Nerve Centre
Analysts predict that Hyderabad’s prominence will only grow as global corporations seek to balance geopolitical risks and operational costs. The city’s role is expected to evolve from being a service hub to becoming a centre for innovation and product development.
Key trends to watch:
- Increase in GCC investments from healthcare, medtech, and biotech giants.
- AI-driven healthcare innovations emerging from Hyderabad’s tech-pharma nexus.
- Global supply chain resilience, with Hyderabad serving as a strategic hub for sourcing and logistics.
Even with external headwinds, Hyderabad’s trajectory suggests that the city will continue to thrive. As companies like HCA Healthcare double down on investments, Hyderabad is positioning itself as a vital player in the future of global healthcare and life sciences.