Expansion

MIMS Plans Ten Hospitals in Malabar

The first hospital project coming up in Vadagara region

The flagship hospital from the group at Kozhikode

Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), run by Dubai-based Dr Moopen's Group, has chalked out ambitious plans to build ten more hospitals in the Malabar region. The regions which have been finalised so far for the hospital projects are in the districts of Palakkad, Kannur, Kozhikode and Mallapuram district. So far, it has chosen Vadagara (which is a small town in Kozhikode) and Neelampur in Mallapuram district.

As of now, the group has two hospitals in Kerala— 600-bed MIMS Hospital at Kozhikode and a 150-bed MIMS at Kottakkal in Mallapuram district. All these ten new hospitals would be secondary care general hospitals of around 100 beds. "We are open to green field and acquisitions for these projects," says Dr Abdulla Cheryakkat, Managing Director, MIMS.

The first hospital project is likely to come up in Vadagara region, around 50 kilometeres from MIMS, Kozhikode. The group also started a dialysis centre in Vadagara called M A Moopen Memorial MIMS Dialysis Centre. Speaking about the new projects, Dr Azad Moopen, Chairman, Dr Moopen's Group, says, "The land has been identified for the first project and we are in the process of acquiring the land." This general hospital would focus on maternity, orthopaedics and endocrinology, with focus on trauma care. The construction of this project is likely to start by early 2010 and the project is slated to be commissioned by end of 2011.

Each of the projects would cost around Rs 50 crore which is inclusive of cost of land, construction and equipment. The funding would be a mix of debt and equity. The Malabar region has been chosen for investment as it has a good base of NRI population and is bereft of good healthcare facility. The group is also planning to come up with a medical college in Wayanad district.

Meanwhile, MIMS, Kozhikode is strengthening its various departments. "Our road map for the coming three years is to make MIMS, Kozhikode the best tertiary referral hospital in the state with the addition of more departments and more facilities," says Dr Abdulla. This include a cath lab with IVUS and FFR, which is an advanced version of cath lab with facilities for doing more advanced procedures, which no other hospital in the state has all the facilities in a single equipment. "Besides, we have also introduced endo ultrasound, capsule endoscopy, double balloon enteroscope etc in gastro-entrology department, ESWL and laser equipment in urology department and 64 slice CT and an advanced DSA machine with facilities for doing advanced conventional and neuro radiological studies, radio frequency ablation for oncology procedures, CR systems and PACS," says Dr Abdulla.

It is also starting a high-end comprehensive center for oncology in association with Health Care Global. It is also inaugurating an infertility center in association with CRAFT of Kodugalur.

Rita Dutta