This research investigates the impact of physical evidence on brand perception in the Indian healthcare context, specifically comparing public and private hospital environments. The central research question addresses how tangible aspects of service delivery—such as cleanliness, infrastructure, staff appearance, signage, and ambience—affect patient trust, satisfaction, and perceived quality. A cross-sectional quantitative design was implemented using a structured questionnaire administered to 667 respondents across urban and semi-urban regions of India. Respondents included 245 public hospital and 422 private hospital visitors. Statistical analyses including descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, regression analysis, MANOVA, and PCA revealed that private hospitals consistently outperformed public hospitals across all physical evidence indicators. Cleanliness, staff professionalism, and ambience were found to be key drivers of positive brand perception and trust. The findings highlight the need for policy- level investment in physical infrastructure, particularly in the public sector, to bridge perceptual gaps and improve patient loyalty. The study offers theoretical contributions to healthcare branding and practical recommendations for infrastructure upgrades in resource-constrained environments.