Rockland Hospital, Gurgaon

The Rockland Group as part of its plans to establish five multi-speciality hospitals in the National Capital Region, is coming up with a 250-bed multi specialty hospital in Manesar

Location: At Manesar, Gurgaon. The hospital site is approximately 25 kilometres away from IGI airport.

When did construction start: October, 2008.

Time of commissioning: Early 2010. With immediate effect, the group has commissioned a clinic on site of the main hospital. The clinic provides health check programmes.

Promoters: The promoter is Rockland Hospital Limited, a company lead by Chairman Rajesh Srivastava.

Other hospitals of the group: It has a 110- bed multi specialty hospital in the Qutub Institutional area.

Total number of beds: 250.

Number of beds to be commissioned in first phase: 60 beds.

Budget (inclusive of cost of land, construction and equipment): A total outlay of Rs. 250 crore.

Type of investment: This includes finance from the IFC of the World Bank and other institutions along with inputs from the promoters.

Corporate or Trust Hospital: Corporate.

"Since this facility is close to NH-8, one of the key specialties will be critical care and trauma" - Dr KS Bhimwal Project Director Rockland Group of Hospitals

Single specialty or multi-specialty: Multi-speciality hospital. Says Dr KS Bhimwal, Project Director, Rockland Group of Hospitals, “It will provide all OPD and emergency services, life saving, therapeutic and curative secondary care to the general population and tertiary care will be added as per need. Rockland Hospital in Delhi will provide its expert backup for tertiary care to begin with. Since this facility is close to NH-8, one of the key specialties will be critical care and trauma.” The hospital will focus on research and niche specialties like cancer and haematology (with stem cell therapy and bone marrow transplant). It would also have minimal invasive surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, cardiology and orthopaedics besides other specialties. Special focus will be in setting up a department of geriatrics with an exclusive assisted living program for the elderly ill. A reference diagnostic laboratory complete with haematology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology and blood bank services will be established to provide high end laboratory services for all its hospitals in NCR. This hospital will also have one of the most advanced retreats in the NCR dedicated for silvers (the elderly) spread across five acres. It will have integrated international designs to match 75 specially-designed geriatric care units with a 250-bed super-specialty hospital existing in the same periphery.

Any subsidy taken from the Government and what is the arrangement with the Government against that: The land was allotted to the Group, by the HSIIDC at IMT Manesar, being a successful bidder, with a proviso to provide in patient services at 30 per cent of the normal hospital charges for 20 per cent of its functional beds and provide free consultation to 20 per cent OPD patients from weaker section of the society.

USP: The USP of the group is its well reputed and experienced faculty.

Reason for choosing Manesar: The KMP global corridor which is being constructed by the Government will make accessibility to Manesar easy from other states as well. The existing bed population of 0.45 in this area suggests an acute need for hospitals. Right now, the patients from this area have to travel to Delhi, Gurgaon or Noida for their healthcare facilities. Manesar is an upcoming area of NCR. More than 1, 00,000 people go to work there already.

About architecture and environment-friendly measures: The hospital collected and analysed regional and local environmental status for various attributes, like topography, geology, ambient air quality, meteorology, water quality, noise level, soil characteristics and land use, transport, settlement status and socio economic aspects etc. "We next identified environmental impacts of our activities and then prepared and environmental management plan (EMP).Besides, it is designed in such a way that natural light and air is enhanced in the rooms and corridors. It is also designed for significant energy conservation," says Dr Bhimal.

The total wastewater generated will be treated in a well-designed sewage treatment plant of capacity 180 KLD to recover the effluent (recycled water) of quality suitable for reuse in landscaping, DG sets and AC cooling, etc. The process adopted is high efficiency Extended Aeration System. There will be zero discharge from the hospital. Six rain water harvesting pits will capture the rain water and these will be used to recharge the ground water.

The hospital will ensure use of energy efficient lighting and ventilation. The design approach has been to shut out excess heat using solar shade screens, roof overhangs, awnings, trees and landscaping. Solar lighting will be provided for open spaces and for hot water supply to kitchen. An Environment Management Plan is in place from the beginning of the project, from the construction phase, to mitigate the environmental impact right from the construction phase of the project involving reducing dust, ensuring use of clean fuel by vehicles on-site and use of low sulphur diesel in DG sets.

Total area of the land: Five acre plot.

Total square feet area of the hospital: Four lakh square feet.

Centrally air-conditioned: Yes.

Ways to market it: An innovative marketing strategy would involve merging the hospital services with the existing health infrastructure both civil and private to strengthen and evolve an effective healthcare delivery system where Rockland Hospital positions itself at the apex of the delivery chain maintaining a leadership both locally and across the country as a model delivery system. It also will establish and maintain its pioneer's role in geriatric care.

Future plans: In days to come, the centre will be a hub for geriatric care with a dedicated block for its assisted living programme which will have excellent rehabilitation services including a gymnasium and a swimming pool. The hospital will also have departments for trauma, stem cell therapy and in-vitro fertilisation.

rita.dutta@expressindia.com