Hospital Build & Infrastructure India 2012 (HBII), a power packed three-day technical conference and exhibition is close at hand. According to the organisers and participants, HBII 2013 is geared to be the largest strategic gathering of investors, commissioners, backers and managers of healthcare-related building projects with key players and exhibitors in planning, design, construction, operations, management, supply and refurbishment. In a candid interaction with Raelene Kambli, Guru Prasath K R, Group Exhibitions Director shares his views on the hospital infrastructre industry in India, HBII’s role in fostering growth for the sector and the highlights of the event
Excerpts….
You have been in the hospital infrastructure sector for quite some time now. What is your outlook on the hospital infrastructure sector in India?
| Guru Prasath K R |
The last few years have seen massive investment and expansion in the Indian hospital infrastructure sector with a large number of new healthcare facilities and renovation of existing facilities nationwide. Going by the industry reports, the Indian healthcare sector is pacing at a growth rate of 20 per cent and is expected to touch the $100 billion mark by 2015 from the current level of $65 billion. It is undoubtedly on everyone’s radar and is attracting investments from all across the globe.
Reports also suggest that India is expected to witness the largest number of merger and acquisitions (M&As) in the healthcare sector and with 100 per cent foreign direct investment permitted for health and medical services, there are already activities from major national and international healthcare brands in India. The advancing healthcare facilities in India have also led to a rise in the Indian Medical tourism share. India’s share in the global medical tourism industry is expected to reach around three per cent by the end of 2013. Medical tourism is expected to generate revenue around $3 billion by 2013.
The current scenario certainly highlights burgeoning opportunities in the Indian hospital infrastructure sector.
What are the infrastructure challenges faced by hospitals in India? How can the infrastructure sector contribute in overcoming these challenges?
Currently India’s one billion plus population is being catered to by about 13000 hospitals and that is woefully inadequate. To further add to this, the hospital bed ratio stands at 0.9 hospital bed for every 1000 people. While India has several centers of excellence in healthcare delivery, a large number of healthcare facilities still are limited in their ability to drive healthcare standards because of poor hospital infrastructure in the vast majority of the country. The challenges the sector faces are substantial, from the need to improve physical infrastructure to the necessity of providing health insurance and ensuring the availability of trained medical personnel.
This demand supply mismatch has led to cost of healthcare in India getting increasingly prohibitive. There is a vast scope for healthcare players to bridge this gap.
The possible solution to meet the increasing demand and to exploit the existing opportunities certainly includes investments and combined efforts from private and public healthcare players who can further complement each other’s skills, expertise and resources across the states in India. This will lead to the creation and augmentation of hospitals, diagnostics, speciality and telemedicine clinics which can provide access to quality healthcare to both rural and urban masses.
Though the costs involved in the complete upgradation of the hospital infrastructure sector are huge, there are enormous pay-offs in long-term investments in this sector.
What role does the HBII play in boosting the Indian hospital infrastructure industry?
As mentioned earlier, there are numerous opportunities in the Indian hospital infrastructure sector and to encash upon it; a dedicated platform is needed for discussions and associations. HBII has structured itself to provide the industry with a holistic platform to come together under one roof to showcase, see, discuss and work together on all the aspects involved in hospital build, design and upgrade.
We are offering a platform where investors, planners, builders, contractors, architects and designers will meet senior managers and commissioners of PSU and private healthcare facilities in India to work together as a potent business force. An exhaustive range of products, solutions and services across all areas of hospital investment, planning, designing, building, operating, managing and refurbishing will be showcased and highlighted here. We intend to provide a one stop solution for the Indian Hospital infrastructural needs thus offering our exhibitors, visitors and the industry, an optimum business environment for face-to-face business meetings between the providers and the relevant buyers and end-users from India’s hospital infrastructure industry.
HBII has been receiving a good response from the industry with an increased no. of new exhibitors and sponsors from India and abroad. The phenomenal response, support and participation from the hospital infrastructure industry clearly indicate the trust and value that HBII has generated in a short span of three years.
The first two editions of this event were called HII, and this year there seems to be a re-naming/ re-branding to HBII. What is the rationale?
HBII is a part of the Hospital Build Series of events on hospital infrastructure which are organised in Middle East, Europe, China, Turkey and Russia by the Informa Exhibitions which also proudly hosts many very strong partnerships that it maintains and constantly builds upon in over 70 countries worldwide, for global mega-events that include few of the leading Medical events, namely the Arab Health – world’s most important and leading event for the Healthcare Industry and ADMC, Africa Health to name a few.
From this year onwards we have initiated the process of falling in line with our international portfolio of Hospital Build & Infrastructure events and from next year onwards we will be completely replicating the international programmes and practices to reinforce HBII’s position as the only international event for hospital infrastructure in India.
How have you geared up for the HBII 2012? What preparations have been underway?
Most of the organised private infrastructure is confined to the state capitals or Tier I cities. Very few have made inroads in Tier II and Tier III cities. At HBII this year, we have invested major efforts to bring in hospitals and visitors from Tier II and Tier III cities as well and bridge this gap. We are pleased to share that leading Hospital CEOs, CMOs, Directors, Hospital Consultants and top decision makers are registering their visit at HBII 2012 in large numbers and confirming their presence.
The marketing reach has been further expanded by contracting 21 national and seven international media partners to effectively promote the event. HOSMAC has been appointed as knowledge partner for the event to efficiently support the Conference and Awards. HBII has received support from various industry associations like the American Institute of Architects (Archetype group), AWESOME, Hiranandani Hospital, Medica Synergie and the Ontario Government support from Canada to name a few.
A strong line up of speakers and industry illuminatis have been invited to speak at the forum and share their expertise and discuss the way forward. New initiatives like the Hospital Build Awards and Business match making services have also been introduced in addition to the industry specific conference tracks, product demonstrations, seminars and display of leading hospital infrastructure products, technologies and services. There is much more to witness and explore at this three-day platform this year.
What are the highlights for this year?
HBII will introduce the first ‘Hospital Build & Infrastructure Award’ with seven categories to highlight and reward the excellence achieved by the Hospitals, Architects and Builders for their valuable contribution to Indian hospital infrastructure.
HBII will also include the ‘HBII 2012 Conference’ for industry professionals to benefit from the experience of the renowned industry leaders from across the world, the highlight of it being the day one session on ‘Leaders in Healthcare’. The business match making centre will also be one of the major attractions this year which will undoubtedly benefit the exhibitors and visitors alike with direct valuable meetings throughout the three day exhibition.
What will be the key topics to be covered under the scientific programme?
In the current scenario, there is a need for exchange of technology and education to the doctors and hospital owners on various aspects related to design, telemedicine, infection control, ventilation systems, filtration systems, integrated hospital theatre and use of newer technology to develop the facilities better.
The conference programme is designed keeping all this in mind and will deliberate on some key issues related to hospital design and planning, innovations as well as engineering aspects to look for when building or upgrading small as well as large healthcare units. The topics are broadly categorised into three segments, namely the Leaders in Healthcare, Hospital Build, Design and Upgrade and Quality of Care. Like very year, the three day HBII conference will have renowned leaders as speakers at the forum.
Who are the national and international speakers at the event?
The conference programme is expected to bring together some of the prominent figure-heads from hospital sectors that will include Dr Chandrashekhar R, Chief Architect, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Rana Mehta, Healthcare ED, PWC, D. Ramakanta Panda, MD, Asian Heart Institute, Dr Sujit Chatterjee, CEO, L H Hiranandani Hospital, Dr Shakti Gupta, Head, Department of Hospital Administration, AIIMS, Dr Vishal Bali, Group CEO, Fortis Healthcare, VP Kamath, COO, Wockhardt Hospitals, Dr Girdhar Gyani, Member, Governing Board- NABH, Rajiv Kumar Jain, Director (Health and Family Welfare), Ministry of Railways, Dr Yash Paul Bhatia, President, Indian Healthcare Quality Forum, Gaurav Chopra, Managing Director, HKS India and Rajendra Chaudhari, Global Head – Enterprise Solutions, TCS to name a few of our renowned national speakers.
International speakers include Bruce Crook, Director of International Projects, Silver Thomas Hanley Architects, Australia, Marcelle Mcphaden, Accreditation Canada International (ACI), US, Amer Bin Ahmed, Managing Director, Knauf, UAE, Aladin Niazmand, Global Director, Health Facility Planning Specialist, TAHPI, UAE, Emmanuel Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Portalp International, France, Frederic Nantois, Associate Partner – International Development in Healthcare sector, France, Cyril Jacob, Managing Director, Archetype Group, France, Sven Knoll, Founder CEO, Bioni, Germany, Remko Rausch, Business Developer, Drager Medical GmBH, Germany.
The last HBII 2011 edition attracted some very prominent participants in the exhibition. What is new for this edition and what are your expectations?
HBII 2012 has received a very good response from new exhibitors and sponsors. Some of the top brands who will be displaying state of art Hospital infrastructure products at the event are Tata Motors, Godrej Interiors, Draeger, HLL Lifecare, Allarch Healthcare, Eubiq, CR medisystems, Mindray to name a few.
There are few new entrants like Knauf, STH Architects, Carefusion, Bowman Rilley amongst others who will further widen the range of products and solutions on display at the event for the healthcare facilities. Healthcare architects and consultants have also joined the exhibitor category and I am sure in the next edition we will have more participation from such categories.
This is the third year that this event will be organised in Mumbai. Are you not considering other cities and states within India?
Certainly yes! Our exhibitors have shown keen interest to explore options of such an event in other cities, especially at New Delhi. We are seriously considering their feedback and have been engaging our talks with our exhibition committee to look into this possibility for next year.
What is your message for the participants, exhibitors and visitors at HBII 2012?
If you are planning to upgrade, refurbish your existing hospital facility or looking for solutions for your new facility then HBII is just the right platform for you to visit. We are delighted to invite the entire healthcare fraternity to the 3rd International Hospital Build & Infrastructure India 2012. This years’ event will showcase more than 100 participating companies, and will exhibit products and solutions for wide range of hospital planning, hospital infrastructural products, medical technology and much more….
The event has been structured to enable you to get the most out of your visit and we warmly invite you to attend all event features relevant to your business.
As healthcare management is being seen as an alternative/parallel career alternative to medicine, a number of medical colleges have started offering courses in this field. Do you plan to have any pull for academia or students at HBII?
We have always paid attention to invite a good number of medical colleges for the conference and this year as well we have sent invitations to the deans of colleges across the nation to encourage and send their students to participate at the event and benefit from the unlimited knowledge and exposure imparted through the platform.