Carethics

While the benefits of IT in health care industry are apparent, yet its adoption in India is far below that in banking, commerce, travel, or any other industry. However the picture is not as bleak as it may appear. Many hospitals are working towards the use of innovative technology for better patient and health care.

According to the source, Apollo Hospitals is one such hospital. Apollo Hospitals is working on a project with Tata Consultancy Services that will give each of its patients a Universal Hospital Identification Number (UHIN). The number will provide any doctor anywhere across the globe, the patient’s entire medical history and records.

HealthHiway is another Apollo Hospital’s and industry initiative, which you should know about. As per the source, it will build and provide a comprehensive National Health Data Network, ensuring best global practices in healthcare processes and solutions. This will bring about an improvement in the key performance indicators—patient services, clinical outcome and financial health of user companies and result in satisfied patients.

In Indian hospitals, even today most of the information on each patient is entrusted to the individual doctor’s memory and instructions are passed down by word of mouth. In a hospital where work happens in shifts and there are three sets of nurses, three sets of ward boys, servers and duty doctors handling each patient, one can only imagine how some of the information is bound to be lost when passed down to all in charge of the patient.

Even the minutest information on hospital infections, allergic reactions, even bedsores can greatly affect a patient’s treatment and experience in the hospital. Thus, we see how a centralized automation system can solve this problem. As per the source, a hospital that has implemented, and is fully utilizing a Hospital Information System and Electronic Medical Records has seen to enhance its patient’s safety and reduce the potential for human error and oversight.

For example, proper record keeping of such minute but important details, also allows hospitals to identify and find the roots of recurring infections in the hospital. These can then be tracked to their source – poor sanitation, a negligent staff member, or improper monitoring of guests – and eliminated at the source itself.

Indian hospitals should look at automation for core medical needs, way beyond just administration work.

Taking cue from growing need for infrastructure for healthcare in the country, many real estate developers are finding the sector hot. So apart from developing residential spaces and commercial establishments, developing hospital has also become good investment opportunities.

Livemint reports SPV builders will built 300 bed multi-specialty Hospital in NCR.

Ghaziabad-based real estate developer SVP Builders India Ltd, announced an investment of Rs500 crore in residential, commercial and healthcare spaces. Firm would offer over 3,100 flats in NCR and a 300-bed multi-speciality hospital in Faridabad. This will be there first investment in healthcare. While the Faridabad hospital would be ready by 2009, SPV is planning another hospital in Ghaziabad with no set deadlines yet.

I think more quality hospitals means more the options for the consumers,and more comparative pricing….In the end it’s going to benefit consumers only.

IVEN Medicare, division of ICICI venture for healthcare investments, has raised $250 million reports FE. They already have a deal with 5 hospitals across India and seven more in the pipeline.
Some of the investments already done are:

RG Stone Hospital – Rs.40 crore
Sahyadri Hospital, Pune – Rs.140 crore
Medica Synergie, Kolkotta – Rs.65 crore

They are looking at bringing in 10,000 beds under its fold by 2009, taking up more than 50% stake in the hospitals it funds. The company’s strategy is to invest in healthcare delivery with already existing players, explore new markets (Medica Synergie is certainly a good investment when most corporate have not yet looked at taping North East market)…. As per reports, company is looking at 2-3 years period to get listed. But most hospitals need 5-7 years time to break even, so I don’t know how they are going to show returns in 3 year time period.

Any ideas on how they can do that ??