The Hindu Business Line : Healthcare sector attracting more investments despite slowdown

The industry needs to work out ways for a more efficient public-private participatory engagement with a focus on bringing down cost while also ensuring quality care. – Ms Sangita Reddy

Ms Sangita Reddy

Our Bureau

Hyderabad, Nov. 19

When the whole world is talking about general economic slowdown, the healthcare sector has yet again proved that it is recession proof with more investments in the pipeline, according to Ms Sangita Reddy, Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals Group.

However, she felt that the industry needs to work out ways for a more efficient public-private participatory engagement with a focus on bringing down cost while also ensuring quality care and sustaining existing projects.

Role of technology

Speaking at Healthcon 2008 hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Ms Reddy said that technology has become a key differentiator in offering quality healthcare. However, this comes with a cost, which makes it difficult for people at the bottom of the pyramid.

However, certain schemes launched by the Andhra Pradesh Government and the Gujarat Government stand out and show how it is possible to offer quality medicare with PPP model. However, it would be a challenge to sustain such programmes.

Citing high levels of investments made in the US and Singapore, which indemnify those seeking quality healthcare, Ms Reddy said that for a country like India it would be hard to find similar levels of funds.

In the case of US, they pump in about 16 per cent of GDP for healthcare and Singapore deploys 3 per cent. On an average, healthcare costs are 2 per cent higher than the GDP.

Rural programmes

The Principal Secretary, Healthcare, Andhra Pradesh Government, Mr P.K. Agarwal, said that the State has initiated several healthcare projects aimed at helping people in the rural parts of the State.

Citing the Arogyasri programme that helps reach out medicare to the poor, Mr Agarwal said efforts are on to reach out more sections of the society.

The Government, which has earmarked about Rs 700 crore for healthcare through PPP model, is pumping in about Rs 300 crore to support healthcare with supply of medicines.

These initiatives are being complemented by 104 Service to offer primary healthcare at the doorstep of people living in the rural parts of the State.

Around 500 fully equipped medical vans would go to the doorstep of rural households offering women and children quality medicare. These vans will be connected to central servers gathering information in real time, Mr Agarwal said.

The Chairman of CII-Andhra Pradesh, Mr Utpal Sen Gupta, invited players in the healthcare sector to become members of CII as it serves as an ideal platform to network and work collaboratively.

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