Transforming Kolkata’s healthcare into world-class medical facilities

Over the past two decades, Kolkata’s medical facilities have been significantly transformed, reducing the exodus of patients to Chennai and Vellore

The hordes of medical pilgrims filling the berths of the Coromandel Express and Madras Mail have thinned out considerably over the years as Kolkata’s private healthcare sector scrambles to make up for lost time. Kolkata has not always been the best served in terms of healthcare, and for patients with serious ailments and often not so serious ones, Chennai, Vellore or Mumbai were the default destinations. It was also a matter of perception, as most Kolkatans believed that they would only get better care at hospitals outside the city.

However, Kolkata’s healthcare landscape has undergone a paradigm shift in the last two decades, riding on the back of private sector initiatives as the number of beds continues to rise. Availability of skilled doctors was never a problem in the city and now the pool of healthcare experts has increased significantly with a steady flow of medical professionals returning from the NHS in the UK and other advanced countries to meet the growing demand in their hometowns. Over time, the city has gradually regained confidence in its private hospitals as they no longer lack modern facilities and latest equipment. The confidence has started to seep back, ounce by ounce, and the Coromandel is no longer as full of patients heading south as it used to be. Of course, it hasn’t happened overnight and there is still a long way to go.

Kolkata’s progress in private sector participation is in line with the national scenario as analysts say the country’s healthcare sector has grown at a CAGR of 22% between 2016 and now and the Centre’s allocation of Rs 90,658.63 crore for the sector in the interim budget for 2024-25 reflects this upward trend. However, rebuilding trust in any service, not the least of which is healthcare delivery, requires a lot of dedication and meticulous planning. After all, just like any other customer, a patient has a retail choice and can switch allegiance if expectations are not met.

It is known that a big and important milestone in this medical makeover of Kolkata was the unveiling of the Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences in 2000 by the founder of Narayana Health Group, Dr. Devi Shetty. This set the ball rolling and many other world-class hospitals started their services in Kolkata. It was the founder’s flagship facility, which he started in his favorite city, Kolkata.

The journey began over two decades ago with a single specialty hospital and has grown into a network of four super-specialty hospitals in Kolkata. Today, Kolkata boasts of super-specialty tertiary care, these facilities offer over 35 specialties such as cancer care, mother and child health and orthopedics. The healthcare sector in India, which serves a huge population of 1.4 billion, faces challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, shortage of doctors, poor rural amenities and limited access to health insurance.

To address these issues, the Group is planning a 1,000-bed hospital in New Town and a 100-bed facility in Mukundapur. The hospital in New Town will treat 5,000 to 7,000 OPD patients daily. The hospitals in Kolkata also cater to patients from neighbouring countries and manage a growing number of non-communicable diseases.

The introduction of advanced technology and modern treatment protocols has reduced the average hospital stay from six to four days, thereby optimizing resources. A future-proof approach is aimed at increasing smiles by saving lives. Evolution of healthcare, in desirable ways, is crucial in the region. This would lead to a higher phase of progress, guided by the principles of compassion, innovation and deep commitment that were envisioned more than two decades ago.

(The author is the Group Chief Operating Officer of Narayana Health. The views expressed are personal)