Not all medical procedures require long hospital stays, says Mr Gaurav Malhotra, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Patni Healthcare.

In fact, about 70 per cent of surgical procedures are done in day-care centres in developed countries, he says, explaining why short-stay medical centres or ambulatory care is here to stay.

The fledgling Patni Healthcare has ventured into this segment with plans to crack the prohibitively-expensive Mumbai market first. Its first short-stay centre is expected in the city's suburbs later this year, offering surgical procedures across specialities including general surgery, orthopaedics, gynaecology and ophthalmology.

Ambulatory care is not a new concept in healthcare delivery, but is gaining ground in India over the last few years. Among the early movers are Beams Hospitals (that runs a network of minimally-invasive surgery centres), and Nova Medical, that runs short-stay surgical centres. “Elimination of unnecessary hospital stay is our USP (unique selling proposition),” says Nova Medical's Chairman and Chief Executive, Mr Suresh Soni.

The two-and-a-half year old Nova has nine operational centres across the country. Each centre has four to five operating rooms and beds, if required for a patient, he says. The concept is to do multi-speciality surgeries, while staying away from neuro and cardio procedures, for instance, he adds.

AlternatIVe model

Ambulatory care provides an alternative, as healthcare delivery faces challenges by way of rising costs and shortages in skilled human resources, as the “industry” status the sector seeks from Government continues to be elusive.

There is no difference whether you are setting up a healthcare project or a show-room for some other purpose — the real-estate costs, rentals, electricity, bank-financing are all the same, he says, pointing out that healthcare gets little support from authorities. But investors find short-stay centres attractive as they are asset-light, require less investment and have quicker break-evens, unlike big hospitals and healthcare institutions that have a five-six year gestation period, he says.

LOWER COSTS

It benefits the patient too, as it means a shorter hospital stay (for patient and family), lower expenses and a quality medical centre closer to them, he adds.

Patni Healthcare is headed by Mr Ashok Patni's son, Mr Apoorva Patni. Last year, Patni Computer Systems was acquired by iGate.

Patni Healthcare has earmarked Rs 500 crore towards opening 25 centres over five to eight years. About Rs 300 crore would come through equity, Mr Gaurav Malhotra said. Growth would be through a combination of setting up new facilities, and acquiring or managing existing facilities, he said. Lowe Lintas has been roped in for the branding. At an investment of Rs 25 crore, not including land and building, each centre would have about 50 doctors (not necessarily dedicated to the facility) and a similar number of support staff. It would also have its own pharmacy, operation theatres, and pre- and post-operative facilities, among others, he added.

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