Indian healthcare sector is estimated to reach $100 billion by 2015, growing 20 per cent year-on-year, as per rating agency Fitch. Yet, paradoxically there are a large number of small and mid-size hospitals of different capacities that remain grossly under subscribed.
Imperia Health, a Hospitals Operations Management Company for Mid-Size Hospitals in India, hosted a panel discussion on this topic. Held at Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi on April 21, 2013, the discussion was lead by Dr Naresh Trehan, Chairman & MD, Medanta, Medicity; Shekhar Gupta, Editor-in-Chief, Indian Express; Dr Giridhar Gyani, Director General, Association of Healthcare Providers India; and Shiv Khera, Motivational Speaker. These experts conducted a detailed discussion on the declining market of mid–size hospitals and its effects over the population and healthcare indicators for the country. The event was attended by a large gathering of distinguished medical professionals, leaders from different industries and media personalities.
The discussion started over the emerging demand for better healthcare facilities and advanced solutions in the field of medicine.
Dr Naresh Trehan stated, “Healthcare in India has transitioned from family doctors, local or community hospitals to the corporate hospitals over the years. The problem that we are facing today is that there is a dearth of front-line hospitals that can cater to the middle and lower strata of society with efficient and affordable health facilities and treatment. A majority of our population that comprises these people are therefore left with no choice but to go to tertiary hospitals as a result of which hospitals like AIIMS, Safdarganj etc. are booked to full capacity.”
Dr Harsh Mahajan, MD, Mahajan Imaging elaborated, “Almost one-fourth of mid-size and multi-super speciality hospitals in India are on the verge of collapse and are either shutting shop or seeking mergers or sell out. While corporate hospitals are cashing on this trend, it is the middle and lower income groups that are finding it hard to meet their health requirements due to financial constraints.”
Dr Randhir Sud, Chairman, Institute of Hepatobiliary Sciences, Medanta added, “The market is ripe for the entry of a leading enabler and provider of high quality affordable healthcare services in the mid and small range healthcare providers.”
Dr Girdhar J Gyani, the well known quality expert of India and driver for NABH standards, now heading the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) (AHPI), expressed concerns over the declining financial performance of the mid-size community hospitals and emphasised the need for introducing professional management systems into these assets along with focused training inputs for ensuring patient safety and quality issues. He stated that his association is also working towards strategising means to make available capacity building system for these hospitals.
Speaking at the occasion, Shiv Khera also emphasised that it is the need of the hour that these mid size hospitals are given due focus for developing the skills of the staff and are trained towards higher motivation levels for fulfilling the goals of the health sector.
In a bid to tackle the situation, IPE Global, a multi-disciplinary consulting company has seeded a new model of hospital operations management through its venture Imperia Health in a bid to provide good and safe healthcare services at affordable cost. This venture aims at assisting, managing and partnering with a network of healthcare establishments in the small and mid size range to especially catering to the needs of all economic stratas of the society. The model is expected to play a crucial role in driving hospitals that are on the decline in Tier 1 and II cities towards sustainability through manpower management, asset management, marketing and quality assurance. The venture will also support new entrants to set up green field projects matching the demand and quality of services required.
Speaking of the venture, Dr Trehan said, “Imperia Health can play an assured role of building and creating a network of mid-size hospitals with better assistance in daily operations. Our healthcare management services can outshine people running the sector presently who lack proper knowledge of accountability, hygiene and cost maintenance.”
Dr Mahajan’s view on the venture is that Imperia Health is set to cater to the section of the middle and lower income groups of the society with its model of hospital operations management. It targets such declining hospitals to improve their manpower, infrastructure, capacity for treatment and ability to deal with emergency and terminal cases.
“Imperia plays a pivotal role as it aims at providing best and safe services to middle class patients at their door steps. Imperia would act as a huge support to the middle and lower strata of the society with its high quality services at reasonable prices, ” opined Dr Sud.
Dr Devi Shetty, Chairman & MD, Narayan Hrudayalaya, in a message to Imperia Team, stated, “The path you have chosen is vitally important for the endurance of health sector in India. Large healthcare players together do not even form one per cent of the total number of beds in this country. Majority of the players run with 30-60 beds and they are the ones who offer healthcare to majority of the population. It is important that professional help is available to them the way you are planning. I would wish you all the success in your endeavour.”