Despite a drop of 20% in the total value of private equity deals in the healthcare space last year, the sector is poised for increased interest from investors as they take a conservative view of global economic well-being. Demand for healthcare investment opportunities often increase during periods of economic weakness, said Nirad Jain, a New York-based partner with Bain & Company, as investors often "believe [healthcare] services and products are more of a necessity instead of a luxury, and therefore less linked to the economic cycle."