To survive, smaller hospitals trying hard to go multispecialty. Doctor run hospitals most affected
Resort hospitals as well as multispecialty hospitals that afford great views- mostly of water bodies are becoming something of a trend, if not a norm in Kerala. With market demand for such hospitals on the rise, many are the medium-sized hospitals(bed capacity: 50 to 100) that are being revamped to attune to this market preference.
Such small and medium hospitals have long been the crux of private medical healthcare in God’s own country. However, these hospitals are now bent on having two or three super-specialty units in the hospital. They are also keen on raising the number of beds and renovating the premises in a bid to ‘modernize.’
Small hospitals finding survival a tough deal
What renowned gastroenterologist Dr Philip Augustine does is a case in point. He is currently in negotiations with more than 20 small and medium hospitals in Kerala to establish gastroenterology units. The doctor said thus to the Times of India(TOI):
“Small hospitals are finding it difficult to survive. They need to re-launch themselves as big, corporate hospitals are either trying to buy them out or eat into them. We need to have more super specialties at an affordable rate.”
An estimate from IMA shows that while the number of hospitals in the state was 1,950 around five years back, the number has risen to 1,100. But the number of beds remain at a steady 65,000.
Dr.Jayakrishnan A V, the IMA state president says,
“Of these, around 30% are medium-level hospitals and majority of them are doing everything possible to upgrade themselves.”
In the state, there exists about 90 corporate multispecialty hospitals- around 20 of them having NABH accreditation.
The trend of transformation Kerala is evident from the number of hospitals on that path in Kochi alone. PVS Hospital is an example. The hospital, which has a reputation for its gastro, neonatology and urology specialties is about to start pulmonology, nephrology and lung cancer centre. Not just that, a sophisticated diabetic centre and transplant medicine centre are also on the cards.
Another hospital- the VG Saraf Memorial Hospital which is famous for its mother and child care has plans to begin a digestive disease centre. 16 years since its inception, the popular Welcare hospital is also on a trajectory of renovation.
The trend of approaching corporate hospitals even for small ailments
Doctors in the state voice the trend of people approaching corporate hospitals even for small ailments. Dr. S Sachidananda Kamath, the medical director of Welcare Hospital said to the Times of India,
“If this trend continues then a time will come when major corporate hospitals and small clinics will survive while middle-level hospitals will be completely wiped off or left struggling for survival.”
Of course, renovations are not underway just in Kochi. Hospitals in such places as the capital, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode are also on the fray. Koyas Hospital, for instance was begun in 1945 in Kozhikode. Recently revamped, the hospital has introduced the super-specialties of neurology, cardiology and nephrology. Meanwhile Malabar Hospital, also in Kozhikode boasts neurosurgery and neurology as its latest additions. Their bed strength has gone up from 100 to 150.
Dr. K P Haridas is the chairman of Lords Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. He spoke about the hospital’s expansion plans to TOI:
“As patient demand is growing, we have major expansion plans. Soon, from a 96-bedded hospital, we will become a 200-bedded hospital. This is to ensure that we meet patient needs.”
SK Hospital, another establishment in the capital is all set to start cardio thoracic surgery and IVF unit aside from expanding the neurology facility.
There’s no getting away from the demands of the market in an ultra-commercialized scenario: the IMA seems to understand this. For the body encourages hospitals on a modernizing kick to seek NABH certification so that quality can be ensured. As Dr. R V Ashokan, chairman, IMA Hospital Board of India said to TOI:
“It is crucial for secondary hospitals to refashion themselves as tertiary care. At present, the most affected are hospitals run by doctors. No wonder, no medical graduate is willing to set up a new hospital.”
Dr, Vivek Saraf, the director of Saraf Memorial Hospital expands on the view when he says,
“Going to secondary care hospital is going out of sync. So it is important for hospitals like ours to go into two or three special categories and create a niche for ourselves in it.”
Along with the modernization efforts, hospitals are also introducing treatment packages etc. to entice the cost-conscious. In the words of Dr. MI Junaid Rahman, the medical director, Sree Sudheendra Medical Mission,
“Besides strengthening existing specialties and hiring more paramedical staff we are also offering better treatment packages. A joint replacement that used to cost minimum Rs 1.70 lakh to Rs 2 lakh earlier is now available for Rs 1.30 lakh. Also the cost of normal and caesarean delivery is almost 25% to 35% lesser than what is charged by corporate hospitals.”
The winds of change are certainly blowing in Kerala. With a rising middle class becoming a more common phenomenon across the nation, similar changes could be seen elsewhere in the near future. But which establishments would find the going tough in an age of transformation is a crucial question to ask.
Image credits: skhospitals.com