The Hindu Business Line : Hospitals start downsizing to regulate costs

Bangalore, Aug 9 Hospitals with a large number of beds would soon have to think of rationalising their size, in view of advanced medical technologies reducing duration of the stay for patients. With the adoption of sophisticated diagnostic systems and minimum invasive procedures, effectiveness of medical care was minimising the post-operations care — resulting in lesser in-patients.

Developed countries have already started downsizing hospitals to overcome cost pressures, while the trend is likely to be emulated by developing countries. This could influence healthcare investors to adopt an ideal model that ensures sustainable growth at a modest investment and satisfaction of providing efficient healthcare service to the community, said Dr Nandakumar Jairam, Chairman and Group Medical Director, Columbia Asia Hospitals Pvt Ltd.

Optimal servicing

Columbia Asia, which established two units in Bangalore on its own model of community hospital or neighbourhood healthcare facility, is now embarking on an expansion programme. The model signifies a small unit of 100 beds and emphasises quality and personalised service to patients, thus controlling the costs and increasing the efficiencies. This helps the hospital in achieving excellence at an optimal cost without compromising on its service commitment, said Dr Jairam.

While it plans to set up two more units in Bangalore, Columbia Asia recently started operations in Gurgaon and Kolkata. So far, Columbia Asia has invested over $30 million on four hospitals in the country. “We want to expand in double digits,” Dr Jairam said.

He told Business Line that Columbia Asia, a venture started by US-based investors to promote the community hospitals in Asia and other emerging markets to tap the huge middle class market for healthcare, would be penetrating the tier II and III cities to promote its concept hospital. Dr Jairam, however, declined to give details as the plans were in the final stage of execution.

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