18 hospitals, with over 3,100 beds, lined up in private healthcare by March 2015.
There wasn’t a better time to get hospitalised with the city witnessing a sudden spurt in the number of private care hospitals. About 18 hospitals, with over 3,100 beds, are lined up in private care by March 2015, with locations like Whitefield, Bellandur, HSR Layout and North Bangalore being prime areas of focus.
Of these 18, quite a few are specialised hospitals catering to niche disciplines like eyecare, orthopaedics, neurology, childcare, heart care and cancer.
Experts say the influx of professionals from across the country and rising purchasing power are creating a demand for specialised care in newer areas.
“There are several locations that are underserved by quality and speciality hospitals. This leads to patients travelling from one end to another to access healthcare of their choice, thereby wasting time in the process,” says Rajen Padukone, CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises.
The city currently has about 350 nursing homes and private hospitals, with approximately 12,000 beds between them. Locations like Kengeri Satellite Town, Whitefield, Hebbal, Bellary Road, Sarjapur, Yelahanka etc, that are seeing rapid real estate expansion hold huge potential for setting up new hospitals, feel experts.
“Older parts of the city have sufficient hospitals. The periphery needs a boost now,” says Dr NK Venkataramana, vice-chairman, BGS Global Hospitals.
Hospital chieftains admit that though healthcare expenses are rising, people are ready to pay inorder to acquire the latest technologies and procedures.
“The paying capacity has increased drastically. Today almost every middle class person, who earns between `20,000-`30,000 per month, would want to avail private care facilities, whether it is a nursing home or a speciality hospital,” says a doctor running his own practice, adding that as and when more people take up insurance cover, “the cost burden will automatically reduce.”
Another factor fuelling the demand for hospitals is the gradual decline in the role of family doctors and general physicians. This is leading to people running into hospitals and nursing homes for every small and big ailment.
“Once a person hits the hospital doors, in most cases he ends up getting admitted for at least one night. We are seeing more of this, wherein people have got admitted for even a stomach ache or high fever,” says the doctor.
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