Euronext Amsterdam · UCITS ETF
Invest in WHCS ETF from India
Indian and foreign residents can buy iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF (WHCS) units directly through Paasa.
By Paasa · Updated
WHCS at a glance
- Price
- $8.09-$0.07 (0.81%)
- Expense ratio
- 0.18%
- Day range
- $8.07 – $8.17
- Assets
- $811.7M
- Domicile
- Ireland
- Holdings
- 112
- Launched
- 2019
- Dividends
- Distributing
- 1 month
- -2.27%
- 6 months
- +11.13%
- YTD
- +3.14%
- 1 year
- +16.18%
- 5 years
- +15.85%
Price change, excluding dividends.
Top 10 holdings
- 1ELI LILLY10.9%
- 2JOHNSON & JOHNSON6.3%
- 3ABBVIE5.7%
- 4NOVARTIS AG5.1%
- 5MERCK & CO INC3.8%
- 6UNITEDHEALTH GROUP3.6%
- 7ROCHE PS PAR AG3.6%
- 8ASTRAZENECA PLC2.8%
- 9GILEAD SCIENCES2.7%
- 10AMGEN INC2.3%
WHCS holds 112 securities in total. These 10 are 46.6% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Sectors
- Healthcare98.6%
- Technology1.0%
Countries
- United States67.5%
- Switzerland12.1%
- United Kingdom4.9%
- Ireland3.6%
- Japan3.4%
- France2.1%
Similar funds
| Fund | Expense ratio | Assets |
|---|---|---|
| WHCAAMSiShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF | 0.18% | 403.7M |
Assets are shown in each fund's own reporting currency.
How to invest in WHCS from India
Step 1
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Step 2
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit.
Step 3
Search WHCS and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, WHCS, on Euronext Amsterdam, and place your order.
Why invest in WHCS from India
What WHCS holds
This Fund's main goal is to provide investors with a comprehensive return, achieved through both the appreciation in value of its holdings and the income generated by those assets. Ultimately, it seeks to closely replicate the performance of the MSCI World Health Care Advanced Select 20 35 Capped Index.
Outside US estate tax
WHCS is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
Hold a dollar asset
WHCS is priced in US dollars, so a weaker rupee adds to what it's worth in rupees. The rupee depreciated over 85% against the dollar between 2010 and 2025.
Paasa handles the paperwork
Investing abroad brings paperwork with it: remittance filings, capital gains reporting, foreign asset disclosure. Paasa prepares all of it for you. Your India-ready tax reports arrive at year end, ready to file.
Why WHCS' UCITS structure matters for Indian investors
WHCS is domiciled in Ireland, not the US, so it is not a US-situs asset and US estate tax does not apply to it.
On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
Capital gains are taxed in India the same way as on a US-listed ETF.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy WHCS from India?
Yes. Indian residents can buy iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF (WHCS) through Paasa. It is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and trades in US dollars. Your money leaves India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme, and the units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers.
What does WHCS invest in?
iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF holds 112 securities. Its largest holdings are ELI LILLY (10.9%), JOHNSON & JOHNSON (6.3%) and ABBVIE (5.7%). Healthcare is its largest sector at 98.6%. It is a distributing fund domiciled in Ireland.
What is the expense ratio of WHCS?
iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF has an expense ratio of 0.18% a year, taken from the fund's assets rather than billed to you. The fund manages about $811.7M.
Is WHCS a UCITS ETF, and why does that matter for Indian investors?
Yes. iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF is a UCITS fund domiciled in Ireland. Because it is domiciled outside the US, it is not a US-situs asset, so US estate tax does not apply to it. On the US shares the fund holds, the 15% US dividend withholding is paid inside the fund, and you cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
How are WHCS dividends taxed in India?
iShares MSCI World Health Care Sector Advanced UCITS ETF is a distributing fund. It pays the dividends from its holdings out to you in cash. Dividends are taxed at your slab rate in India. Paasa's dividend report lists the gross dividend and any tax withheld for each payment.
What tax do I pay in India when I sell WHCS?
In India, gains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation, and gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate. Both are worked out in rupees at the USD/INR rate on the day you bought and the day you sold, so the currency move is part of the gain. Paasa's capital-gains statement gives you the figures for your return.