Employees who complete regular annual health check-ups are significantly less likely to require hospitalisation than those who skip preventive screenings, according to the third edition of the CII–MediBuddy Workplace Health Report.

The report titled, Workplace Health Reimagined: India's Health AI Frontier — Building for Bharat, Leading the World,  found that employees who completed three annual health check-ups recorded a hospitalisation rate of 2.41%, compared with 7.27% among those who attended none—a nearly threefold difference associated with regular preventive screening. 

Based on an analysis of 10,551 employees, the study also revealed that although only 25% of employees skipped every annual health check-up, this group accounted for 46% of all inpatient hospitalisation claims and 43% of total insurance payouts, highlighting the financial impact of delayed diagnosis and treatment. 

The report highlighted that 52% of employees do not act on health check-up findings, primarily because they receive no personalised guidance, follow-up support, prioritised referrals or reminders. 

It also identified cardiovascular disease as one of the largest ongoing health burdens among corporate employees, with cardiac medications accounting for over 20% of pharmacy dispensations, while HbA1c has become the fourth most-requested diagnostic test. 

Introducing India's first Workplace Health Maturity Curve, the report assessed 459 corporate benefits programmes across seven industries and found that 73% of organisations remain at the two lowest stages of workplace health management, while fewer than 2% have reached the highest level, where employee health is integrated into business strategy through predictive and personalised interventions. 

The study further estimated that poor employee mental health costs Indian employers Rs. 1.1 lakh crore annually, with presenteeism, absenteeism, attrition and long-term disability driving productivity losses. 

Satish Kannan, Co-founder and CEO, MediBuddy, said: "For years, organisations measured the success of workplace wellness through participation—how many employees attended a health camp or completed a health check-up. The data now tells us that's no longer enough.”

 “At MediBuddy, we believe health is not simply a benefit to be administered. It is a strategic capability that shapes productivity, resilience, innovation, and long-term performance. As India’s workforce evolves and artificial intelligence transforms healthcare, organisations have an opportunity to move beyond episodic wellness initiatives towards continuous, personalised, and preventive care,” Mr. Kannan.