This thread is meant to discuss the various medical, health and wellness facilities that Kochi is offering and all set to offer. Kochi is growing as one of the country's leading healthcare center. This thread shall track developments and investments in Healthcare industry of Kochi

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Medical Trust Hospital

Medical Trust, is considered to the synonymous to hospital in Kochi. Started in 1973, it is one of the largest hospital in Kerala in private sector, with more than 750 bed facility and over 1000 medical professionals working.

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The accident care and cardiac surgery units are considered to one of the largest in South India

The hospital has following achievements as first

First Multi-organ Transplantation in the state and second in India
First Cardiac Transplantation in the state and third in India
First awake CABG in the state
First Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in India
First Accident care unit in private sector
First Reimplantation of severed limbs
First Successful Kidney Transplantation in the state
First Cadaver Kidney transplantation in the state
First to organise Multi super specialties in private sector
First to treat Patent Ductus Arteriosus without surgery (PDA coiling)
First to perform Renal Stenting
First to perform Haemoperfusion
First to start T.U.R.
First to start Thoracoscopic Lobar Resection of the lung
First to start Aneurysm & AVM (brain) surgery
First to start Skull base Surgery
First to start Odontoid screw fixation
First to start Trans-thoracic Spinal instrumentation
First to start Sternal split for Upper Dorsal lesions

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The Medical Trust is also one of the Premier hospital in Medical tourism industry. The hospital runs a 24x7 unit in Cochin Airport.

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The Hospital also has 3 academic units

1. Medical Trust Nursing College, located just 300 meters from Hospital near South Overbridge, that graduation and post-graduation courses

2. Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, is an upcoming large Medical college, open to students by next year

3. College of Paramedics that offers specialized courses in Physiotherapy, Radiology, Hearing/Speech aids and Nuclear Medicine.

The Hospital also has its own R&D Division that pioneers in Surgical prodedures and holistic treatment.

Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences

Kochi to get another Medical College, probably this year itself. The leading hospital group- Medical Trust have already commissioned the College facility and is currently subjected to inspection of Medical Council and LOP. The new Medical college and Super specialty center is at Irumbanam near the Airport Seaport Road.

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The center will have 200 bed facility apart from 12 O.P Clinics and Diagnostic centers.
:banana::banana:

Good thread to start with Mohammed, Kochi is really growing big in the Healthcare with a couple of medical cities, number of medical colleges, Tertiary and Hi-end hospitals and various new medical enterprises, Viz. Health mall etc. popping out every other day in various parts of the city and district.

Good thread to start with Irshad, Kochi is really growing big in the Healthcare with a couple of medical cities, number of medical colleges, Tertiary and Hi-end hospitals and various new medical enterprises, Viz. Health mall etc. popping out every other day in various parts of the city and district.

^^^^

Thanks Malayaali... But pls note, my name is Mohammed, not Irshad... Athu enthe Bappayute peru annu. Thanks

The Ernakulam General Hospital which recently bagged the prestigious National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) accreditation, will soon turn friendly to abandoned newborns also. The Social Welfare Department is constructing an ‘Ammathottil’, a cradle in which parents (in most cases mothers) abandoning their newborns can leave them. It is being constructed at a cost of Rs 2.43 lakh.

The Ammathottil will come up near the eye ward in the general hospital. The work commenced a few days ago. “There will be a ‘thottil’ where the baby can be left. Once the baby is laid in the cradle, a bell will alert the officials of the hospital who can take it immediately,” said Dr Junaid Rehman, Superintendent, Ernakulam General Hospital.

Doctors will examine the baby for 24 hours. If there is no health problem, it will be handed over to the Social Welfare Department.
The department in turn will hand over the baby to one of the charitable organisations where it will be brought up.

Those who want to adopt children usually approach such organisations.The Ammathottil was first set up in Thiruvananthapuram. ‘A few cases of babies being abandoned have been reported in Kochi. Once the Ammathottil is opened, many can make use of it,” Junaid Rehman said. The construction of Ammathottil is expected to be completed within a month.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/ammathottil-gets-ready-at-general-hospital/276351.html

Day before yesterday, I felt so proud after reading an article in Khaleej Times (a leading UAE based Newspaper). In its 4th page, a large column article came that talks about potential growth of Kerala, particularly Kochi as leading medical hub of Asia



The state has been witnessing flight of doctors, nurses and paramedics to foreign countries for the past few decades. The trend is now set for a reversal with the state emerging as an international healthcare destination.

The state’s commercial capital of Cochin has already started wooing non-resident Indian doctors with a host of world-class healthcare projects nearing completion. The city-based BCG Group, which is creating 1.6 million sq. ft of space for social infrastructure in the next four years, is gearing up for a series of road shows abroad in this connection.

It will start off by showcasing a health mall they will be opening in the city in August this year to specialist doctors and other healthcare service providers in the Middle East next month. The mall, the first of its kind in India, brings under one roof all health services and products.

The 110,000-square feet mall will have 40 consultation rooms for doctors, over 30 clinics as well as retail stores dealing with pharmacy, optical ware, cosmetics, ayurvedic drugs, skin care products, organic and health foods and medical equipment.

Christened BCG Healthsquare, the mall will have common facilities such as patient-management desk, secretarial assistance, call monitoring, billing and other services that doctors need to set up independent practice.

Rekha C. Babu, CEO of the company, said the mall will be offering multiple rental and lease options to doctors to set up practice either for short duration or permanently. Many doctors from abroad have shown keen interest in the mall, which is now found only in countries like the US, Singapore, Malaysia and Europe.

The BCG Healthsquare will also allow other hospitals to set up their kiosks in the mall in order to make available the hospital services to the patients. The company has plans to set up similar malls in Trivandrum, Calicut and three other centres in the state. The group has also plans to develop a health village in the city to cater to those who need permanent health care besides a super specialty hospital as part of their foray into the health social infrastructure sector.

The other projects that are designed to bring NRI doctors to the city are a MedCity being developed by the Dubai-based Dr Moopen’s Group and a modern health complex by the Calicut-based Baby Memorial Hospital Group. The MedCity coming up in a 30-acre site on the Airport-Seaport road at an investment of Rs.15 billion will have a 500-bed anchor hospital as the fulcrum and around it some 10 smaller hospitals of 100 to 200 beds for specialties and many allied services.

The promoters plan to bring comprehensive international quality healthcare to the city by attracting major national and international healthcare operators to the MedCity. This may elevate Cochin to a higher pedestal in delivery of advanced hi-tech treatment, says Group chairman Dr Azad Mooppan.

The integrated health complex to be built by the Baby Memorial Hospital as per the US Joint Commission International (JCI) standards will have an area of 700,000 sq ft with facilities to treat 700 inpatients and speciality blocks with 500 beds along with a host of educational institutions, research centres and residential complexes.

Apart from these, the Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), Trivandrum and the Malabar Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Calicut, have also planned to set up their centres on the outskirts of the city. KIMS is planning a Rs.20 million trauma care unit on NH 49. Along with this, Cochin may also witness an expansion of the medical education with SNDP Medical College, Vasan Dental Care, Medical Trust Medical College, Polakulath Mediciti Hospital and Kakkanad Medical Centre Pvt Ltd planning to establish medical colleges in the city

news@khaleejtimes.com

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2011/June/international_June135.xml&section=international


:banana::banana::banana:

Good start Irshad!:applause:

His name is Mohammed, not Irshad... see this previous reply

===============================================
Thanks Malayaali... But pls note, my name is Mohammed, not Irshad... Athu enthe Bappayute peru annu. Thanks
__________________
Life is like a rose..... Thorns at first, but once you reach to its soul, its beauty that rules. Don't judge with thorns but with flower


Good start Irshad!:applause:

:runaway:

I blame it on force of habit :). Maybe we can use MI?

:runaway:

I blame it on force of habit :). Maybe we can use MI?

What's in a name?- Shakespeare :nuts::nuts:

In an attempt to reduce the complications of open surgery, a team of surgeons and doctors of Lakeshore Hospital Kochi, has successfully performed a kidney transplantation laparoscopically, for the first time in the state. This is the second surgery performed in the country and the third in the entire world. While the traditional method of kidney transplantation for the past twenty-five years has been through open surgery, the last few years have seen doctors performing keyhole surgery on the donor to remove the kidney, but the transplantation was always an open procedure till now.

In this case, laparoscopic surgery is performed on the recipient as well. The kidney from the donor is kept ready by one team of doctors while an incision of the same size is done on the recipient. The kidney is inserted.
The blood vessels of the transplant kidney are joined to the recipient followed by the rejoining of the transplant ureter to the native urinary bladder.

The surgery was done by a team led by transplant and laparoscopic surgeon Dr George P Abraham. The nephrology team was headed by Dr Abi Abraham and the anaesthesia team by Dr Mohan Mathew. The surgical team included Dr Krishna Mohan Ramaswami, Dr Krishnanu Das and Dr Jisha Johnson Abraham.

Addressing the media at Lakeshore Hospital here on Thursday, Dr George said that laparoscopy is an alternative to open surgery in many conditions in gastro-intestinal, gynaecologic and urological specialities.

It offers unparalleled comfort to the patients, allowing them to attain pain-free recovery from the surgery and is cosmetically appealing. It also enables the surgeon to perform a superior job by offering a magnified view of the operating field.

“Performing keyhole kidney transplantation remained a dream till recently, owing to the technical difficulty in connecting the arteries and veins of the donor kidney to the deeply placed iliac vessels of the recipient by microfine stitches,” he said. “The patient, Bina Kumari, 35, of Kannur has made a remarkable recovery and the transplanted kidney started functioning just like in open surgery,” Dr George said. The surgery costs around Rs 3.2 lakh.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/transplant-through-laparoscopic-surgery/156636-60-122.html

Its not humans along who get world class treatments at Kochi, but also animals who are loved as pets.... Yes, Kochi is the home of India's first and only PET HOSPITAL.

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bxN-3uoOfBU

The below is review of Cochin Pet Hospital from Cochin MetroMela.

The Cochin Pet Hospital is housed in a bright, blue building at Vidhyanagar Crossroads, Panampilly Nagar, Cochin. It is a multi-specialty pet hospital, boasting of many firsts in the veterinary segment to its credit. Started by a vet duo Dr. Giggin T and Dr. K Sooraj, it offers round the clock service and even sells pet care products.

What you get - Spread over 25,000 square feet, the hospital offers 24-hour medical attention to pets with facilities like emergency care, neonatal ICU and electronic ventilator. A highly advanced operation theatre, diagnostic lab with ultrasound scanning, ECG and digital X-ray unit, auto haematology analyzer, multi-para patient analyzer and video microscope are other features. They also claim to have India's first ventilator controlled anaesthesia machine. Separate departments are there for dentistry and ophthalmology too.

An exclusive in-house pharmacy, on-call ambulance service, house visits and door-step delivery of feed apart from breeding service, renders the hospital an extraordinary advantage. All these services can be availed by dialling in to the hospital’s toll free number 18001025759.

Another unique feature of the hospital is its in-house pet grooming parlor. Apart from grooming, tips are provided to owners on pet upbringing, nutrition, breeding and buying. The hospital also has a pool where pets can have medicated and non-medicated baths. At the ‘Pet Shop’ section, a wide array of pet products and accessories like dog and cat collars, leashes, shampoos, food, furniture, toys (both Indian and imported) are available.

We are also told that all staff members are recruited by assuring they are animal lovers. The pet hospital also takes care of abandoned stray pets and handicapped pets. They also promote pet adoption. In association with CARE a Kochi-based NGO, they even run free anti-rabies vaccination camps and promote the concept of sterilizing the pets.

An infertility clinic, a maternity division and a home stay for pets are the other additional services here.

It is life that flows from a 450 ml bag of donated blood to the vein of a person in need.

There is no alternative. In emergencies what saves your life, apart from the expertise of the medical team and the latest treatment modalities, is the blood of a stranger, a person who was motivated enough to come forward for this noble gesture.

Blood donation has come of age in the district. There is no shortage of blood in emergencies, even for rare groups like O Negative. Even though a section of the public still believe that donating blood would affect their health, the awareness about the need for blood donation and its benefits has increased the number of voluntary donors in blood banks.

The blood bank of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) sees around 40 to 50 persons donating their blood in a single day. The bank, equipped with the latest machinery for testing, separation of components and storage of blood, is the main source of blood for hospitals in and around the district.

“Now, most hospitals have their own blood banks, so the demand has come down. A couple of years ago, we used to supply more than 5,000 units of blood every month, now it has come down 2,500-3,000.

With more awareness and an increase in the number of blood donation camps conducted by various organizations, we do not feel a shortage of blood,” says Dr K. Narayanan Kutty, secretary of the blood bank.

Running a blood bank is an expensive affair, and many hospitals in the district, like Welcare, KIMS, Ernakulam General Hospital and Ernakulam Medical Centre function as the storage centres of the IMA Blood Bank.

The demand for components of blood, like plasma, platelets and blood cells, goes up when there is an outbreak of diseases like chikungunya.

A 450 ml unit is supplied at Rs 500, and Ernakulam General Hospital gets 20 per cent of the supply free of cost.

Blood banks across the state discourage paid donors and insist on the provision of complete details regarding their health.

“In fact, a unit of blood saves many lives as it is separated into various components. Any healthy person in the age group of 18-60 can donate blood once in three months,” says Dr Sankari Shenoy, pathologist of KIMS Hospital.

To provide the safest blood, IMA Blood Bank-Kochi is planning to introduce Nucleic acid amplification testing whereby the window period of infections can be closed. It is for the first time in Kerala that this advanced technology is used to screen donated blood for infections apart from the basic screening tests.

Only 5% of eligible donors donate blood

*In India, those in the age group of 18-24 years donate most blood. Around 53% of all donations are made by those in this age group, followed by those in the age group of 25-44 years, 29%. Around 19% of donations are made by those aged 45-65.

*WHO said in richer countries, donors tend to be older (over 44). In low- and middle-income countries, they are younger (under 25).

*In low- and middle-income countries, almost half (45%) of all donations come from people under 25 and 18% from the over-44 age group.

Blood literacy

*IMA Blood Bank will launch a blood literacy programme on Monday, which marks World Blood Donation Day. Implemented in association with voluntary organisations, this programme aims to provide health cards to the citizens of the city, giving them basic information like blood group and other health details.

These health cards will come in handy in emergencies or while donating blood. Though Kochi Corporation began the blood literacy programme in 2002, it failed to take off. IMA Blood Bank would implement the project in schools and colleges in the first stage, expanding to all wards in the later phases.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/life-flows-450-ml-bag-051

An awareness drive to make Kochi the first blood-literate city in the country, began on Tuesday. The movement, aimed at creating awareness among Kochiites on various aspects of blood donation and to create a database on blood donation, will be completed in a year.

The drive is part of the Health Mission’s initiative to ensure 100 per cent health literacy in Kochi. As many as 17 NGOs, including the Indian Medical Association and the Red Cross, are part of the drive. “We will start the programme with division number 40. With the help of various organisations, the councillors and others will collect the data on the total number of blood donors in the division. The data collection will include details regarding the blood groups of the donors, donor status and so on. In the second stage, we will organise camps for those who do not know their blood group,” Health Mission chairman Dr Sachidananda Kamath said.

After this pilot project, we will study the problems and possibilities before moving on to the other divisions. For division number 40 alone, the budget for the reagents and other basic infrastructure is put at nearly Rs 1.5 lakh. We have already obtained this through donations. But, further on, we will have to look for support from the government or the corporates.” he added.After the blood literacy drive, the Health Mission is planning various other drives, including awareness campaigns on organ donation, communicable and non-communicable diseases, adolescent health and so on. “As the movement picks up we will join hands with all the organisations of a particular division. Through these campaigns, we are looking at creating a network, whereby there will be a mechanism to send health information immediately to every household. This will especially be helpful in the event of an epidemic outbreak.” Dr Sachidananda Kamath said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/awareness-drive-to-make-kochi-bloodliterate/159488-60-122.html

Giridhar Eye Institute has been awarded the NABH accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Health Care Providers, New Delhi. Dr S S Badrinath, founder and chairman, Emeritus Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai, will present the NABH accreditation.

Murali Srinivas, technical adviser, NABH, will deliver the keynote address and speak on ‘Quality control in healthcare - why is it necessary’. Dr A Giridhar, medical director and chief of vitreoretinal services, Giridhar Eye Institute, said that to achieve NABH standards a healthcare provider has to comply with nearly 500 objective elements covering all aspects of patient care, including registration, admission, pre-surgery and post-surgery protocols.

Giridhar Eye Institute has received the ISO Certification and Sage I certification in Kerala.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/giridhar-gets-nabh-accreditation/160545-60-122.html

The 48-bedded maternity ward at the Government General Hospital in Ernakulam has received a thorough facelift.

The 150-year-old district hospital ward has got a major makeover worth Rs 27 lakh. The project was sponsored by GAIL.

More tube lights and fans have been added to brighten up the ward. New tiles add to the feel of being at a good hospital. It is a far cry from the leaky roofs and narrow passages of the old ward.

Hospital superintendent Junaid Rahman says, “Earlier, the rooms were very dingy and dark. But with the introduction of a better wiring system, the rooms look brighter.”

He says that wiring and electrification has been completely improved. “We removed the hanging bulbs that gave the room a dark look and replaced it with two tubes per cubicle,” he adds.

“More space has been created at the ward with the introduction of a verandah. There is sufficient space for more beds,” he says.
Also, with the introduction of one fan for two beds in the four-cubicled ward, patients are more comfortable.

“Earlier, the authorities were forced to put beds near the entrance so that it could be used for patients as well as their relatives due to paucity of space. Now, it is no longer required to do so as there is more space inside the ward,” he said.

Another major change is in the flooring. Ceramic tiles have been replaced with vitrified tiles.

A nurse said, “With the introduction of doors at every cubicle, a separate nursing station and examination room have been created.” Next on the renovation list is the orthopaedic ward of the hospital.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/maternity-ward-gets-major-facelift/160538-60-116.html

Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala- Kochi

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India's largest and premier Ayurveda hospital chain- Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala (AVS) is well reputed internationally for its sophiscated ayurvedic treatments and powerful medicals as well as research labs. The Kottakal (Malappuram) based hospital group, has more than 6 decades of association with Kochi, with 4 major facilities in the city for advanced treatments


The Kottakal Arya Vaidya Sala-Thirkakkara has a large hospital cum research center at Thrikakkara near Bharat Mata College in Airport-Seaport road

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The new campus is located within 15 acre campus, also has a large herbal garden. The hospital has 3 general wards, 45 rooms and 12 suites for in-patient treatments, which includes Ayurvedic surgeries and 5 independent clinics. Apart from hospital treatment, it has an out-patient block, a yoga center, a wellness & natural lifestyle clinic.

Along with the campus, a research center functions, that works on development of new Ayurvedic formulations. The campus will soon house an nursing and Ayur-medical college, after nessecary approvals.

Apart from Thrikakkara, AVS has another hospital in Aluva, where complex ayurvedic procedures are conducted. It is the first Ayurvedic hospital of AVS outside Kottakal and first in Kochi. Located in Edathala, this hospital has one of the largest herbal estate of the state.

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In addition, AVS has an Out-Patient center in heart of Kochi at MG Road, with a pharmacy. AVS currently has a plan to convert this complex into an limited In-house treatment center and wellness clinic soon. Another center was recently opened in Lourde Center in Aluva.

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Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, ranked Top 11 Best medical college of India as part of survey conducted by Outlook Magazine!!!

Good Going!!!!:banana::banana::banana::cheers:

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The Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences ( KIMS), a leading healthcare provider in the state, has set up a multi-speciality hospital in Kochi as part of its efforts to provide quality medical facilties and to exploit the potential for medical tourism.

The KIMS Hospital and Surgical Centre as it is called has all facilities to cater to the healthcare needs of the international patients. Kochi has already become a centre for medical tourism with several hospitals springing up in the last few years to meet the demand. The 125 bed hospital, following the footprints of its flagship hospital at Thiruvananthapuram has immediate plans to obtain international and national quality accreditations.

The hospital with full fledged departments of medicine in all major specialties in association with various insurance companies has developed various customized policies and schemes to help patients across various segments. It will have a dedicated team of full time consultants comprising some eminent names in the medical field. It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on June 26. The hospital will soon expand into a much bigger tertiary care referral centre.

Besides, the 450 bed multi-speciality hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, KIMS has overseas medical ventures in Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia , Qatar and Dubai. Another one in Abu Dhabi is in the pipeline.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/kims-sets-up-multi-speciality-hospital-in-kochi/articleshow/8978591.cms

::banana::banana::banana:

One of the leading health providers in the state, Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) will open its hospital and surgical centre at Kochi on Sunday.
Chairman-cum managing director Dr M I Sahadulla and executive director C H Abdul Rahim told mediapersons here that Chief Minister Oommen Chandy would open the 125-bed multi-speciality hospital at Pathadipalam in Edappally. People’s representatives and government officials will be participating at the inaugural function.

The hospital is situated near the highway and is easily accessible from both NH-47 and NH-17.

“We provide all specialities, but mainly focus on surgery. We offer 50 percent discount to deserving senior citizens,” they said.

Kochi KIMS will provide services of leading consultants in departments like general medicine, cardiology, gastroenteritis, neurology, ENT, dentistry, nephrology, obstetrics and gynaecology and physiotherapy. The services of medical director and consultant pediatrician Dr Mathew Cherian, Dr Jose Pappanaserry and specialist in arthroscopies Dr Bibu George will also be available.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kims-hospital-to-be-opened-on-june-26/162487-60-122.html

^^

Hope they provide a well equipped Emergency/ Accident care, coz, Medical Trust, Amrita & Lakeshore are out of reach considering Kochi's roads & traffic, and most fatalities from Alwaye region has this excuse!

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Sreedhareeyam group, which offers Ayurvedic eyecare services, today said that it plans to open a chain of 100 clinics offering Ayurvedic general speciality treatments, under the brand name 'Soubhadra.'

The group is planning to open 100 clinics across India over the next one year with a Rs 10 crore investment, Sreedhareeyam group Managing Director Hari N Namboothiri told reporters here.

The group planned to open 'Soubhadra' clinics at its main hospital at Koothattukulam in Ernakulam district and to its 12 other branches in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Delhi, Jaipur, Mumbai and Chennai, he said.

All the centres would have full fledged 'panchakarma' treatment facilities and rejuvenation programmes to boost immunity, besides specialised treatment for rheumatic disorders, skin diseases and respiratory ailments, he said.

To mark the opening of the Soubhadra Ayurvedic general speciality centre, free checkup camps would be held for rheumatic complaints, skin diseases and respiratory ailments at the centers at Ernakulam, Trivandrum and Kozhikode on July 4, 6, 8 respectively, medical officer Dr Alex M George said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/sreedhareeyam-group-to-open-chain-of-100-ayurvedic-clinics/articleshow/9039351.cms

Kochi Medical City ....

another huge medical city coming up, Kapil Dev is also director in this project..

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd., is a proposed venture to set up a Multi Super Speciality Health Project under one roof in an eco friendly atmosphere. The project envisages Multi Speciality Hospital both for Allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments at international standards of quality and facilities.

The project proposes to provide Medical Education of International standards in various disciplines.
The project also aims to provide eco friendly atmosphere creating large water lagoons for encouraging fish farming, and to create a park and a deep forest to encourage the living and breeding of birds and butterflies.

With cutting edge technology and experienced medical professionals, the proposed Health city envisages to become one among the top 10 healthcare destinations in the world, providing the best available treatment in the state of Kerala. This will be attracting large number of patients from other states in India as well as becoming a destination for international patients to avail quality healthcare. There will be direct employment opportunities for about 7,000 professionals and nearly to 25,000 people indirectly, when the project is completed.

M/s. Cochi Medical City Tourism Pvt. Ltd. brings together an outstanding team of doctors, scientists and clinical researchers to foster collaborative, multidisciplinary investigation, inspiring new ideas and discoveries; and translating scientific advances more swiftly into new ways of diagnosing and treating patients and preventing diseases.

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/webadmin/_template/albums/image-g41.jpg

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/

Medical Cities Proposed and U/C in Kochi

1) DM Medi-City
2) BMH Health City
3) Rajagiri Medical City
4) Cochin Medical City

Watch the promo video of Kochi Health City (http://www.kochihealthcity.com/engine/swf/player.swf?url=../../data/video/final.flv&volume=100)

The cooperative sector should be a refuge to the common man and every move to politicise this sector should end, Cooperation Minister C N Balakrishnan has said.

He was inaugurating the first phase of the annexe development projects of Thrikkakara District Cooperative Hospital and Neethi Stores here on Saturday.
Excise Minister K Babu inaugurated the casuality block while district panchayat president Eldose Kunnappilly inaugurated the department of ayurveda in the annexe.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/hospital-development-project-inaugurated/164778-60-122.html

A new specialized hospital for diabetes patients has been started at Kadavanthra region. Its name is Silver Link and am not pretty sure about the exact location of the hospital / clinic. Some of my close relative have visited this hospital and this hospital is hardly 2 months old. But it is said to have good services and facilities as far as diabetes patients are considered..

World class hospitals, cost-effective treatment and ample opportunities to relax in the scenic landscape of 'God's own country' -- medical tourism promises to be the next big money spinner in Kerala, with a steady stream of overseas patients flocking to the state.

The few nationally and internationally accredited hospitals in the state are doing brisk business, with foreign nationals making a beeline for procedures like knee replacement, weight reduction surgery, liver transplant, cardiac care, ophthalmic care and dentistry.

Most of the foreign patients are from Canada, the Gulf countries, the Maldives and many are also second generation Malayalis settled in the US and Britain.

While there are no official state-wide figures, E.M. Najeeb, founder of KIMS Hospital here, says the institute treated around 40,000 overseas patients last year.

"International insurance companies look for international accreditation if they have to pay their clients, and hospitals interested to get favourable treatment from giant insurance companies have to meet international standards in providing quality healthcare," said Najeeb.

In terms of expenditure, a knee replacement in Kerala costs Rs.2.5 lakh ($5,600), less than half of what it would cost in the US or Europe.

Similarly, a liver transplant here can be done at a cost of Rs.1.5 million ($33,700), while in the West, a patient has to shell out anywhere above Rs.7 million ($157,000).

Speaking to IANS, Tourism Minister A.P. Anil Kumar said Kerala has the potential to cash in on the twin benefits of cost and quality.

"One main reason why we are getting a huge number of foreign nationals, mostly from the Middle East, is because our own people act as ambassadors of our hospitals in the Middle East. I have just become the tourism minister and we will promote medical tourism in a big way abroad," he said.

S. Sudhindran, a surgeon with Kochi-based Amrita Hospital, has treated many liver transplant patients from abroad.

The hospital treated around 10,000 foreign patients last year.

"Yes, the response from abroad has been good. The state government also has to do its bit by framing rules that will help foreign nationals have a smooth stay and not get caught in numerous paper works," he said.

According to Ashley Jacob, medical director of Mulamoottil Eye Hospital in central Kerala, eye care is all set to become a key revenue earner for the flourishing medical tourism industry.

"The totally blade-free LASIK (Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis) surgery costs Rs.60,000 here and Rs.85,000 in Bangalore. The same procedure will cost $2,200 (Rs.97,000) in the US and 1,500 pounds (Rs.100,000) in the UK," said Jacob.

Jancy Joseph, who has been running a private dental clinic in the state capital for 15 years, gets a steady stream of foreign patients, mostly from the West and Middle East.

"Most of my non-resident patients are referred here by their friends and relatives in India. They have told me that dentistry rates in the West are 10 times higher, compared to here," said Joseph.

John Muthoot, who owns two plush resorts in the state, said he has decided to venture into the medical tourism industry to cash in on the trend.

"Our first venture into the medical field is through a 50-bed hospital coming up in Kottayam. Medical tourism is one segment which we are keen to tap because we already in the tourism industry, and thus have a huge clientele," said Muthoot.

There has been an 18 percent growth in the arrival of foreign tourists in Kerala, with the numbers touching 659,265 last year.

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=249757

I was evaluating health insurance policies recently, and found that the number of hospitals in the network here far exceeds other places. Since any decent hospital would offer the facility these days, it is a good metric to evaluate the healthcare availability factor.

Excise Minister K Babu has said that the newly formed Thrikkakkara Municipality has immense potential for development. After laying the foundation stone for the casuality ward at the Cooperative Hospital in Thrikkakkara the other day, he said that industrial institutions and other organisations should lend a hand in development initiatives for the collective progress of society.

Referring to the efforts made by DLF Home developers Ltd which contributed Rs 23 lakh for construction of the causality ward at the hospital, the Minister said that both the private and public sector units can contribute their share by actively participating in the development programmes.

C N Balakrishnan, Minister for Cooperation, inaugurated the annexe building of the hospital. Benny Behnan MLA presided over the function. District Collector Sheikh Pareeth, P I Muhammadali, municipal chairman, Eldhose P Kunnappilly, district panchayat president, V P Saseendran, president, District Cooperative Bank, M E Hassainar, vice-chaiman, Ernakulam District Cooperative Bank, K Sivaprasad, DLF advisor, also attended the function.

Lt Gen M G Girish, executive vice-president, DLF d, handed over the initial payment for the construction of the casuality ward to Adv Shereena Shookur, vice-chairperson, Thrikkakara Municipality. Prof M K Prasad released the book ‘Mathruthwathinte Porul’ written by Rajakumari.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/develop-potential-of-thrikkakara/165911-60-122.html

The health woes of the Goshree Islanders are about to find some relief. The island is all set to get a brand new hospital for itself. But no, none of those traditional brick and glass structures. Like the islands, the hospital will also be seen floating on the islands’ waters.

The hospital will be housed on a boat some 40 metres in length. It will have medical facilities like intensive care unit, laboratories, medical store etc. It will move from island to island treating patients on its way.

“The budget for the boat is estimated at Rs 65 lakh. The proposal was put forward by Minister K V Thomas. A draft proposal for the same will be submitted within a week,” District Collector P I Sheik Pareed said.
The Collector also said the tender for the boat connecting Goshree Islands will be floated on July 15.

The circular boat service interconnecting the islands was proposed by the Collector in February this year. It is part of the efforts to develop the Goshree Islands into a tourism hub.

According to the proposal, the boat will have a capacity to accommodate 75 people.

The proposal for the boat service will have to be approved by IIT Madras and the India Navy.

The tender for the boat terminals in all the islands will be floated in the coming months.

The location for these has been identified by the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO). “Once the work on the boat begins, it will be completed within six to eight months. We propose to complete the work on the terminals within the same time frame,” said the Collector.

The other plans for the tourist hub have not been initiated yet, he said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/a-floating-hospital-for-goshree-islands/163804-60-122.html

There are quite a few yoga centres in Kochi, but one stands out in its holistic approach to the science. Samagra Yoga Centre, founded December 15th 2010 by G. Devan, Jaiji V.G., Sugandhi P.V., Dr. Rashmi Pradeep and Advocate Ashok Kumar, is unique in several ways.

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Firstly, it is a non-profit organization, fueled by its founders’ passion for yoga. Not only does it offer extremely flexible timings, which allows clients to make appointments at desired times, but it also tries to ensure that yoga as a way of life benefits the client. It is a means to improve and uplift his or her life by enhancing the body, mind, psyche and spirit instead of simply being a way to stay in shape. When practised and taught in this way, the sessions here become less of a drudging chore and increasingly something to look forward to each day. It is also reputed for being the only yoga centre with an authentic instructor in the ever-popular Transcendental Meditation (TM).

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While the benefits of yoga and meditation are acknowledged universally, many are still unaware of its lesser known advantages. Not only does it dramatically improve personality and allow you to maintain a calm and serene outlook on life, it also improves the condition of those suffering from asthma, diabetes, cholesterol, BP and other ailments. A previous customer, Casey says: “I was one of the first people to join when they started the yoga centre. I had just undergone a rigorous treatment in ayurveda but wanted something more to deal with my backache. They gave me individual sessions and ensured that the classes were tailored to suit my needs. I regularly practice yoga now and am thankful to Samagra Yoga Centre and the instructors there. “

The centre offers numerous courses other than the standard yoga course. This includes Reiki, Counseling, Dietary advice, Yoga therapy, Transcendental Meditation and Spiritual Retreats. So don’t wait for tomorrow to change the way you live your life – embrace a life of yoga today!

http://kochigallan.com/headline/samagra-yoga/

KIMS Kochi Advt.

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cc: Manorama, kimskochi

It started as a commitment between four friends. Do something for the kidney patients. Thus Navajeevanam was born, a project that came to the help of several patients with chronic renal condition. Of the four friends, vicechairman of the Trust M A Afra is no more. He passed away last year. The others, K N Ananda Kumar, K V Paul and Sethuraman continue to carry on the mission.
Says Ananda Kumar, "It was Afra's dream. Now, five years on, we have offered free dialysis to 75,000 people.

"The project, under the Sri Sathya Sai Orphanage Trust, has been running eight dialysis centres in six districts, including one each in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kasaragod and three in Ernakulam. On July 16, the Trust is all set to inaugurate a centre in Kannur. Next on the line is in Palakkad District where Navajeevanam will start functioning at the government hospital. "When we started the project, we had no idea as to how long and how far we would reach. But God has been kind," said Kumar. Today, a dialysis costs anywhere between `1,2001,500. And the number of patients have been on the rise ever since. So far, `8 crore has been spent on the Navajeevanam project.

As part of their fifth anniversary, a souvenir was brought out by the trust, in connection with the completion of five years of the project. The souvenir, which details the project, also contains health advisories by expert doctors for chronic renal patients on dialysis on how to manage their lifestyle. "We have had difficulties in running the project. Yet we have managed to take it this far thanks to the contributions of several philanthropists," says Kumar. Like the elderly gentleman who walks into the office of the Trust every month after collecting his pension of `150 and donates `50 for the Navajeevanam programme!

May his tribe increase.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/lifeline-for-renal-patients/166586-60-122.html

At a time when corporate hospitals are fleecing patients, the Ernakulam district administration is launching a novel project in an effort to woo patients to government hospitals.

It is said to be the first time in the country that a hospital — the city general hospital will get a fully-automated, eco-friendly kitchen that will supply three square meals a day, approved by dieticians, to inpatients free of cost!:banana:

“We’ve been working on the idea for some time now. The project is now ready and will be inaugurated next month,” district collector P.I. Sheikh Pareeth told Deccan Chronicle.

An existing building in the hospital premises is being renovated to accommodate both the kitchen and stores. The building will be ready for occupation in a few days.

The hospital has about 400 beds, but accommodates 500 in-patients. Food is usually bought for patients from outside the hospital, usually from eateries whose standards of hygiene are questionable.

“This project is unique on various counts. First, it ensures hygiene. Second, patients will get exactly the food prescribed by dieticians, free of cost. Third, the entire kitchen operations will be powered by bio-gas,” Mr Pareeth said.

The project cost Rs 40 lakh, excluding the building value, and has already found corporate sponsorship.

“One company has already sponsored noon-day meals for the next 350 days. We are also looking at other sponsors,” he said.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/dc-exclusive-gh-provide-patients-free-diet-food-999

New treatment for troubled knees @ LAKESHORE
Patients, especially sportspersons, in the state worried over troubled knees caused by damaged cartilage can heave a sigh of relief.
A regeneration technique involving a biopsy of the healthy cartilage tissue which is processed and reimplanted has shown tremendous results, said Lakeshore Orthopaedic Centre director Dr Jacob Varghese on Tuesday.
Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI) is a regeneration technique that involves taking a biopsy of the healthy cartilage tissue from the knee through an arthroscopy and then processing it where Chondrocytes are isolated from the tissue, expanded and proliferated in a culture medium. Growing enough cells takes approximately four weeks following which it is reimplanted into the defective site.
"Sports medicine had previously focused on invasive treatment that brought back limited but not complete functionality to an injured athlete," said Dr Jacob Varghese who is also the chief of division of Joint Replacement and Sports Injury of the hospital.
"Today, however, the inclusion of ACI as a treatment alternative is proving to have exciting implications not only for athletes but also for sports medicine in general. We're looking at a greater number of comebacks from athletes injured due to cartilage damage."
He said the technique, already available in other parts of the country, has been made affordable compared to knee replacement surgery which could cost anywhere between Rs 8 and Rs 12 Lakhs.
"ACI can be successfully completed for Rs 3 Lakhs and the athlete can get back on track in six months' time," he said. He said that the method had been successfully applied in eight patients, including three athletes, at the hospital over the past one year. The treatment is done in two phases. "The biopsy is cultured and reimplanted after six weeks. The patient will not have to be hospitalised for more than four days during either phase," Dr Jacob said.After a progressive rehabilitation protocol, the patient can expect to gain 90-100per cent relief from pain and regain full functional form after the cartilage has regenerated, he added.
With cartilage regeneration playing an important role, the hospital has associated itself with the Cell Processing Centre Regrow of the Lonavalabased cell therapy company RMS for the culture of cartilage tissue.

Indian Express (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/new-treatment-for-troubled-knees/295890.html)

India's first three component mobility Total Ankle Replacement was done in Lourdes Hospital, Ernakulam , Kerala by Lourdes Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr.John Thayyil John and his Team.

http://www.lourdeshospital.in/data/uploads/images/ortho%20TAR%203.jpg

Total ankle replacement Surgery is performed in Western countries for the last 10 years. We did the first case of Total Mobility Ankle replacement implant system in India. This surgery was done at Lourdes Hospital, by Dr.John Thayyil John, Dr.Peter, Dr.Jeevan, Dr.Nilesh, Anesthetist Dr.Lucy and team, in a 51 year old woman who was suffering from secondary osteoarthritis of ankle with pain, and restriction of ankle movement for last 6 years.

TAR is done by using the precise instrumentation and removing the worn out joint surfaces and replacing it with the artificial joint made of metal and plastic implant prosthesis system. Patient was in the hospital for 4 days post operatively and discharged. Patient will start full weight bearing ambulation after 6 weeks. This is the cement less press fit surgery which gives the painless better ankle movements.

Lourde Hospital, one of the largest super-specialty hospitals in Kerala, has opened Kerala's largest and most advanced Hemodynamic Neuro Systems enabled ICU and Neuro Surgical Centre in its Neuro Hospital complex. The hi-tech facility supports complex surgeries for people having Hyper or Hypo tensions without major complications.

The hospital also opened a state-of-the-art Medical Library with more than 4000 various medical references, titles and case studies apart from national and international medical journals. The library can be used for medical students and researchers.

http://www.deepika.com/

Bourn Hall Fertility clinic (http://bournhall-clinic.com/kochi.html) goes global
Bourn Hall's first franchise opened in Cochin, in South India.

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It will be followed by a second one in Delhi at the end of the year. Another one is planned in Dubai.

“We hope to extend to many other cities in the Middle East and Europe,” Dr Thomas Mathews, medical director of Bourn Hall, said.

“What we are trying to set up are clinics with Bourn Hall ethics and standards. They will be franchises and we will give them direction.”

A second UK clinic, Isis Fertility Centre, has already been up and running in Colchester for two years.

More than four million babies have been born using in-vetro fertilisation - the procedure where a mature egg is taken from a woman’s ovary and mixed with sperm in the lab before it is implanted it into the womb - a technique that was pioneers by gynaecologist Patrick Steptoe and scientist Robert Edwards at Bourn Hall.

The choice of the first franchise in Kerala was, perhaps, inevitable.

It is where Dr Mathews’ family originate, although the --- year old, who was appointed medical director of the world famous in-vetro fertility clinic in 2006, was born in Kenya.

“Infertility affects all parts of the world,” said the mild mannered clinician, who trained under the famous Prof Steptoe.

“But the technique for those who need help started in this little place. That’s what make us all very proud of working here.”

Dr Mathews first arrived at at Bourn Hall in 1984 after the surgeon, who at the time was working in Stirling, was invited to visit and offered a job by Prof Steptoe.

Source (http://www.cambridgefirst.co.uk/news/fertility_clinic_goes_global_1_972466)

http://www.astermedcity.com/images/toplogoNew.png
Aster MEDCITY

Masterplan Launched

* Build across 1 km waterfront on 38 acres at Cheranallur, Kochi

* 10 minutes drive from MG Road and Marine Drive

* 3.2 Million sq. ft. built up area in Phase I & II

* 540 beds in Phase I, 500 beds in Phase II

* 500 seat Medical Convention Centre

* 4-star Hotel & Serviced Apartments

* Staff accommodation for Medical & Para Medical staff

* High class residential development

* Expected Township population of around 10,000

Some Pics

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:banana::banana::banana:

Kochi Medcity
website is launched...
http://www.astermedcity.com/

•Build across 1 km waterfront on 38 acres at Cheranallur, Kochi
•10 minutes drive from MG Road and Marine Drive
•3.2 Million sq. ft. built up area in Phase I & II
•540 beds in Phase I, 500 beds in Phase II
•500 seat Medical Convention Centre
•4-star Hotel & Serviced Apartments
•Staff accommodation for Medical & Para Medical staff
•High class residential development
•Expected Township population of around 10,000
•Excellent connectivity from city and outside through VCT road.
•Kochi is well connected by air, rail and sea to the world

http://www.astermedcity.com/images/PhotoGallery/Large/image1.jpg

http://www.astermedcity.com/images/PhotoGallery/Large/image6.jpg

I am really, honestly, confused. How many medi cities are there? and where are each of them located?

We sure have a flock mentality. We had the flood of IT Projects, then Malls. Now the fad seems to be Medi Cities. It shows that we are 100% market driven capitalist economy. Lots of projects tried and a few succeeds.

Good! I would say even ONE of the medi cities becoming reality is fantastic. The rest can slowly follow, just like the malls are doing.

^^

AFAIK,

Aster Medi City @ Cheranallur
COCHI Medi-City @ unknown place
BMH Health City @ Kakkanad
Rajagiri Medical College @ 4th Mile, Aluva

Earlier we had reports of a NEST education & Health city project also.

Adding to that there are expansion projects of Medical Trust and few other hospitals!!!

I can confirm that Rajagiri project is assured to happen. I can also confirm that NeST project is not happening anytime soon.

I am really, honestly, confused. How many medi cities are there? and where are each of them located?

We sure have a flock mentality. We had the flood of IT Projects, then Malls. Now the fad seems to be Medi Cities. It shows that we are 100% market driven capitalist economy. Lots of projects tried and a few succeeds.

Good! I would say even ONE of the medi cities becoming reality is fantastic. The rest can slowly follow, just like the malls are doing.

Regarding Medical sector, I don't think it was a flocking. Because some projects like DM Medcity, BM Hospital were there for pretty long time. But I believe perhaps it might be the right time to launch the project, especially when there was a change of guard in Govt.

There were scores of private projects, put into deep freezer due to various erstwhile policies of LDF Govt. What I understood from a friend of mine in DM is that, the project lagged primarily because of LDF policy of land filling in some parts of area.

The same policy even put off Veegaland's Amucity project and several others....

I wonder why Nest Group is lagging behind, despite of having such a brand value and several huge investments. They have land and capabilites to execute project.

Any news about BCG's mega hospital project, announced a few months back?

I also wonder why, several national brands like Appollo, Fortis etc are not interested in Kerala, despite of such a huge health conscious and hospital-going people? These groups has even hospital very small cities like Madurai or Surat etc, but Kerala seems to be out-of-radar. Don't know the reason?

http://images.mathrubhumi.com/print_images/2011/Jul/25/00202_130014.jpg

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said the UDF Government will provide one dialysis machine to each of the district hospitals to ensure that quality medical facility is available to every person in the state.
He was speaking at the General Hospital here on Sunday after inaugurating the donation of a dialysis machine, sponsored by Dubai-based Fathima Medical Trust.

The Chief Minister said the government would provide the best medical facilities in the state’s government hospitals. “Innovations in medical field become complete only when these facilities are available to everyone in the society,” he said, adding that the supply of dialysis machines are intended for this. “The government would also ensure medical insurance to each person in the state,” he added. The ministers also opened a 24 hour blood bank sponsored by BPCL and IMA as well as an Endoscopy Unit.

Chandy said he appreciated the service of the Ernakulam District hospital during the Pullumedu tragedy. He said the government would reward the hospital doctors and hospitals, which provided “commendable service” during the tragedy.

Health Minister Adoor Prakash said that the Ernakulam General hospital has been a model for other district hospitals in the state. The government would start a sewage-treatment plant, which would cost Rs 1 crore, and a neurosurgery department in the hospital, he said. A police surgeon would also be deputed, Prakash added.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dialysis-devices-in-all-district-hospitals-soon/170043-60-122.html

==========================================================

:applause: Woww... GH is really improving its services... Great!! Never expected from a GH:banana:

Yes, you are right. We have somany IT/Medical Projects in paper. Last year same time, we were having 12+ IT SEZ projects in Kerala and nothing materialized.

Most of the projects are good for filling 3+4=7 local news paper.

Hope it will change.


-------------------
I am really, honestly, confused. How many medi cities are there? and where are each of them located?

We sure have a flock mentality. We had the flood of IT Projects, then Malls. Now the fad seems to be Medi Cities. It shows that we are 100% market driven capitalist economy. Lots of projects tried and a few succeeds.

Good! I would say even ONE of the medi cities becoming reality is fantastic. The rest can slowly follow, just like the malls are doing.

Yes, you are right. We have somany IT/Medical Projects in paper. Last year same time, we were having 12+ IT SEZ projects in Kerala and nothing materialized.

Most of the projects are good for filling 3+4=7 local news paper.

Hope it will change.


-------------------

I don't know why many projects failed to take off. But to some extend I believe lot was attribute to previous govt's policy. In Jan 2011, India Today Malayalam edition made a cover story, how more than 35,000 crore worth projects got stalked in Kerala within 5 years. Partially its because of global recession and partially because of anti-private investment friendly policies.

DM's case itself is a testimony, how such a mega project got stalled just because, permission was denied for land filling, just for few portions of the total land.

DM anyway is bound to take off. They have enough repute and interest in the project. Rajagiri, as Dileepettan said, is sure to start. Cochin Medical city, is a 50-50 chance, because till now its details are not fully out. Considering the credibility of its promoters, I have confidence it will start.

BM's mega project, I have no cue.... They have land with them. But perhaps chances of competition may send more fears in their spines, as things have changed from time of its original proposal.

The only project, I don't have much trust or confidence is BCG's mega hospital city. They might be announcing, just to promote its Health Mall too...

Anyway, with advent of Smart City and numerous other projects, surely medical field has its own advantages!!! Even one project gets realized, surely its would make a sea of change in our city.

you are right, all because of anti-private investment friendly policies. Hope all these pvt projects will start/complete within 5 year time.

Does any one have any idea about the proposed location of COCHI Medi-City?

ശ്രീധരീയം ആസ്​പത്രിയുടെ ജനറല്* ചികിത്സാ വിഭാഗമായ 'സൗഭദ്ര' ആയുര്*വേദ സ്*പെഷാലിറ്റി സെന്ററില്* ഓര്*ത്തോ ചികിത്സാ സൗകര്യം ആരംഭിക്കുന്നു. ഡോ. ക്രിസ്റ്റി ജോസഫ് തിങ്കളാഴ്ച കൂത്താട്ടുകുളം ശ്രീധരീയത്തിലെ സൗഭദ്ര വിഭാഗത്തില്* രോഗികളെ പരിശോധിക്കും. നടുവേദന, ഡിസ്*ക് സ്ഥാനം തെറ്റല്*, കഴുത്ത് വേദന, വാതസംബന്ധമായ വേദനകള്* തുടങ്ങിയവയ്ക്ക് ചികിത്സ ലഭ്യമാവും. ബുക്ക് ചെയ്യാന്* 0485-2253007 എന്ന നമ്പറില്* ബന്ധപ്പെടാം.

Kochi's Sreedharayam Hospital's Soubhadra Ayurveda Specialty Clinci announced launch of Ayurvedic Ortho Center in their Kutattukulam facility. The hospital will have facilities for treating spinal cord, hip disc aligment, neck pains, arthritis etc.

http://www.mathrubhumi.com/ernakulam/news/1079231-local_news-Kochi-%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8A%E0%B4%9A%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%BF.html

Lakeshore Hospital and Research Center

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One of Kerala's largest tertiary multi-specialty hospital cum research center based in Kochi, the hospital was start as an ambitious project of 3 Swiss based Malayalee Doctors. The hospital started in 2000 with 150 beds, today boasts more than 500 beds with world class operation and specialty clinics.

In 2004, Emke Group made a major investment stake in the project, making the first investment of the group in India. Today the hospital management is highly patronized by several prominent businessmen of the city and abroad. The 8 lakh sqft hospital facility, was one of the first hospital center to introduce air-ambulance and premium training facilities in Kerala.

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The Hospital is well renowned for its quality treatments and recevied several leading achievements

Some of them are

* Recognition of Lakeshore Gastro Intestinal Surgery Unit as a training center for FRCS examination by the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

* Lakeshore Oncology Department carried out bone marrow transplantation and peripheral stem cell transplantation for blood cancer patients for the first time in the history of private hospitals in Kerala.

* Advanced endoscopic training is imparted to Gastroenterologists from various parts of India and from foreign countries including USA.

* Kerala Sate Pollution Control Board Award 2004, for the best pollution control system among the hospitals in Kerala.

* Introduced artificial insulin pump for diabetes patients for the first time in South India.

The Hospital currently has major accreditions including NABH and Quality Assurance etc.

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The hospital is famous for having India's largest Gastrointestinal Surgery department which is distinct for training surgeons for the Fellowship Examination of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, first time in South India.

The Oncology (Cancer Institute) of Lakeshore is extremely famous for being headed by one of India's most reputed Oncologist Dr. V.P. Gangadharan (ex-head emeritus of Trivandrum RCC) as well as a team of highly recognized oncologists. The Cancer Institute is one of the largest in Kerala and duly networked with several leading institutes nationally and internationally.

Likewise, the hospital also has one of the largest multi-organ transplantation center and organ bank also for distinct being the hospital carrying largest number of transplant operations.

The hospital has 21 specialty departments and 8 super specialized research clinics.

The hospital was pioneering entity in promoting Health tourism in the state, with introduction of various tourism packages and extensive marketing in promoting the state. The hospital was recorded in Limca Books of Record for offering the maximum multiple connectivity options including air, water and surface ambulance and life saving vehicles.

The hospital has a state-of-the-art training and reference center as well as a 350 seater medical convention center and mock surgeries theaters.

The hospital has a 5 counter food court for outsiders and has state-of-the-art dietitian food center for patients, apart from bystanders center, travel desk, business centers and libraries.

The international patient center, offers specialized treatments for foreign patients with multi-lingual professionals on service/duty.

Association of Chamber of Industries of India- Assocham recommends for health cities in Kochi!!!:banana::banana:

So we have the market potential for 2 or 3 such medical cities in our city...

Market size of the Indian medical tourism sector is likely to more than double to Rs 10,800 crore by 2015 from Rs 4,500 crore at present, industry chamber Assocham on Friday said in its study.

The inflow of medical tourists in India is also likely to cross 32 lakh by 2015 from the current level of 8.5 lakh, it said.

"Top notch healthcare facilities like cardiology, joint replacement, orthopedic surgery, transplants and urology at a low price are certain key factors making India a favoured destination in terms of medical tourism," the study said.

States like Andhara Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and New Delhi are fast emerging as India's best medical centres with several hospitals and specialty clinics coming up in the cities, it said.

India is also offering other medical services like yoga, meditation and ayurveda, which is increasingly becoming popular as a non-surgical treatment for various ailments among the foreign patients.

The country attracts large number of medical tourists from the Middle East, America, Europe and also from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

However, it said that the country is facing tough competition in the sector from nations like Australia, Belgium, Greece, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand that are actively promoting healthcare tourism worldwide.

The study has proposed to develop 'Multi-Specialty Health City' on public-private partnership basis at 10 centres - Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, New Delhi, Pudducherry and Pune.

"The proposal envisages setting up super-specialty hospitals in an eco-friendly atmosphere...with highly trained English-speaking healthcare professionals at affordable price," it added.

Both central and state governments need to play key role in setting up these centres

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/medical-tourism-industry-to-touch-rs-10800-cr-by-2015-assocham/articleshow/9493173.cms

Matrix Partners (http://www.matrixpartners.in/index.php) to invest in Kochi
Matrix Partners, the US-based private equity firm with $3 billion under management, on Wednesday announced that it has invested Rs 45 crore through its India investment arm in Kids Clinic India Private Limited, a Bangalore-based provider of maternity and infant care under the brand Cloudnine. Matrix is the sole investor in the first institutional round of funding. With this fund infusion, Matrix has acquired a significant minority stake in Cloudnine.

Matrix is looking for opportunities in speciality healthcare models. It is an easily replicable model, unlike that of a super-speciality or multi-speciality hospital model, said Avnish Bajaj, co-founder and managing director, Matrix India.

In the immediate future, Matrix hopes to drive the group’s expansion into Mumbai. After this, the boutique hospital will expand to Chennai, Coimbatore and Kochi. The capital infusion announced on Wednesday is expected to provide growth capital for the expansion of Cloudnine.
It’s the low gestation period of this model that makes it attractive for Matrix. While the gestation period for a super-speciality hospital may be as long as seven years, in case of the speciality model, the gestation period is as low as two or three years.

Cloudnine was earlier known as The Cradle, which was licensed from the Apollo Hospitals group. The company is looking at opening 30-40 bed centres with a staff strength of 120 in the next 18-20 months.

Business Standard (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/matrix-invests-rs-45-cr-in-neo-natal-hospital/445470/)

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences

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Arabs making a beeline for Kochis health centre (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/arabs-making-a-beeline-for-kochis-health-centre/174894-60-122.html)

KOCHI: Enhancing its appeal, Kochi is opening its arms to West Asian tourists like never before. Major resorts and hotels in the city assert that there has been a steep increase in the number of� tourists from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE.

“In July alone, 99 per cent of the guests at our resort were from the Gulf countries,” said an employee at a luxury resort in Kumbalam. “Although their stay was comparatively shorter due to the early arrival of Ramadan, their numbers have definitely increased,” he added. An employee at another luxury hotel in the city noted, “There were 223 Arab guests in our hotel in July. They all left for Ramadan. But we expect another wave of Arab tourists during Onam.” �

Tour operators in the city support the claim. “Earlier, only high-end tourists arrived from the middle-east. But in recent times the number of upper-middle class families has gone up drastically. Maybe that explains the sudden increase,” said C P Ajithkumar, president of the Travel Operators Association of Kerala.� The major attractions for Arab tourists in Kochi are the many ayurvedic health centres cropping up in the city along with the infrastructural facilities available here. “For foreign tourists, Kochi is a crisp gist of the entire Kerala. They can enjoy the serene beauty of the backwaters and travel through historical sites here, while being just a few kilometres away from a bustling city. This way, they don’t get bored by the quietness of the countryside. In previous years, only western tourists seemed to be aware of this. Now, West Asia is catching up too,” said a luxury resort owner. �

“Owing to a steady trickle of Arab tourists, we have not been hit by the off-season lull,” said an employee at a luxury hotel chain in the city.

Giving the world a healing touch (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/giving-the-world-a-healing-touch/174714-60-122.html)

KOCHI: The aspiring metro is fast evolving into a hub of medical tourism. The standard of treatment on a par with developed countries and the lower cost draw many from the Gulf and European countries to Kochi for getting medical services.

Many of the hospitals have medical tourism wing so as to make things easy for those from abroad. Cosmetic surgery, eye care, dental care and gynaecology are the main branches which attract the patients from across the globe.� “Mainly patients from the West Asian� countries and Africa arrive here. Cardiology, orthopaedic surgeries, gastroenterology and oncology are the most sought-after specialties here,” said Dr Girish Kumar K P of AIMS, Kochi.

“The quality of treatment on a par with international standards and cheap cost are the main attractions. The cost of treatment comes to only one third of that in the developed countries,” he said. �

Besides foreigners, those from other states also flock to Kochi for undergoing treatment. Though most-modern treatment is available in some of the major cities in the country, the cost is comparatively high. Easy accessibility is the most important factor for the growth of tourism. Earlier, the fares from other Indian cities like Delhi were as high as the fares to destinations in South-East and the Middle-East. But the situation has changed for the good, thanks to the Open Sky Policy and the emergence of budget airlines in the country.�� The modern communication systems, including internet, have been a boon to health tourism. At the click of the mouse, even the people on the other side of the globe will be able to know about the international health destinations. Understanding the fact, health institutions as well as governments in many of the countries have, collectively and individually, taken steps to promote health tourism through the internet.

A health tourist who looks for the place where he or she can avail of advanced medical services at affordable cost makes use of� facilities like the internet.

So, the hospitals which stand out in offering the medical services to health tourists� design their websites after consulting� IT experts. Ayurveda attracts a lot of foreigners to Kochi. “It is from Saudi, Oman, Qatar and South Africa that more patients arrive. There are Europeans as well,” said Dr Jaseela of Punarnava Ayurveda Hospital, Kochi. “Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, paralysis and mental ailments seek� ayurveda treatment. For such diseases, the treatment offered by other streams of medicine are less effective,” she said.

KIMS Kochi

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/9029/09082011475.jpg

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Ernakulam Medical Centre

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BCG Health Square (http://www.bcghealthsquare.in/) - India's 1st Health Mall U/C - Palarivattom

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/402/17082011984.jpg

http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/3307/17082011983.jpg

^^

Now its clear!

They took PLAN B from Admiral Plaza to Health Mall!! :)

VASAN Eye Care - Padivattom

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VASAN Eye Care - MG Road, Thevara

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LOTUS Eye Care (http://lotuseye.org/#) - SA Road, Kadavantra

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http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/671/16082011855.jpg

Ahalia Foundation Eye Hospital (http://www.ahaliafoundationeyehospital.org/Default.aspx) - Palarivattom

http://img607.imageshack.us/img607/4558/170820111218.jpg

Complicated Heart Surgery done @ Lakeshore
http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/5380/16082011869.jpg
cc: Mathrubhumi

Sunrise Hospital (http://www.sunrisehospital.co.in/index.html) - Kakkanad

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Purva Moonreach U/C can be seen

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http://www.bournhall-clinic.com/images/india-logo_03.gif

Location - MG Road, Atlantis (http://www.bournhall-clinic.com/kochi.html)

Bourn Hall Clinic (http://www.bourn-hall-clinic.co.uk/), Cambridge, world's first IVF clinic, provides fertility treatment with high success rates. Egg and sperm sharing and donation programmes. Bourn Hall International India, has set up state-of-the-art, patient friendly IVF clinics in Gurgaon and Kochi.


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After a storm of announcements of international hospital chains into Kochi, how can national brands ignore one of South India's fastest growing metro. Friends, another project to make cheers on Kochinites's face:cheers:



Fortis Healthcare (India) on Monday announced the launch of four hospitals, including a cardiac care unit that will be operational by 2013, as part of its plans to strengthen its nationwide presence.

Besides setting up new hospitals at Kochi, Bilaspur (Himachal Pradesh) and Bangalore, Fortis Healthcare will manage the cardiac care unit at HLG hospital in Asansol, West Bengal, Fortis Healthcare (India) said in a statement.

Commenting on the development Fortis Healthcare (India) Chief Executive Officer Aditya Vij said: "These new hospitals across the country conform to our plan for strengthening the Fortis network in India."

With the launch of new hospitals, the company's bed strength will go up to 10,270 beds, it said.

While the company's 45-bed hospital at Kochi would offer healthcare for women under the 'Fortis La Femme' brand,:banana::banana: its hospital at Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh would cater to Kullu-Manali-Mandi belt, it added.

Expanding its reach to West Bengal, Fortis would operate and manage a 50-bed cardiac care unit at multi-speciality HLG hospital in Asansol, it said.

The company also announced the launch of a tertiary care hospital in Bangalore, which will commence operations by 2013, the company said.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo/6151078.cms (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/healthcare/biotech/healthcare/fortis-healthcare-to-open-four-new-hospitals-by-2013/articleshow/9785407.cms)



So naturally whats next?- Apollo Hospitals!!!! Hope to see all major national brands in Kochi soon:banana::banana:

After a storm of announcements of international hospital chains into Kochi, how can national brands ignore one of South India's fastest growing metro. Friends, another project to make cheers on Kochinites's face:cheers:



So naturally whats next?- Apollo Hospitals!!!! Hope to see all major national brands in Kochi soon:banana::banana:

good to see presence of such good brands in Kochi .

Here is another 150 bed super speciality hospital , it was posted earlier , not sure if its done in this thread...

Molecule 7 Hospitals & Medical Institutions (P) Ltd

http://molecule7.com/

The first de-addiction centre set up by the government in the state will start functioning at the Kochi Co-operative Medical College from Wednesday.

The centre would be a joint programme of the Medical College and the Excise Department and would also be the first such centre that has tertiary care facility. K Babu, minister for excise, will inaugurate the centre at the College in a function on Wednesday at 4 pm.

V K Ibrahim Kunju, minister for public works, will preside over the programme. Eldose Kunhapilly, president, district panchayat, will deliver the keynote address and Jamal Manakadan will inaugurate the Family Counseling Centre.

The excise department has sanctioned Rs 20 lakh of the proposed budget of Rs 30 lakh for the centre.

The College provides the basic infrastructure for OP and has arranged IP facilty for 20 beds in the unit with a possible expansion to accommodate at least 10 more beds.

Addressing a press meet here on Tuesday, Mohan P Sam, medical director of the college, said that the de-addiction centre would be taking up extension programmes in the community soon.

It would also organize medical screening activities to detect learning disabilities among students.

"A team from Birmingham Mental Health Trust in UK would be arriving at the College in November to conduct joint studies in various fields", he said. "The College would act as a major centre to treat patients who develop complications in the de-addiction programme. The excise team that goes for inspection at various centres would be referring cases to the College", said Sam.

K Mohan, deputy commissioner of excise, and T Jaysurya, resident medical officer, also spoke at the press meet.

The Medical College provides the basic infrastructure for OP and has arranged IP facilty for 20 beds in the unit with a possible expansion to accommodate at least 10 more beds. The centre will organize medical screening activities to detect learning disabilities among students.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/First-de-addiction-centre-to-come-up-at-CMC-Kochi/articleshow/9804244.cms

Which is the best Dental hospital inCochin? If anybody has any experience in dealing with the best and reputed dental clinic in Cochin, please let me know..

Which is the best Dental hospital inCochin? If anybody has any experience in dealing with the best and reputed dental clinic in Cochin, please let me know..

I will suggest Dr. Afzal's clinic @ Edapally Toll Jn! ;)

Medical Trust Hospital - SA Road - MG Road Intersection

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Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences has launched a dysphagia clinic (swallowing clinic) to provide comprehensive therapy to patients who suffer from ailments affecting the neck.

Patients with neurological disorders and mouth/neck cancers have difficulty in eating. Even when these problems are cured, people face trouble in swallowing and have to depend on food given through tubes. Swallowing therapy is designed in such a way that these patients will be able to eat in the normal way gradually. The clinic will ensure a permanent solution to the problems faced by patients. For more details, contact 2851400, extn 1401.

The bystanders of the patients in the Co-operative Medical College (CMC), Kochi will not have to run helter-skelter seeking various services like that of banks. The authorities of CMC have decided to construct a commercial complex which will house bank, ATM , post office, department store and dormitory for the bystanders.

The high level committee for the development of the CMC held the other day had given sanction to the project. There are also plans to construct a pay ward and staff quarters. According to the Medical Council of India norms, there should be staff quarters attached to the medical college, said Dr Mohan G Sam, director, CMC.

“Lack of staff quarters is a major shortcoming of the medical college. In the absence of staff quarters, doctors have to come from distant locations. As per the plans, twenty quarters will be constructed in the first phase. The newly designed pay ward will have 140 beds. There are also plans to construct a water treatment plant,” Mohan said.

A de-addiction centre was opened at the CMC the other day. The de-addiction centre started with the financial assistance from the excise department will handle the acute cases. “We have started a dialysis centre with five units. Neurology department which was started earlier has become operational now,” Mohan Sam said.

Earlier, super-speciality operation theatres in urology, neuro surgery and plastic surgery had been opened in the CMC. Many devices like arterial blood gas monitor had been added to the hospital.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/coop-medical-college-to-have-commercial-complex/180936-60-122.html

Lakeshore Hospital

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Aditya Eye Hospital - Thrikkakara

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Ernakulam General Hospital, the state's first and country's 4th NABH accredited Govt hospital, is all set to achieve another achievement. The first Govt hospital to provide Dietitian certified and approved free meals for all IP patients, 3 times a day.:banana::banana:

Yes, its true, EGH would inagurate the ambitious plan from October 2nd 2011 onwards. A state-of-the-art HACCP certified hospital Kitchen is currently been set-up in the hospital and the 4 qualified dietitians are appointed to monitor and recommend diet according to the nature of the patient on a daily basis.

The food would be prepared in stringent quality assured process and would be delivered to the patient's beds as well as would be taken away for cleaning by specially appointed team.

Its for the first time, a Govt Hospital is implementing a project, which is more common to high-fly private and tertiary hospitals. Kochi MP P. Rajeev contributed Rs 15 Lakh for the project from MP Fund, while Cochin Refineries contributed another Rs 10 lakh. The Hospital society expects more corporate sponsors for the project to be continued from next year onwards. In addition, Dept of Social Welfare has agreed to provide an annual grant to keep the initiative.

The process are part of raising the quality of General Hospital to Highest quality levels.

http://www.manoramanews.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/mmtvContentView.do?contentId=10080277&programId=9958863&tabId=14&BV_ID=@@@

As it forays into healthcare and jewellery segments, Manappuram Group wants to differentiate itself in as an affordable hospital chain as it wants to have its presence in the multi-specialty, dental care and medical diagnostics segments.

The company will soon open its first multi-specialty hospital in Kochi. “We want to differentiate ourselves from top hospital chains by positioning ourselves in the affordable segment. Most of the large chains cater to the upper middle class, but we will target the middle class as well as the poorer segment,” said VP Nandakumar, chairman of Manappuram Group.

“With minimal invasive surgeries, hospital costs can be brought down drastically. Even in some of the cardiac surgeries, it is possible for the patient to get the surgery done and leave in one day. If he is allowed to recuperate at home, hospital expenses can be brought down by 25 per cent. We are thinking on similar ways to make healthcare affordable to the masses without compromising on quality,” he said. Manappuram Health Care, branded as MAcare, will invest around Rs 1,500 crore in five years on multi-specialty hospitals, dental centres and diagnostic centres. This will be funded partly by equity from the promoters and partly by debt.

In the jewellery segment, the group plans to open 15 more stores this financial year. Till now it has invested Rs 300 crore on 15 stores in all four southern states. For the new stores, Manappuram will invest Rs 200 crore more. For this, the company would explore private equity funding as well.

“The 15 stores will strengthen Manappuram’s presence in existing markets. In the jewellery segment too, we would be a mass market brand, selling predominantly gold jewellery, without focusing much on diamond or platinum,” he said. Manappuram Jewelery will be competing with traditional jewelers in each locality, educating and upgrading customers to hallmarked gold.

At present, most large jewellery chains, except for Tata’s Gold Plus, are positioned in the premium jewellery segment. The premium segment also focuses on branded jewellery, diamonds and platimum.

http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/manappuram-invest-rs-1500-cr-healthcare-biz-128

^^

Kochi is getting healthy everyday!

Which is the best Dental hospital inCochin? If anybody has any experience in dealing with the best and reputed dental clinic in Cochin, please let me know..

Dr. Raj Krishnan's clinic @ Tripunithura
www.rajkrishnan.com

Deleted. Duplicate post

Dr. Raj Krishnan's clinic @ Tripunithura
www.rajkrishnan.com

Welcome back Bro:)

Is it your Clinic? Are you the same Raj Krishnan?

Welcome back Bro:)

Is it your Clinic? Are you the same Raj Krishnan?

No no I'm not a doctor. He's the doctor who had brought the concept of dental tourism and has been featured in major media.

No no I'm not a doctor. He's the doctor who had brought the concept of dental tourism and has been featured in major media.

Thanks dear!!! The similarity of names, made me felt so. Yes, its been popular for quite a long time.....

Finally Kochi is going to get a Govt Medical College:banana::banana: The govt is in plans to take over CMC as Govt Medical College and raise it to a major tertiary hospital.:cheers:

The state government will soon take measures to integrate the functioning of Cooperative Medical College (CMC), Kochi, with the Health Department.

As the CMC is under the Cooperative Department, the Medical College has been missing funds allotted by the Central Government through the Health Department of the state for implementing various schemes allotted to government Medical Colleges.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will preside over a high-level meeting to be held in this regard, authorities with the CMC said. The meeting to be held soon will take a decision on such issues. Health Minister Adoor Prakash, Minister for Cooperation C N Balakrishnan, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, Public Works Minister V K Ebrahimkunju and Excise Minister K Babu will attend the meeting, said Dr Mohan P Sam, CMC medical director.

Once the functioning of the CMC is integrated with the Health Department, the Medical College will get funds under the Central projects like the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

“We hope that a decision can be taken in the meeting regarding the doctors offering one-year service under bond system also. If so, services of experts in various specialities can be availed in the Medical College,” Mohan P Sam said.Though the Cooperation Minister in the last LDF ministry had made some attempts to secure tertiary referral centre status for the CMC, the move yielded no result. A sanction from the Health Department would have elevated the Medical College to the status of a tertiary referral centre.

The authorities are going ahead with the measures to construct a commercial complex which will house a bank, an ATM, post office, a department store and a dormitory for the bystanders.

“Administrative sanction for the project has been received. We have prepared the estimate as well,” Mohan P Sam said.

There are also plans to construct a payward and staff quarters.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/plans-to-integrate-cmc--with-health-department/186117-60-122.html

lisie is one of the best
Ub7HjDnUiVo

Can anyone give me a list of the best dental clinics in Cochin?

Manappuram Health Care mega diagnostic centre @ Kochi
The second microlab of the Macare Diagnostics, an organisation under the Manappuram Health Care Limited, has begun functioning at Perinjanam in Thrissur district.
Vrinda Premdas inaugurated the lab at a function, presided over by ward member NK Abdul Nazar. Health care managing director Dr PD Prasannan and director KG Ravi participated.
Manappuram Group chairman VP Nandakumar said that the company was planning to open 500 diagnostics centres and medical clinics with an investment of Rs 1500cr.
The first of the two diagnostics centre and medical clinic have been opened at Valappad and Perigottukara.
Nandakumar said the biggest ever centre in Kerala, costing round Rs 30cr, would be opened at Kaloor in Kochi next month.
The group wished to take health care at the lowest cost to the villagers, he said.

Source (http://www.cityjournal.in/Newspaper/20110923/Business/Business_3.html)

With Kochi set to witness a boom in the hospitality sector in the next couple of years, five-star hospitals seem to be getting one-up on five-star hotels.
There are already over five multi-specialty hospitals in and around the city. Besides this, two more are coming up.

Fortis Healthcare (India) Ltd has announced the launch of four hospitals, including one in Kochi, and the DM Medcity@Cochin is coming up at Cheranelloor.

The Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) opened its multi-speciality hospital at Kalamassery here in June with the latest facilities to exploit the potential for medical tourism.

Kochi has already become a centre for medical tourism with several hospitals springing up in the last few years to meet the demand.

Fortis marks its entry into Kerala with a 45-bed boutique hospital in Kochi, which will offer quality healthcare for women under ‘Fortis La Femme’ brand.

DM Healthcare’s medcity@kochi, claimed to be the first medi-city in Kerala, is coming up at Cheranelloor. “The work on the project is expected to be completed and the hospital opened by the end of 2013,” said DM Healthcare authorities.

The project Medcity would be set up on an area of one million square feet with a built-up area of about 2.5 million square feet.

“It will have a large 500-bed anchor hospital as the fulcrum with about 10 smaller hospitals of 100 to 200 beds for individual specialties. MedCity@Kochi will be a conglomeration of multi-super specialties led by renowned medical practitioners from across the globe.Patients from the West Asia, Europe and USA are expected to make use of this facility due to major cost advantages,” they said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kochi-set-to-be-hub-of-plush-hospitals/187488-60-122.html

^^^^^^

I think, the report forgot to mention the upcoming 1000 bedded Rajagiri Medical College, one of the largest in the state as well as Medical Trust upcoming MTIMS project. Also Baby Memorial is planning in a big way to Kochi, after expansion of their flagship hospital at Kozhikode. Since the project at Kozhikode is complete, I am expecting them here at any moment.

Another addition would be Apollo soon into the city....... After all, who can ignore the largest and most powerful commercial capital of Kerala, whether its there in papers or not!!!

^^^^^^

I think, the report forgot to mention the upcoming 1000 bedded Rajagiri Medical College, one of the largest in the state as well as Medical Trust upcoming MTIMS project. Also Baby Memorial is planning in a big way to Kochi, after expansion of their flagship hospital at Kozhikode. Since the project at Kozhikode is complete, I am expecting them here at any moment.

Another addition would be Apollo soon into the city....... After all, who can ignore the largest and most powerful commercial capital of Kerala, whether its there in papers or not!!!

Indeed , with these projects Kochi will set its own unparalleled standards in healthcare.. DM project is so Huge ....I gues its connected from Vallarpadom road ... we need more such big projects to turn Vallarpadom Highway onto the lines of Edapally - Kundanoor stretch ...

Havent heard of Apollo plans , was there any article in paper.

Havent heard of Apollo plans , was there any article in paper.

Apollo Tyres (Premier Tyre Ltd.) is to lease their Highway front property @ Kalamassery for Hospital or Hotel. And Appollo Hospitals has big prospects to come up there :)

^^ regarding Baby momorial hospital plot, recently I have played a cricket match in this spot, it is near to the proposed infopark highway, as of now there is no proper road connectivity for such a project demands. So i feel it is a future project , that we need to wait atleat 5 years to see some happenings.

2-3 years back, I had seen a news report regarding Apollo hospital's entry into Kerala. According to their report, they had plans to set up two 'Apollo Reach' hospitals - one in Kottayam. I don't know they still have their plans alive.

Does the one proposed in Kochi belong to the 'Reach' category?

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev Tuesday met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and presented a proposal for setting up a mega hospital project in Kochi.:banana::banana:

Chandy assured Kapil Dev and his business associates, all non-resident Keralites, that their proposal would be considered favourably.

The newly-floated company of Kapil Dev and his associates for the project has been named the Kochi Medical City Tourism Pvt Ltd.

An official at the chief minister’s office informed the media that the proposal includes a 1,000 bed state of the art hospital, a 50 bed ayurvedic hospital, a convention centre, and a medical research centre. It also comprises plans for a medical, dental and para medical colleges.

“We aim to provide the best medical care facilities in our proposed hospital,” said Kapil Dev after the meeting with Chandy.

http://news.bioscholar.com/2011/09/kapil-dev-meets-chandy-for-a-mega-hospital-project.html

^^

Kochi Medical City

The proposal to start a Multi Super Speciality Hospital worth 1000 crores in Kochi will be considered by Government, said CM.He was speaking after the meeting with famous cricketer Kapil Dev and other officials of Kochi Medical City Tourism Private Limited.This massive project will have a 1000 bedded Allopathic hospital, 50 bedded Ayurvedic hospital, Medical Convention Center and Medical Research Center. In addition to this it is proposed to have Medical College, Dental College, and Para Medical College.

If this project comes up it will employ 7000 persons in the medical field directly and 25,000 persons indirectly. This Medical City is proposed to come up at Kadamakkudi panchayath in Ernakulam district.

Kapil Dev pointed out that the projects like these would help to stop the brain drain and will also provide excellent Medical treatment for the people here.Ministers P.K Kunhalikutty, KC Joseph, K Babu, KP Mohanan, Medical City Chairman Mohan Thomas, MD Hassan Kunju, Mathew Francis, Mibu Jose, Jaya V Jayanadhan, P Sebastin were also part of the meeting.


Kochi Medical City (http://www.keralacm.gov.in/index.php/component/content/article/34-frontslider/281-kochi-medical-city-will-be-considered-cm)

http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2011/9/27/2_460688_1_252.jpg

A group of Indian investors including a doctor and a businessman from Qatar, and legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has unveiled plans to launch a Rs10bn healthcare project in Kerala.

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/webadmin/_template/albums/image-o39.jpg

Mohan Thomas, a leading ENT doctor and Hassan Kunhi, a well-known community member and entrepreneur were among the promoters of the proposed Kochi Medical City who met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram seeking his support.
The chief minister assured the delegation that the government would consider the proposal for the super speciality health project for allopathic and Ayurvedic treatments of international standards, both in quality and facilities.
The project also proposes to provide medical education in various disciplines. It will also create large water lagoons for encouraging fish farming, a park and a forest to encourage breeding of birds and butterflies.

It aims to become one of the top 10 healthcare destinations in the world, a spokesman said.:banana::banana:

The promoters hope to attract patients from other Indian states as well as international medical tourists with quality healthcare facilities. It will employ 7,000 professionals and create nearly 25,000 indirect jobs.

The promoters say India lags far behind in attracting medical tourists due to lack of quality infrastructure despite a large pool of healthcare professionals. The present international market is worth about $10bn while India’s contribution is only 1%.

The project envisages setting up a 1,000-bed hospital offering modern medical treatment, a 50-bed Ayurveda hospital, a medical convention centre and a medical research centre which will focus on creating new treatment modalities that are more effective than those currently in place, the spokesman said.

There will be dental and paramedical institutions as well in the campus. In addition, medical and pharmaceutical companies will be provided office spaces so that they can come under one consolidated wing and this makes it easy for their research and marketing.

The project is expected to attract Indian doctors and technocrats settled abroad to relocate and encourage a reverse brain drain.

The former Indian cricket captain is a director of the Medical City while Dr Thomas is the chairman and Kunhi the managing director.

Others who attended the meeting were Mathew Francis, Jay V Jagannadhan, Mibu Jose, Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty, Norka Minister K C Joseph, Ports Minister K Babu and Agriculture Minister K P Mohananan.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=460691&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

http://www.kochihealthcity.com/webadmin/_template/albums/image-g41.jpg

http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2011/9/27/2_460688_1_252.jpg

A group of Indian investors including a doctor and a businessman from Qatar, and legendary cricketer Kapil Dev has unveiled plans to launch a Rs10bn healthcare project in Kerala.

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good to see this project gaining momentum , I thought this wud have died in recession ....

Another Happy News:cheers:

Asia-focused private equity giant Olympus Capital Holdings may lead Rs 600 crore, or $125 million, minority investment in hospital chain DM Healthcare to expand its India operations, said at least two sources directly familiar with the development. Olympus, along with existing investor India Value Fund, will bring growth capital to propel the emerging hospital chain, as private equity firms take broader interest in India's $35 billion health care services industry.

DM Healthcare is spearheaded by Dubai-based Indian medical entrepreneur Azad Moopen and former CEO of Hinduja Healthcare, Anupam Verma. DM operates five hospitals, thirty-eight medical centres and seventy-five pharmacies under the Aster brand. Its domestic presence till now is limited to southern states, barring two small hospitals at Kohlapur and Pune in Maharashtra.

The funding from Olympus will be deployed to develop a national healthcare network based in Mumbai. DM is developing seven projects, including a medical city at Kochi, which is geared towards medical value tourism in South East Asia. Olympus Capital, best known in India for investments behind BPO industry pioneer Raman Roy and HDFC Bank, manages over $1.5 billion in assets. India Value Fund is expected to part invest in the latest fund raise after buying stake worth $45 million in 2006. The latest fund raise is in the final stages and may be clinched within a few weeks. Boutique investment bank Veda Corporate Advisors is believed to be advising this private equity deal.

DM Healthcare chief executive Anupam Verma declined to comment, while Dr Azad Moopen could not be reached immediately. When contacted, a senior executive at Olympus Capital said he was unaware of the development.

DM, which has looked at hospital acquisitions to accelerate growth, had attracted interest from other private equity firms like General Atlantic Partners and Sequoia Capital after embarking on an ambitious capital raising move in difficult market conditions. DM and Kolkata's AMRI are among the regional hospital chains that are jostling with industry leaders for national presence.

India spends 5% of its GDP on health care Private sector controls over 80% of the service delivery in a heavily fragmented sector where the average size of hospitals is only 25 beds. A report from ICRA estimated that only 5% of the hospitals were of reasonable size with 100 beds or more.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Olympus-set-to-lead-600cr-infusion-in-DM-Healthcare/articleshow/10146608.cms

The state which can be projected as the oldest state in the country is on the threshold of a major health crisis for its senior citizens with not a single geriatric speciality clinic in the state.

Kochi, which is home to the largest number of speciality and private hospitals, has no centre which attends specifically to the aged. Those that claim so are mainly general medicine clinics.

''Geriatrics is a speciality like paediatrics. Just like you don't take children to a general physician, even the elderly need specialised doctors to look at their ailments as they often report multiple ailments,'' Helpage India Kochi chapter programme coordinator John Daniel said.

''We are being projected as an old state because our elderly population is more than 10 per cent. Ours is being projected at 11.7 percent. So, unless one knows how to treat this group of citizens, they often end up with complications,'' he said.

However, while there are no clinics in the state, the state unit of the National Rural Health Mission and the Kerala State Social Security Mission are planning to launch Vyomitram, a medicare project for the people in the age group 65 and above in Ernakulam soon.

''Under the project, a mobile clinic will tour various wards of Kochi corporation on specific days. The project is meant to help elder citizens who find it difficult to reach hospitals owing to various reasons,'' health committee chairman T K Ashraf said.

The mobile unit will examine patients and provide necessary medicare services. An ambulance is also planned to be inducted in the second phase of the project.

The Thiruvananthapuram-based Centre for Development Studies had come out with a study on growing number of oldage couples in several cities of Kerala with Pathnamthitta leading with the largest number of elders staying alone without the support of their children.

''We are given Rs 5 lakh with Geriatric centre at the General Hospital. We will be introducing the ambulance service and organising medical camps,'' said Dr K V Beena, regional manager, NRHM, Ernakulam.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/No-clinics-to-treat-the-elderly/articleshow/10194230.cms

Kochi's two largest private hospitals are now increasing more amenities and larger campus.

Medical Trust, one of Kerala's largest hospital and tertiary referal center, is going to increase the bed capacity to 1000, from 750 of current, by adding another IP Block. The Hotel Pampa, adjacent to MTH OP block has been taken over the group, to set up a 250 bed facility in addition to a mini convention center and a lifestyle center.

Likewise Angamally's celebrated Little Flower Hospital, reputed to be one of Kerala's most advanced ophthalmology specialized hospital, has opened a state-of-the-art Opthametric block, independent from its existing hospital block, to cater more patients having various types of eye-related issues. The hospital, now can boosts, Kerala's first dedicated Pediatric Ophthalmology Hospital block as well as largest Optha-surgical theatre with more than 15 dedicated surgical facilities.

Palliative care is the major consolation for the unfortunate few who have lost all hopes in medical science, said Hibi Eden MLA.

He was inaugurating the World Hospice & Palliative Care Day celebrations at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS). The event also marked the 10th anniversary of the palliative home care at AIMS. Actor Meera Nandan inaugurated the new palliative care unit for patients suffering from diseases other than cancer.

Swami Poornamrithanandapuri, general secretary, Mata Amrithanandamayi Math; Dr Prathapan Nair, Principal, AIMS; Dr Ramkumar P, Head of Pain and Paliative Department; Radhakrishna Menon, secretary, Ernakulam District Consortium Paliative Care; and Dr Sanjeev K Sinha, Medical Superintendent also participated in the event.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/aims-palliative-care-day-inaugurated/191361-60-122.html

Kochi will soon get another 5 star hospital and with full fledged tertiary medical center, with an unique management, perhaps for the first time in the world.

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/253908_215071635180627_215071468513977_736998_8101320_n.jpg (http://molecule7.com/)

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/9427/hospitalplannedelevatio.jpg

Molecule 7 Hospital is a new generation, unique hospital concept based in IT Hub at Kakkanad. The hospital will have 150 rooms with fully equipped beds

Unlike typical hospital, here each bedroom is a suite room and owned by individuals like an apartment. The owner then leases back to Hospital company for 99 year lease, for which he/she recevies either annual share of profits or fixed monthly amount + 33% discounts in treatments annually. The rooms can also act as a Pension/retirement home, if annual profit/monthly rent is not required.

The Model is also different

Molecule 7-Model of Management.

In Molecule 7 model of management, each speciality acts as an independent Molecule. Therefore each speciality is self sustained unit with high doctor revenue. This avoids attrition and unwanted involment of other non medical departments. All the non medical departments will be a support function to the Molecule. In this model doctors are employers restricted to the respective department management. The number 7 denotes the focus on 7 specialities.

Advantages.


Every department in the hospital works like a molecule which increases the doctor commitments and avoids attrition.
Diversified management provides better patient care.
High revenue for the doctor in employer mode without investments.
Consistency in the treatments for the patients.
Network of hospitals without capital confusions, as Molecule 7 follows the 3P`s model of business (http://molecule7.com/content/3ps-model-1).
Management exposure and area exposure.
Doctors promoted from Employee to employer.
Supported by professional marketing and sales team, taking the name of the doctor to greater heights.
Better equipment and bio medical guidance as the best engineering personals are part of the team.


http://molecule7.com/sites/default/files/field/image/03333.jpg

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http://molecule7.com/sites/default/files/field/image/01111.jpg

The structure is now completed and scheduled to open by first quarter of 2012. Currently all the rooms have been sold out.

On completion of Phase 1, phase 2 will be launched which aims to starting dedicated Heart Center, an Ortho-Spine Hospital and Center for Advanced Neuro Sciences, creating another 220 rooms, for which bookings are now opened.

Kochi is seeing a flurry of activity in the health care segment recently. The reasons behind this could be
1- Low treatment cost
2- Well trained,dedicated, foreign exposed doctors and para medical staff
3- Good weather
4- Alternative medicines like Ayurveda and Yoga
5-English speaking staff
6- Good air connectivity
7- Globalisation where the whole world is one market.
The majority of the wellness tourists have come for alternate medicine but if we can provide state of the art facilities and experienced professionals at affordable cost , allopathic medicine can fetch patients from all over the world. There are around 12 hospitals of top class coming up in Kochi and they would have done enough market study to invest 1000 s of crores into this segment. They are all trying to woo the foreign patients.Cardiac Surgeries,IVF, Joint replacement, dental treatment,cosmetic surgeries like fat reduction,removing facial wrinkles etc. The hospitals coming up in Kochi are

1-KIMS
2-MIMS
3-Medical Trust
4-Rajagiri
5-Kochi med city Tourism
6-Polakulam
7-DM Health Care
8-Baby Memorial
9-Fortis
10- Apollo ??
11- Molecule-7
12- BCG- its more of a mall

Dental Centers

1- Vasan Dental Care
2- Manappuram Dental Care
These are all 5star hospitals and common man will have to depend on the existing facilities unless you are medically covered by insurance. But we can see a lot of reverse brain drain happening when these becomes a reality.

The hospitals coming up in Kochi are

1-KIMS - Its already there
2-MIMS - No Idea, are u sure?
3-Medical Trust - Planned
4-Rajagiri - Land levelling happening
5-Kochi med city Tourism - Discussions initiated
6-Polakulam - No idea
7-DM Health Care - Well, MIMS's has major stake by Azad Moopen, DM Healthcare - Construction progressing
8-Baby Memorial - Planned
9-Fortis - Planned
10- Apollo ?? - Might work, if the agreement happens with Appollo Tyres
11- Molecule-7 - Building Structure completed
12- BCG- its more of a mall - Building interior works going on

These are all 5 star hospitals and common man will have to depend on the existing facilities unless you are medically covered by insurance. But we can see a lot of reverse brain drain happening when these becomes a reality.

There will be facilities for the common man in atleast some of them. Even though, Amrita is an Axe on the neck for Middle Class, they are providing free services to many on account of the Patient's financial status, and many others too do the same.

There will be facilities for the common man in atleast some of them. Even though, Amrita is an Axe on the neck for Middle Class, they are providing free services to many on account of the Patient's financial status, and many others too do the same.
I am not sure about MIMS(Since its major share is Azad Moopens ,and his DM is coming up in Cheranelloore,probably thats wrong info) but Polakulam is sure and its coming up in Palarivattom area.

There will be facilities for the common man in atleast some of them. Even though, Amrita is an Axe on the neck for Middle Class, they are providing free services to many on account of the Patient's financial status, and many others too do the same.

Well, MIMS I too haven't heard anything about it. Well, MIMs is not fully owned by Moopen Group. There are lot of other investors too.....

By the way Malayaali, I feel Amrita Hospital is a role model. They really provide free services to poor and even for middle class gets subsidzed rates. My dad has undergone angiogram and angioplast surgery there, 3 years back. The rates in Medical trust was 2.5 lakhs for the process, while in Amrita it was just 1.2 lakh.

Ofcourse, we didn't seek for any financial support as we do hail from regular middle class family. So only normal rates applied for us. Yet there was a difference of 1.3 lakh rupees. Moreover Amrita introduced the latest radial surgery, by which the process is done thro' hand, instead of leg in conventional process, common to any hospital. Infact that time, it was Amrita who introduced this surgery for the first time in South India, as they claim so.

The advantage is that, the patient can walk soon after the surgery and can be discharged within 48 hours of surgery, if rest of conditions are normal.

If the same technology was made available in Medical Trust, they would have charged atleast 4 lakhs for it. Comparing to any hospital, I feel AIMS is really cost effective and too supportive. The care is also unbelievably high.... The only problem is getting an appointment for OP. It took around 1 month for us, to get an appointment with doctor and around 2 weeks to get a free date for surgery.....

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By the way, the first phase of MTIMS Kakkanad is completed and opened to public.....

By the way, the first phase of MTIMS Kakkanad is completed and opened to public.....

Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, i presume. Where is it located??

Medical Trust Institute of Medical Sciences, i presume. Where is it located??

Its located exactly behind Choice Paradise Towers and Heera Lifestyle Mall. To be frank, its located in Tripunithara Irupanam. But they call it as Kakkanad, may for highlighting the location.

Now its a hospital. Soon, they have plans for setting up a Medical college, once they get the land nearby. Otherwise as of now, they are setting up Paramedical courses and making it as a tertiary hospital.

Well we all forgot another one coming up in Kochi

MACare Hospitals and Diagnostic centers promoted by Manappuram Group, one of India's largest NBF institutions.

They are planning to start a large teritary hospital and Kerala's largest diagnostic center in Kochi.

Already recruitment for Kochi and Thrissur units have started.

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/19102011/19102011-md-ek-7/43715671.JPG

Another mega hospital project is also gearing up for Kochi

Foundation stone for Gurudev Institute of Medical Sciences near Perumbavoor in Koovappady will be laid on Oct 22nd by Union Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi.

Promoted by SNDP Union and Sree Narayana Gurukulam Foundation, the hospital campus will come up in 20 acres of land at an initial investment of Rs 100 crore.

As part of Phase 1, a multi-specialty hospital campus with 200 beds will come up by first quarter of 2014. Second phase envisions for increased hospital facilities, a cancer care center and medical college.

Its time to change impressions about Government Hospital


For the first time in the country, a government hospital is going to provide balanced and nutritional food free-of-cost to its inmates, prepared from its own well-equipped kitchen.

The Ernakulam General Hospital is all equipped with a kitchen to meet the 500-odd inpatients. Three meals a day will be provided to the inpatients of the hospital at their bedsides, which is now available only at private hospitals.

The Ernakulam General Hospital has become the first government hospital in the country to provide free meals to its inpatients. “Though food is provided to inpatients at G B Pant Hospital and the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences at their bedsides, it is not free. But here we give free food,” Hospital Superintendent Dr M I Junaid Rahman told Express.

“The inpatients would be provided ovo-vegetarian food, which consists of a balanced and nutritional diet that caters to different patients,” NRHM Consultant Nutritionist Mumtaz Khalid Ismail said. Idli, dosa, upuma, puttu and chappati are included in the breakfast menu. The lunch is a full course meal that consists of vegetables, rice and butter milk.

Tea and biscuit will be served for tea. And the dinner menu is chappati with egg curry and vegetable kuruma.

Oottupura, as the kitchen is fondly called, was a concept that came to the mind of Dr Rahman after looking at the food trolleys at the private hospitals.
“If the private hospitals can do it, why cannot we? This was the thought that led to the concept of Oottupura,” he said.

Though the proposal was submitted to the government a year ago nothing happened, Dr Rahman said. “After P I Sheik Parith assumed charge as District Collector, the concept got fresh life. We thought of collecting funds locally,” he said.

P Rajeev MP provided `15 Lakh from the MP Fund, Kochi Refineries Ltd gave `10 lakh and the Hospital Development Society provided `5 lakh to construct the kitchen.

“An expense of `20,000 is expected daily to provide food to the inpatients. Voluntary organisations have already come up in support,” Dr Rahman said. For the future, the superintendent looks forward to having a list of individuals and others who could sponsor food for 365 days. The Brothers of Holy Charity has agreed to voluntarily prepare the food.

Walking around the kitchen, Mumtaz explained that the chappati maker could make 1,000 chappatis per hour. The rice boiler could cook 50 kg of rice, which is enough for about 500-odd inpatients.

The idli steamer could make 100 pieces of idli. About 80 per cent of normal food and 20 per cent of therapeutic food will be provided to the inpatients.
Once the kitchen becomes operational, the inpatients would not be served food brought from outside,” she said .

Dr Rahman said the new kitchen was awaiting inauguration. “The availability of the Health Minister and others has to be finalised. And in case the inauguration is delayed, we would start a trial run soon,” Dr Rahman said.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/you-can-relish-your-days-in-general-hospital/194800-60-122.html

[QUOTE=mohammedirshad06;84848600]Well, MIMS I too haven't heard anything about it. Well, MIMs is not fully owned by Moopen Group. There are lot of other investors too.....

By the way Malayaali, I feel Amrita Hospital is a role model. They really provide free services to poor and even for middle class gets subsidzed rates.

.... The only problem is getting an appointment for OP. It took around 1 month for us, to get an appointment with doctor and around 2 weeks to get a free date for surgery.....

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AIMS is a non profitable charity organisation and it cannot be a role model for all the upcoming corporate hospitals. They have alternate funding sources. Its a good model for the common man for whom medical expenses are always an unprecedented,unexpected catastrophe. But the problem is the long waiting list and waiting time which is not accepted in the medical field. But corporate hospitals whose existance is for profit cannot run in the same model and they have to make profit. The medical expenses in India and in particular Kerala is much much much below the international rates. A full body CT scan in US will cost more than the Angioplasty price you quoted in AIMS. whats needed is to upgrade our technology and skills to international levels and there should be a change in professionalism and nursing care. Thats where the corporate hospitals are going to make the difference but in the process they will become beyond the reach of a middle class Keralite who will have to depend on AIMS's and Lissy's and wait patiently for their turn if they are still alive.

1) AIMS is a non profitable charity organisation and it cannot be a role model for all the upcoming corporate hospitals.

2)They have alternate funding sources.

1) Stupidity, you have very less idea about them.
2) True.

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AIMS is a non profitable charity organisation and it cannot be a role model for all the upcoming corporate hospitals. They have alternate funding sources. Its a good model for the common man for whom medical expenses are always an unprecedented,unexpected catastrophe. But the problem is the long waiting list and waiting time which is not accepted in the medical field. But corporate hospitals whose existance is for profit cannot run in the same model and they have to make profit. The medical expenses in India and in particular Kerala is much much much below the international rates. A full body CT scan in US will cost more than the Angioplasty price you quoted in AIMS. whats needed is to upgrade our technology and skills to international levels and there should be a change in professionalism and nursing care. Thats where the corporate hospitals are going to make the difference but in the process they will become beyond the reach of a middle class Keralite who will have to depend on AIMS's and Lissy's and wait patiently for their turn if they are still alive.

Well, your statements is half true and half false for me....

AIMs is not NOT-FOR-PROFIT kind of venture. Its not a charity hospital. They do charge and make profit. Ofcourse, donot charge too much nor make an unsound profit, say like Medical trust, which is owned by an individual.

Amrita has a strong source of alternate funding. The funding recevied by Amrita Math and its foundation fund is really strong to support such ventures. Equally they are not so innocent or white pigeons all set for a beautification..... The Medical college seat of Amrita is astonishingly high, 100 times any other christian Medical college..... Being a deemed university, they donot fall under Govt control and only 30 to 40 % of its students study in normal rates. Rest remaining is 100% is for NRI students. Its not any quotas, but only NRIs can afford such rates....

I personally know a girl, who joined in AIMS for 55 lakh+regular fees for an MBBS degree.... And for MD, nothing is below 1 CR......

This money they use for subsidizing poor patients.... I am sure, Amma or her Sanyasis require this much amount for luxurious purposes. They use these money for various Pro-poor activities like setting up Amritakooderam project or Constructing villages for needy, supporting hospitals like AIMS.... Even in Amrita Pharmacies you get medicines around 20% less than MRP.....

So I would say, its like a Kayamkulam Kochunni style... Reaping crores for rich and helping poor..... But both feel equally happy..... And I don't feel anything bad in it!!!!:)

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Corporate Hospitals like Fortis, Appollo also donot charge too high...... I had been to Appollo Indraprastha once in New Delhi. Ofcourse rates are high, but not as high in foreign countries. Its to a level, which Middle class can afford....

In India, you cannot run a hospital aiming foreign tourists and rich men.... For example, when Lakeshore was set up, the rates were too high.... Today its almost normal, as the success of hospital depends on number of patients able to utilize it.... It is also a corporate hospital. There are many like BMH, KIMS etc, which also falls in same category..... Corporate hospitals in India, cater the booming Middle Class and rich class segments. Then you have tier-2 hospitals, where poor can also reach up..... And in Kerala, the standards of any Govt hospital is far higher than any other state.... In other states, only the govt medical colleges and main city hospital, mostly in metros, are equipped in facilities. In Kerala, even ordinary PHC is far equipped comparing to its counterparts in other parts of India.

Perhaps for our standards, the facilities in Govt hospitals may be lowerer, but its far superior in national level standards, which have been often praised even by WHO.......

It is not Medical Trust. It is മേടിക്കല്* ട്രസ്റ്റ്.

It is not Medical Trust. It is മേടിക്കല്* ട്രസ്റ്റ്.

Woww, Donmaths.... Didn't knew you are a Mallu. Good to see... Yeah its true.... Medical Trust is really that.... But I feel, almost every private hospitals are like that only...... One thing is that Medical Trust still is one of the largest and most advanced tertiary hospital. They really have some good doctors and treatment of some advanced surgeries/procedures....

Woww, Donmaths.... Didn't knew you are a Mallu. Good to see... Yeah its true.... Medical Trust is really that.... But I feel, almost every private hospitals are like that only...... One thing is that Medical Trust still is one of the largest and most advanced tertiary hospital. They really have some good doctors and treatment of some advanced surgeries/procedures....

Yeah, no disagreement on the quality of the doctors. Also, agree with your point regarding the quality and accessibility of healthcare in rural areas in Kerala compared to other states.

Instead of MIMS we can add

-MA Care Hospitals and Diagnostics.
13- SNDP hopital in Perumbavoor. So the list stays at unlucky 13.

Probably not.....

Well, just wait for a few months more, I am sure Kochi will another medical college in form of Lourde Medical college. They are all set to break ground for it......

MIMS, I don't think so as of now.....

Kochi hosted International Conference of Medical Tourism by CII

The international Conference and Exhibition on Health Tourism is being held at the Le Meridean Hotel. The first day of the event on Friday attracted many visitors.

The exhibition, which was inaugurated by Sri Lankan Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion Reginald Cooray, is a two-day affair with a number of stalls from various parts of the state. At least 39 stalls exhibiting healthcare products were put up.

The exhibition is being sponsored by Lakeshore Hospital, Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences and many nursing colleges. Chairman of Kerala Health Tourism 2011, Philip Augustine said: “The intention of the exhibition is to create awareness among the public about growing opportunities and potential for Kerala in the field of health tourism.”

Ranging from stalls showcasing the traditional healthcare products of India to the modern medicines that are applied in various sectors such as fertility treatments have been displayed at the stalls. Hospitals specialising in eyecare and cancer also participated.

The intention of introducing ayurvedic stalls at the exhibition is to provide locals a chance to experiment with various traditional science which has for long been the favourite option among foreigners. The programmes include special slimming, beauty care, spine and neck care, stress management , medicated fumes treatment for ears, ‘marma’ massages and medical steam baths.

Also, a stall highlighting healing through traditional Kerala medications, sponsored by the Tourism Department is also an eye catcher with its wood products and designs highlighting health therapys and techniques.
Another stall by Corporatta, a psychological Training Organisation in South India which is striving to make a difference by providing unique packages such as the psycho-tourism package are being displayed. The latest concept introduced in health and medical tourism is guided psycho-tourism which introduces patients to the same destinations any tourist would go to, but with a completely different mindset especially making use of the natural ambience of the hills.

The other packages include outbound and adventure tourism, village walk etc.
Also, tourism agencies such as the Elephant Court, Thekkady gives visitors a chance to book their trip to their fancy destination homes in Kerala amidst the tranquility of outdoors.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/get-healthwise-at-health-tourism-exhibition/195386-60-122.html

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/22102011/22102011-md-ek-3/32813968.JPG

Kochi will see rise of another mega hospital and medical college soon, for its Eastern Suburbs.

SNDP Yogam has announced its main project- Gurudev Institute of Medical Sciences, a 200 bed facility in 21 acres of land in a 7 storied tower to be ready within 2 years at a cost of 100 crores Rs.

The foundation stone to be laid today by Union Civil Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi, in presence of Health Minister Adoor Prakash, Ports Minister K Babu and SNDP President Vellapally Natesan.

The Second phase of the project aims to convert it into a full fledged Medical college.

1) Stupidity, you have very less idea about them.
2) True.

Allow me to quote Directors message from Amritas website

"AIMS is a 1450 – bed, charitable, super specialty hospital, equipped with state– of–the–art medical facilities". "The beneficiaries, who received either free or concessional treatment, account for a staggering 63%. Even the remaining 37% enjoyed highly subsidized treatment. Out of 60,000 surgeries performed, approximately 25,000 were either totally free or concessional".
It will auger well for all if we dont use the' tertiary' words like stupidity etc etc in a healthy argument. I am an NRI and my info can be deviated from the absolute truth about Kochi,but point them out and we shall come to a logical conclusion.

@Donmaths- Medical trust in tertiary coronary care is among the best in the country. To maintain that kind of standard there are high expenses also . So when we are getting quality care we should be prepared to spend for that. Being in the med field I can assure you that medical expenses in Kerala for the quality of treatment you are getting is really good for the patient.

@MI- Do not combine medical education with Hospitals. Lets treat them seperately. Enough has been discussed in Kerala abt med education. I know of institutes charging more than 1.5 crore also in India for P.G seats. When the corporate style hospitals come up featuring 5 star facilities ,they have to charge also accordingly. Unless they are able to attract foreign patients along with IT crowd and upper class, I do not think all will survive. Lakeshore was establishd in 90,likewise BM and MIMS s but now the situation is different and I feel these new generation hospitals can attract foreign patients with the help of marketing in foreign countries .

Kochi is seeing a flurry of activity in the health care segment recently. The reasons behind this could be
1- Low treatment cost
2- Well trained,dedicated, foreign exposed doctors and para medical staff
3- Good weather
4- Alternative medicines like Ayurveda and Yoga
5-English speaking staff
6- Good air connectivity
7- Globalisation where the whole world is one market.
The majority of the wellness tourists have come for alternate medicine but if we can provide state of the art facilities and experienced professionals at affordable cost , allopathic medicine can fetch patients from all over the world. There are around 12 hospitals of top class coming up in Kochi and they would have done enough market study to invest 1000 s of crores into this segment. They are all trying to woo the foreign patients.Cardiac Surgeries,IVF, Joint replacement, dental treatment,cosmetic surgeries like fat reduction,removing facial wrinkles etc. The hospitals coming up in Kochi are

1-KIMS
2-MIMS
3-Medical Trust
4-Rajagiri
5-Kochi med city Tourism
6-Polakulam
7-DM Health Care
8-Baby Memorial
9-Fortis
10- Apollo ??
11- Molecule-7
12- BCG- its more of a mall

Dental Centers

1- Vasan Dental Care
2- Manappuram Dental Care
These are all 5star hospitals and common man will have to depend on the existing facilities unless you are medically covered by insurance. But we can see a lot of reverse brain drain happening when these becomes a reality.

Instead of MIMS we can add

-MA Care Hospitals and Diagnostics.
13- SNDP hopital in Perumbavoor. So the list stays at unlucky 13.

KOCHI: According to the CII-McKinsy report, medical tourism industry in Kerala is expected to be worth $4 billion by 2017. This sector will bring in as much as $2 billion by 2012 as compared to an estimated $333 million in 2006-07. While medical tourists from Germany, France, Switzerland and the US prefer ayurveda treatment, those from West Asia and the UK give more importance to modern medicine.

"Kerala has an immense potential to develop the scope of health tourism in the country. It can become the hub and one of the most preferred destinations in the world for potential health tourists," Sri Lankan minister for minor export crop promotion Reginald Cooray said on Friday. He was inaugurating the two-day international conference and exhibition on health tourism, Kerala Health Tourism 2011, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Hotel Le Meridien.

"Kerala has become an excellent brand by itself in the health tourism sector either because of its reputation in modern as well as traditional systems of treatment like ayurveda, yoga, meditation and homoeopathy or its cost effectiveness. The lengthy costal belt, peculiar geographical location, lusty back waters, a large number of beaches, serene hillocks, moderate climate throughout the year and highly literate populace also have contributed," he said.

Dr Philip Augustine, chairman of the conference and director and CEO of Lakeshore Hospital, said that the medical tourism industry in the state was expected to be worth $4 billion by 2017.

"Ayurveda sector pioneered the whole concept of health tourism in Kerala which is also witnessing a surge in dental and modern medicine for the cost that is around six to ten times lower than anywhere in the world," he said.

Umang Patodia, former chairman of CII, highlighted the preparedness of Indian hospitals to meet the global demands in health tourism with its resources and infrastructure.

The event has brought major hospitals, health insurance companies, policy-makers, tourism promotion boards, hotels and resorts, health, travel and tour operators and international institutions for promotion of health tourism under one roof.

The exhibition being held in connection with the conference is showcasing the products and services of leading hospitals, national and international insurance companies, third-party administrators and travel and tour operators.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Medical-tourism-in-Kerala-to-bring-in-2-billion-by-2012/articleshow/10451548.cms

Ernakulam, the business hub of Kerala, has become India’s first smoke-free tourist destination. K Babu, Minister for Excise, Government of Kerala, recently declared the port city smoke-free. Eldhose Kunnappillil, President, District Panchayat released ‘smoke-free Ernakulam’ balloons on the occasion.


http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/kerala-declares-ernakulam-as-first-smokefree-tourist-destination-14780

Any update about the 1000 crore Medical College Hospital Project in Chunungumvely,Aluva by Rajagiri Group announced in 2010?

http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/954631/National/1/20/1

Any update about the 1000 crore Medical College Hospital Project in Chunungumvely,Aluva by Rajagiri Group announced in 2010?

http://www.indiareport.com/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/954631/National/1/20/1

I am not sure if its a Rs 1k crore project. The project has started 3-4 months back and the land leveling works were happening 2 months ago. Someone from the Aluva belt can update on this project. Its located on Aluva - Pbvr private bus route, the rubber plantations after Chunangamvely Jn.

I am not sure if its a Rs 1k crore project. The project has started 3-4 months back and the land leveling works were happening 2 months ago. Someone from the Aluva belt can update on this project. Its located on Aluva - Pbvr private bus route, the rubber plantations after Chunangamvely Jn.

Yes Malayaali, its 1000 crore project... But divided over 3 phases..... Now works are going on for Phase 1 which is a 300 crore Rupee project to set up a 300-400 bed hospital.

The second phase is more cost intensive with establishment of specialized hospitals like Cardiac, Cancer, Neurology etc. Also 2 colleges will come as part of this- Paramedical and Pharmacy..... Finally third phase goes for making more expansion of hospital and 3 medical colleges; General Medicine, Dental, Nursing and Research center...

Naturally it will costs near 1000 crore and sometimes beyond this considering the cost inflation.

[QUOTE=mohammedirshad06;85028728]Yes Malayaali, its 1000 crore project...

WOW!! CMI fathers have reached a different league altogether along with their shelved and now reopened Mall in Rajagiri valley. CMI rocks!!:banana::banana:

WOW!! CMI fathers have reached a different league altogether along with their shelved and now reopened Mall in Rajagiri valley. CMI rocks!!:banana::banana:

Yes they are really of different league now.... They are trying so hard for the Deemed university status, just like how their sister concern, Christ got in Blore.....

Once that happens, its altogether a different league.... Apart from Rajagiri Public School, they now have a premium International school called as Christu Jayanthi which now seems to be hot interest for techies of Infopark, being so close to IT Hub....

Now its almost like this, you join in KG and pass out with PH.D........

Now people of Eastern Suburbs of Kothamangalam-Muvattupuzha get more premier cardio treatments, with Mar Baselios opening better Cardio treatments including catlabs

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7246/32131375.jpg

Now its almost like this, you join in KG and pass out with PH.D........[/QUOTE]
This concept was there in Manipal before, give us ur child when he is 5 and 8 laks Rs( I think it was 8 laks in late 80"s) and take him back as an engineer or Doctor . From next year all India entrance is going to be conducted for MBBS all over the country and relevance of deemed university status will diminish.
I have been to Viswajyothi School and found it very good but there are no boarding facilities there. I went to Rajagiri also after 31 years and was surprised to see the changes there.Rajagiri is one of the schools that has developed with time when u consider the then biggies like St.Josephs and St.Teresas were left behind due to inability to meet the demands of a modern generation

District Collector Sheikh Pareek said that, the district administration is planning to open a Home for Destitute in the city, for those who have been left alone in General Hospital..... A temporary ward is currently functioning in General Hospital, which has capacity to accomodate only 30 people.

The Collector has asked Revenue officials to identify 2.5 acres of land either in Kakkanad/Thrikkara or somewhere near to the city, within vicinity of Govt hospital, for the purpose. A charitable organization called Rosary of Divine has come forward to build and operate the center. The new center is planned to accommodate more than 200 destitutes with separate wards for men and women and a poor mercy home for orphans. The primary objective is to support such hapless men/women and provide them a livelihood means.

A current ward in General hospital, which has been alleged by media for being ignored by almost all doctors and nurses, will be taken over by the society, untill moving to new facility.

The Collector and DMO announced the opening of new OP block and Public canteen by January in General Hospital premises.

Now its almost like this, you join in KG and pass out with PH.D........
This concept was there in Manipal before, give us ur child when he is 5 and 8 laks Rs( I think it was 8 laks in late 80"s) and take him back as an engineer or Doctor . From next year all India entrance is going to be conducted for MBBS all over the country and relevance of deemed university status will diminish.
I have been to Viswajyothi School and found it very good but there are no boarding facilities there. I went to Rajagiri also after 31 years and was surprised to see the changes there.Rajagiri is one of the schools that has developed with time when u consider the then biggies like St.Josephs and St.Teresas were left behind due to inability to meet the demands of a modern generation

The relevance of a deemed university in my concept is not ability to admit students based on their paying ability..... Well by making deemed university, they have better control over academics and ability to make swift changes in the academics to suit to current needs.....

We have Govt controlled universities which still follows academics worth 10 years back. For example, I found from my sister's MBA syllabus that for MG University, they still believe any marketing effort is a Sales Promotion..... Gone those notions completely in marketing.... Today Marketing has developed its own promotion tool called IMC- Intergrated Marketing Communications and even Facebook/Orkut plays a role in promoting a service/good much before its launch.

The concept of sales promotion, say direct sales, door-to door sales etc has become irrelevant to great extent. We in real life talk about relationship marketing, which became a direct sales, while MG University still talks about Euroka Forbes era, where salesman with a bag coming at doorsteps and talking about product.....

Thats the fault of a govt sponsored university and restricted affiliation system. Most of private colleges like Rajagiri ignore the syllabus, while they take their own private syllabus and either offer a PGDM or take one month last minute crash course for govt syllabus and make students write MG University exams......

So its always better to have more private universities and it will give govt universities a run..........

Aster MedCity (http://www.astermedcity.com/Default.aspx) project updates

The construction is progressing @ Cheranallur. The 1st phase of 540 bed hospital at a cost Rs 500 crore is projected to complete by Sept 2012.

Crescent Constructions, which built Nippon Towers @ Kalamassery & CIAL Aero Museum are the contractors and PAN India is the consultant.

Can we have a seperate thread for this project, its 1st of its kind in our state and worth Rs 1500 Crore. May be, MI can help ;)

The next lobbying started for Kochi Govt Medical College

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/9073/32371.jpg


Well Mathrubhumi has started lobbying for Kochi Medical College. As per the report, they seek the General Hospital of Ernakulam to be upgraded into a Medical college. However it requires an additional space of 2.5 acres of land, which they suggest is for attaching Corporation HQ area, as the corporation is construction a new complex in Off-Marine Drive area.

Once the City Corporation HQ is moved out, the current space can be used to Medical college up-gradation.

Unofficial discussions regarding this has happened between Union Minister KV Thomas, District Collector, Mayor, NHRM-Kochi head, DMO etc.

Since General Hospital Ernakulam is basking in glory for achieving many first in the country, including an NABH accreditation for the first time by a Government Hospital in the country; most of the people are suggesting the hospital to be converted. The hospital has currently 20 departments with state-of-the-art facilities and dedicated staff. It also located right in heart of city, making it easy for people to reach the facility.

The only hindrance is currently space. As per rules, a Medical college requires minimum 10 acres of facility and currently GH-EKM has only 7.5 acres with them. If the govt acquires another 2.5 acres for them, its pretty easy to start the facility.

Meanwhile the demand is getting support from all parties and agencies. K.V Thomas said that for initial funding NRHM funds can be used along with liberal corporate donations from most of profit-making PSUs based in Kochi and other agencies. More funds can be allotted by all MPs and MLAs from the region.

Anyway, if things move with this momentum, Kochi will see its first Govt Medical college within next year!!!:cheers:

^^^^^^^^

Equally there are plans to take-over Cochin Medical College run by Co-operatives Department of Govt, directly by Health department and upgrade with more facilities.

Well, though its a good idea to upgrade GH to Medical college, I feel its far better to consider CMC first than GH. This is because CMC has enough space and potential to do so, which is grossly mismanaged by various members of its administration. Moreover, once GH gets upgraded, people lose the chance of secondary treatments, as new laws allow Medical Colleges only as a teritary referal centers. Well, unless another GH is subsituted for the loss of this one, due to upgradation, a medical college is not something I think we can look forward.

Unlike anyother place, in Kochi, there are 3 medical colleges, lying within 80 Kms of its radius, the Alleppey, Kottayam and Thrissur. In addition a host of private and charitable institutions have their own facilities in the city for any serious emergency.

Though a govt medical college is a welcome move, it should be be at loss of one of most advanced GHs of the state. I feel, the govt must consider CMC to be taken over than GH

Equally, in case of land, I feel, the govt can do something else.... The current Law College in Ernakulam donot have enough facilities etc. Once Juidicial academy comes up in Athani, the Ram Mohan palace can be converted as Law College, which allows students to learn law at nosetip of High court, which offers more larger facility than current campus.

If done so, the Hostel bldg (House of Lords) of Law College, located directly behind GH can taken over and used for Medical college. May be ideal for an academic block or even hostel facilities.

The historic Cochin Legislature complex, which now houses the Law college can be either used as State Public Library which Cochin lacks now or as a museum. Its pity to see such a historic bldg ruined with SFI-KSU graffiti. Moreover bring Law College, right under nosetip of HC and Police HQ, brings more discipline to the unruly Law college students.....

In this way, we can strike 2 birds at one shot!!!!:lol:

Apollo is there in Kochi ..... where is it coming .....


“Our Reach projects are in Karaikudi, Erode, Kochi, Chittoor, Karimnagar, Lucknow, Ranchi and Siliguri,” says Sangita Reddy, executive director, Apollo Hospitals Group. Apollo plans to set up 50 such hospitals in the long run

http://www.businessworld.in/businessworld/content/Small-Town-Big-Business.html?storyInSinglePage=true?print=yes

also Nova medical centre coming
Nova has set up six centres in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai in the past four years, and plans to start 10 new ones: in Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kanpur, Coimbatore, Mangalore and Kochi within the next two years, says Dr Mahesh Reddy, founder and executive director.

Apollo is there in Kochi ..... where is it coming .....


Whooooaaawww! quorum completed! :)

Not sure how big they are going to built. There is a possibility for Kalamassery where Apollo tyres is now located.

Whooooaaawww! quorum completed! :)

Not sure how big they are going to built. There is a possibility for Kalamassery where Apollo tyres is now located.

If my source were correct, this piece of news is outdated and not correct. Some time back, I believe it was in 2009 there was a proposal for a JV between Lakshmi Hospital group and Apollo to allow the former as franchise to brand few of its hospitals as Apollo Reach. This was particularly for its Tripunithara, Aluva, and Udayogamandal units along with planned ones in Kottayam, Sabarimala etc

Lakshmi Group was in an acquisition spree and required a strong brand value partner then. But someway or other, it didn't work out. I believe, this one is talking about it.

If Apollo is coming to Kochi, I am sure, it won't consider a less than 150 bed hospitals as Apollo Reach envisions, as most of the big names in the city have around 400 to 600 bed.... And now with mega hospitals like Aster Medcity, Kochi Medical city, Rajagiri etc are coming up and several other Kerala brands expanding vigorously, its impossible for Apollo to sustain with 150 bed, unless it opt for some kind of luxury boutique hospital, like the one which Fortis planning so.

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/28102011/28102011-md-ek-2/161644966.JPG

Aluva General Hospital to make over into a full fledged District Hospital at an additional cost of 6.5 crore. More facilities and surgery units are planned here

If my source were correct, this piece of news is outdated and not correct. Some time back, I believe it was in 2009 there was a proposal for a JV between Lakshmi Hospital group and Apollo to allow the former as franchise to brand few of its hospitals as Apollo Reach. This was particularly for its Tripunithara, Aluva, and Udayogamandal units along with planned ones in Kottayam, Sabarimala etc

Lakshmi Group was in an acquisition spree and required a strong brand value partner then. But someway or other, it didn't work out. I believe, this one is talking about it.

If Apollo is coming to Kochi, I am sure, it won't consider a less than 150 bed hospitals as Apollo Reach envisions, as most of the big names in the city have around 400 to 600 bed.... And now with mega hospitals like Aster Medcity, Kochi Medical city, Rajagiri etc are coming up and several other Kerala brands expanding vigorously, its impossible for Apollo to sustain with 150 bed, unless it opt for some kind of luxury boutique hospital, like the one which Fortis planning so.

The report is as on July11 HKS has been asked to design 10 Apollo Reach hospitals . I guess they are going for Stand alone project rather than tieuiup

"HKS Architects, with an office in Chennai, India, is commissioned to design 10 Apollo Hospitals across India,"
http://hksinc.com/news/healthcare/press-releases.aspx?Year=2011&Month=7

The report is as on July11 HKS has been asked to design 10 Apollo Reach hospitals . I guess they are going for Stand alone project rather than tieuiup

"HKS Architects, with an office in Chennai, India, is commissioned to design 10 Apollo Hospitals across India,"
http://hksinc.com/news/healthcare/press-releases.aspx?Year=2011&Month=7

Might be true, as Lakshmi Hospital is not going up for any Tie-up now, instead its going to expand with its own brand. Their Sabarimala facility will come up soon and plans to start Kottayam unit. They are also planning to take-over few old hospitals in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alleppy districts.

But still doubt, how come a 100-120 bed hospital concept of Apollo Reach works out well in Kerala. Kerala as whole is a tier-1 area when comes to healthcare. Most of people are willing to sell their property to get quality treatments. Every in remote areas, 500-600 bed hospitals with world class tertiary facilities are coming up. Say DM Healthcare itself is constructing a 500 bed Medical College in a forest belt Wayanad, known for its backwardness as per Kerala standards.

In Kochi, even ordinary Kunjalu's Nursing Home has now 60 bed facility....Medical Trust has already started works of 250 bed IP Block, raising total strength to 1000 bed. Why to talk more, even ordinary ESI Hospital Udayogamandal has called tender for constructing additional 70 bed facility

And it appears to odd for me, a national brand Apollo trying to extend a 120 bed Tier-2/3 kind of hospital in Kerala, which anyway is not a boutique hospital and this will never cater people in anyway better.....

Does anybody know about any good fitness center/gym around aluva-kalamassery-kakkanad area ?

There are plenty in and around kakkanad. Heart beats is one such http://www.heartbeatsfc.com/ ...May be some one from kakkanad can confirm the remaining

Might be true, as Lakshmi Hospital is not going up for any Tie-up now, instead its going to expand with its own brand. Their Sabarimala facility will come up soon and plans to start Kottayam unit. They are also planning to take-over few old hospitals in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alleppy districts.


So Apollo has plans to start more hospitals in Kerala? I think they originally had plans to start the 'Reach' hospitals in Kottayam and Kochi. ANyway, it'll be a great boost to the health sector in the state. :cheers:

Does anybody know about any good fitness center/gym around aluva-kalamassery-kakkanad area ?

Well, In Kakkanad side I am a newbie, as I have moved to there only recently, that too just for vacation. Since my apartment has its own gym, I haven't depended any outside.

But I have tried out at Bio-Rhythm Gym of Kaloor eariler. Since I hold Lifeline Club Abu Dhabi's membership, this one being Indian brand of the latter, I could work-out using my membership.... But I must say, its one of the best in the town, a class 5 star Gym with a spa and saloon.

http://www.biorhythmwellness.com/pics/002.jpg

http://www.biorhythmwellness.com/pics/005.jpg

http://www.biorhythmwellness.com/pics/004.jpg

Now US based Gold's Gym, Jaison Fitness First etc are some of the suggested gyms. May be Dhaneesh or Malayaali can help better regarding Aluva Side.

So Apollo has plans to start more hospitals in Kerala? I think they originally had plans to start the 'Reach' hospitals in Kottayam and Kochi. ANyway, it'll be a great boost to the health sector in the state. :cheers:

Apollo's coming to Kerala, is a sure welcome move. But mere 120-150 bed Reach Brand makes no use as far as Kerala is concerned. Most of National corporate brands like Fortis, Apollo have MBA guys in corporate boards who goes as per pre-defined tier-1, tier-2, tier 3 definitions, which of-course will not work better in Kerala.

Kerala, already has some big native hospitals, each hospital competing each other to bring latest technologies and complex procedures, coupled with extensive use of Kerala's own traditions in Ayurveda and Homeopathy..... Thus most of people in Kerala are accustomed to high quality treatments, unlike many other tier-2/3 cities of the country. Apollo, Fortis seems to believe, they are going to be first one to introduce quality treatment in corporate style to tier-2 cities like Kochi or Kottayam, which already has much more better facilities and hospitals of higher quality procedures with more beds.

There is nothing big to cheer, unless an Apollo Indraprastha kind of venture is coming into Kerala.... A mere 120 bed is something which our ordinary polyclinics in the state is equipped.

Though I should use Gym, I don't. I know there is HeartBeats at Padamughal, International at Vazhakkala, and another one (forgot the name) near Sunrise. There are a few more around.

Though I should use Gym, I don't. I know there is HeartBeats at Padamughal, International at Vazhakkala, and another one (forgot the name) near Sunrise. There are a few more around.

There are few good ones @ Kakkanad. Jaison's FF & Gold's Jym are high end ones. From Aluva, I can suggest medium level shops. Madaparambil, Karizma, Friendship are few of those.

Stroke Care Dept. opened @ Amrita
A new department exclusively for Stroke Prevention and Stroke Care has been opened @ AIMS. District Collector inaugurated the new department. Ace film director, Ranjith was the chief guest of the function.

Mathrubhumi (http://www.mathrubhumi.com/online/malayalam/news/story/1247991/2011-10-30/kerala)

Kerala-based Earth Ayurveda Hospital has announced the launch of its third centre in Kochi. This announcement has been made as part of its plan to strengthen its presence across the country. Earth Ayurveda hospital has its presence in Delhi and Bangalore.

The new hospital has ‘In Patient' facility of 25 well furnished a/c and non-a/c rooms. It will be inaugurated by the State Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, in the presence of the Health Minister Mr Adoor Prakash on November 12.

Dr Anish M. Kurias, Chairman, Earth Hospitals Group, said the hospital will provide tailor-made medication and therapies to bring about perfect and long lasting health through the management of vata, pitha and kapha.

The hospital is equipped with single piece Dhara Paathis (treatment tables) carved out from trees are more than 200 years old.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/economy/article2582673.ece

A rare birth defect known as morgagini hernia of the diaphragm was successfully treated through an operation at Lakeshore Hospital on Wednesday. Heart surgeon Dr Moosa Kunhi performed this 8-hour surgery on a 19-year-old patient.

This had pushed her liver, stomach, gall bladder, small intestine, blood vessels of the abdomen and part of the spleen to the right side of the chest from their usual abdominal position, and the heart was crammed into the left side of the chest cavity.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Rare-surgery-performed-at-Lakeshore/articleshow/10588766.cms

From Aluva, I can suggest medium level shops. Madaparambil, Karizma, Friendship are few of those.

Happened to see a gym right above Chicking @ Aluva byepass. Seems like it is a brand new one.

Happened to see a gym right above Chicking @ Aluva byepass. Seems like it is a brand new one.

Yea, that's the latest one and its a good facility. Forgot its name!

Yea, that's the latest one and its a good facility. Forgot its name!

Itz Fun Fam Fitness near Chicking,Pulinchodu,Aluva
http://yellowpages.webindia123.com/details/Ernakulam,+Cochin,+Kerala/Kochi/Fitness+Centers%2F+Health+Clubs/11790/

Thank you guys for the info, that was really helpful !

Itz Fun Fam Fitness near Chicking,Pulinchodu,Aluva
http://yellowpages.webindia123.com/details/Ernakulam,+Cochin,+Kerala/Kochi/Fitness+Centers%2F+Health+Clubs/11790/

Happened to see a gym right above Chicking @ Aluva byepass. Seems like it is a brand new one.

Yea, that's the latest one and its a good facility. Forgot its name!

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/3776/3551751.jpg

In a solid move for realization of Kochi Govt Medical College by upgrading General Hospital, the District Collector order Kannanayur Taluk Talashidar for submitting a pre-survey of land available and land required for proposed Medical College. The report is asked to be submitted by end of this month.

Meanwhile moves to upgrade the hospital into Super Specialty Hospital, adding more departments like Neurology, Cardiology etc using NRHM funds.

Medical college to get cardiac centre

A cardiac centre will be opened at the Cooperative Medical College, Kalamassery. The decision came at a high level meeting held at Thiruvananthapuram.

The estimated cost of Rs. 4.70 crore required to set up the centre will be raised through MP and MLA funds and from public and private enterprises. Funds to the tune of Rs. 8 crore needed to set up a super specialty block will also be mobilised in this manner. A meeting of heads of public and private institutions, chaired by the Chief Minister, will be convened for this purpose.

The Medical Council of India has been approached seeking allocation of 50 seats for MBBS in the college. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2603132.ece

http://epaper.mathrubhumi.com/epaperimages/9112011/9112011-md-ek-3/1485619.JPG

It seems action happens only when combined efforts of media lobbying done. After an intensive lobbying of Manorama and Mathrubhumi along with other groups, the govt has taken up Kalamassery Cochin Medical College (CMC)'s MediCity proposal seriously.

Ommen Chandy has called a special meeting today at his office to sort out the issues. Union Minister K.V Thomas, State ministers from the region Ibrahminkunju, K Babu, Co-op minister Balakrishnan, Transport Minister Shivakumar, Health Minister Adoor Prakash, Co-op Director Premachandra Kurup, CMC Director Dr. Mohan, Principal Dr. Girishan etc have been summoned for today's meeting

Appointment of new doctors and Nurses, purchase of more advanced equipment, complaint issues related to treatments, solution to water crisis faced in the hospital and availablity of frequent buses are some of the major topics to be discussed in today's meeting. In addition opening of Cardiology center, Super-specialty block, starting of post-graduate courses, commissioning of new 140 pay bed ward block and new buildings will also come in the discussion.

Hope something works out when so many Big heads meet:bash:. I prefer to upgrade Co-operative hospital to be a modernised med college with all latest facilities with only referral patients and leave alone the Govt hospital as a district hospital. This way CMC can be upgraded to a centre of xcellance with more impetus on specialisations and superspecialisations. Can the big heads come up with a definite health policy for the district instaed of doing cosmetic changes.:nuts:

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/7926/605819421502.jpg

:ohno: I am disappointed.As feared only cosmetic changes.No clear cut policy towards elevating CMC into a higher institute:ohno:

^^^^^^

I won't be much disappointed.... In a business city like ours, ruled by private lobbies and so much private hospitals/super-specialty/multi-tertiary units, the govt support in form of govt hospitals will be low. Even attempts of such will also be blocked, as said the fortune of the society lies in the bottom of the pyramid and no private agency will allow Govt to run super premium hi-tech govt centers, unless we have huge lot of salaried people or in a communist set-up.

But what ever done to CMC at the moment is addressing its current top priorities, not something futuristic. Well, I would say, we need to address fundamentals first, before setting up skyscrapers. CMC is poorly maintained, lot of confusions in its operations, poor track record in academics etc. Even connectivity itself is an issue. Unless we address the basic fundamentals, mere announcements of mega govt investment into the project would remain in papers.

Systematic development, within a period of time, would upgrade the hospital's utility. For example General Hospital, over a period of 20 to 30 years build up its reputation and slowly increased its facilities and capacities. As a result, we still able to have a quality Govt Hospital without much complaints or other issues. CMC can follow that model. Perhaps a PPP model would be helpful to upgrade its facility in such a manner, poor gets subsidized treatment, while rich gets treatments at a premium price......

WHEN 8 BIG HEADS MET I XPECTED SOMETHING BIG. They only plugged the holes:ohno::ohno:

http://epaper.manoramaonline.com/MMDaily/Malappuram/2011/11/12/F/MMDaily_Malappuram_2011_11_12_F_FP_001/990_1695_1950_2975.jpg

Diabetes Foot clinic to be launched
Silverline Diabetes Foot Clinic ,the first foot clinic in Kochi set up by Silverline Hospital (http://www.silverlinehospital.in/index.php), will be launched on World Diabetes Day. “We have identified diabetes foot problems as one of the main killers of diabetic patients. Early detection and treatment can reduce impact and even amputation could be avoided,” said Dr Tom Babu, Silverline medical director and chief consultant.
“India has over 50 million diabetics and foot problems are the most common cause for their hospital admission. One in every six patients, develops a foot ulcer which is the primary cause of lower limb amputation,” he said.
Dr A K Bhat, a specialized podiatry/plastic surgeon, said that foot related problems of diabetic patients could be treated effectively by surgical interventions.
The clinic provides services of endocrinologists, physicians, diabetes foot nurses, podiatry surgeons, nutritionist, plastic surgeons, physiotherapists and diabetic nurse educators. “So far, we have achieved close to 100 per cent recovery in our patients which would not have been possible without our well-equipped team,” Dr Tom Babu said.
The hospital is organising a free diabetic foot detection camp on Sunday. For details contact 9495874761/ 80889577132.

IBN (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/diabetes-foot-clinic-to-be-launched/201642-60-122.html)

Dialysis centre gets more units

To address the increasing need of dialysis for kidney failure patients, the Dialysis Centre at the Regional Blood Transfusion Centre at Aluva is expanding its facilities. It is the only centre in the Health Services or the Medical College sector that provide dialysis for just Rs. 200 for poor patients.

Already 12 units are functioning in two shifts every day and the centre has done over 3400 dialyses since February this year when the facility was launched. The cost of dialysis is borne by various corporate supporters, of which the Cochin Shipyard Limited provides the maximum support.

The Dialysis Centre came up with support from P. Rajeev, MP, who provided the cost of construction of the building earlier and has continued the support by earmarking Rs. 23 lakh towards the estimated cost of the expansion project from the MP's funds.

The construction is being planned on the first floor of the Centre that can accommodate up to 12 units, said N. Vijayakumar, in-charge of the Blood Transfusion Centre. However, the expansion project is looking for setting up only eight more units, he said. Each unit costs Rs. 7.7 lakhs and the Dialysis Centre is looking for support for their project.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2625951.ece

CM inaugurates Ayurveda hospital

The Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, has inaugurated Kurias Earth Ayurveda Multispecialty Hospital at Kochi yesterday[nov 14] Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that ayurveda is gaining acceptance in the society as there are no side effects for this ancient system of medicine. As part of a special plan, three people from BPL would be treated freely by the hospital, Dr Aniesh Kurias, Proprietor, said.
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-others/tp-states/article2628111.ece

Ayurvedic Major- Dhathri is setting up another specialized hospital in Kochi The Dhathri Diabetic Polyclinic combining the best of Ayurvedic, Allopathic, Yoga and Lifestyle practices for treating diabetics.

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Cochlear implant facility may be introduced at General Hospital
The state government will consider introducing facilities for cochlear implantation at the Ernakulam General Hospital, excise and ports minister K Babu said on Monday. "We will discuss the plan with the chief minister and the health minister and take a favourable decision," the minister said.

The excise minister, who inaugurated 'Project Swaram', a programme to rectify hearing problems in children, said that there were more children in society who needed to be helped in that regard. "If more children with hearing problems are helped in the initial stage itself, we can dream of a state where no one lives as deaf and dumb. Many kids in the state remain deaf and dumb as their parents cannot afford costlier cochlear implants," he said.

Union minister K V Thomas, who inaugurated the free hearing aid distribution, said that modern diagnostics facilities which were yet to be installed at the General Hospital should be installed soon. The city should be proud that Kochi was the first place in the country to launch such a programme to help kids with hearing problems, he said.

As part of Project Swaram, launched by the Child Care Centre and Indian Academy of Paediatricians in association with the district administration, volunteers will conduct check-ups in hospitals across the district to detect hearing problems in infants and kids. Once the defect is rectified, necessary steps to resolve the problem will be initiated.

On Monday, hearing aids were distributed to 75 children in the district with hearing problems. In the second stage of Project Swaram, around 150 children will be given hearing aids.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Cochlear-implant-facility-may-be-introduced-at-General-Hospital/articleshow/10733556.cms)

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CIMAR Cochin from famed Edappal Hospitals - Cheranallur, Cochin

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Details here (http://cimarindia.org/cimarcochin.php)

http://www.lfhospital.org/images/logo.jpg - Angamaly

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LF Hospital (http://www.lfhospital.org/)

http://cmccochin.org/wp-content/themes/lifestyle_20/images/logo.png (http://cmccochin.org/)

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Well I am slightly suprised to see, how international groups like Kinder Clinic considers Cherthala in Alleppey District as part of Kochi. Day will not be too far, when Alleppey will be considered as Suburb of Kochi

The recently opened Kinder Mother and Child Hospital, part of world famous Kinder Clinic Singapore, is based in Cherthala, 35 kms south of Kochi.

http://www.kinderclinic.com.sg/Projects/KWH_Latest_Photos_files/Media/IMG_0111/IMG_0111.jpg?disposition=download

http://www.kinderclinic.com.sg/Projects/KWM_3D_files/Media/reception%20lobby/reception%20lobby.jpg?disposition=download

Kinder – Monash IVF hospital and Fertility Centre is a woman and child hospital with a holistic infertility centre. The hospital is to be commissioned in the third quarter of 2011. It will be providing international standards of care in the areas of Infertility treatment, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Andrology and Urology.

Kinder has the majority investment in an 100 bed Women's and Children's hospital with a Fertility centre in Cherthala India. This hospital is being developed in collaboration with IVF specialists from Singapore and Australia.

The Honourable Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Balaji Sadasivan led the unveiling of the Foundation Stone together with India Cabinet Minister for Overseas and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Vayalar Ravi. The event was also graced with the presence of KVM Partners, Kerala Finance Minister Mr. Thomas Isaac; Alappuzha M.P., Dr. K.S. Manoj; Consular General of Chennai, Republic of Singapore, Mr. Ajit Singh; From the Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chairman Mr. Vijay Iyengar, and CEO Mr. Predeep Menon.

The 100-bed Kinder- Monash IVF Hospital and Fertility Centre will be the pioneer in the delivery of boutique woman & child healthcare.

http://www.kinderclinic.com.sg/Projects/Kochi.html


I first felt not to post this news, as its based in Cherthala which in general is not considered to be part of Kochi. But the way the group advertise that Kinder Clinic Kochi, I thought to put up here.:cheers:

Rs.2 crore for General Hospital

The District General Hospital has been sanctioned Rs.2 crore as asset maintenance fund for the first time since such a system was created over a year and a half ago for the maintenance of large hospitals in the State.

The funds were released from Arogya Keralam, the State unit of National Rural Health Mission, on a directive from the Directorate of Health Services.

Maintenance of the new and the existing facilities in the hospital had been one of the main areas of concern when the hospital was awarded quality accreditation certification by the National Accreditation Board of Hospitals.

The accreditation is the first to be awarded to a large hospital in the government sector in the country.

Technical problems were cited for not transferring the funds for asset maintenance so far. The hospital would use the funds to take up works like repairing broken tiles. Modifications in the intensive care unit and the labour room would also be taken up, said the hospital superintendent, Junaid Rahman.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2648880.ece

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Super specialty status for General Hospital planned

Steps are afoot to raise the Ernakulam District General Hospital from the multi-specialty status to a super-specialty status.

The hospital that gets funds from the people's representatives and NGOs to set up various departments and other works would seek assistance to set up cardiology, neurology, nephrology, urology, endocrinology and gastroenterology super-specialty departments where OP and surgical facilities would be made available.

In the first phase urology and surgical gastroenterology are being considered to be set up for fixed days in a week in the afternoon. The Hospital Development Society would take a decision in this regard soon.
The hospital with about 800 beds and a history of about 150 years competes with the private hospitals around the district.

With the first ever dietary kitchen in the Kerala's public health sector and the first big hospital to have acquired the quality accreditation from National Board of Hospital Accreditation, the hospital provides facilities on a par with any private hospital, said P. I. Sheikh Pareed, district collector and the chairman of the Hospital Development Society.

The need for a super-specialty hospital arose when the need for a medical college was being debated.

More than a teaching college here, a super-specialty hospital in the government sector is the need, said Junaid Rahman, medical superintendent.

National Rural Health Mission, Kerala, would be providing funds for the development of the hospital. Besides funds for GH, NRHM funds would be used to develop the facilities at the primary and community helath centres and taluk hospitals.

Medical surgery, Paediatrics, Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Dermatology, ENT, Dental surgery, Ophthalmology, Oncology, Physical Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Planning, Anaesthesia and Radio Diagnosis are the existing specialties that the General Hospital has.

X-ray, CT scan, mammography, ultrasonography, chemotherapy, radio therapy, de-addiction centre, adolescent clinic are some of the other facilities available at the General Hospital.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2670127.ece

^^

Expect it to be a Govt. Medical College in 5 years :)

The Kochi Corporation had launched the Vayomitram project for the elderly with much fanfare in October, but senior citizens will have to wait till December 7 to get the benefits of the project. The project, a joint venture of Kerala Social Security Mission (KSSM) and National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), was introduced with the objective of providing free medical facilities to people above the age of 60.

The project includes a mobile clinic which offers palliative care and is equipped to conduct basic health tests. "The ambulance and doctor required for the mobile unit will be put in place. The unit will be on the move and will assist people at their place" says T K Asharaf, chairman, health committee.

While the NHRM will make the services of a doctor available for the mobile unit, the state government will provide the ambulance. The medicines will be contributed by the public.

The civic body has set up a 'Pakalveedu' at Fort Kochi to take care of the elderly. Through the Kerala Sustainable Urban Development Project (KSUDP), the corporation has been given Rs 20 lakh to form a geriatric club for the protection and well-being of senior citizens. It is expected that the club will be able to provide assistance to 20 citizens a day.

Apart from these old age homes, the Relief Settlement Centre at Palluruthy and special care centre Good Hope at Fort Kochi also house elderly people. According to K J Sohan, chairman, planning committee, there are more than 300 people in the old age homes run by the local body.

"The corporation will come up with more projects for the destitute and elderly. Discussions in this regard are happening at various levels," says Ashraf.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Mobile-clinic-for-elderly-to-be-a-reality-soon/articleshow/10935938.cms

Chandy opens medicos' fete


The 27th Inter Medicos Arts and Sports Festival, ‘Plexus 2011', was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Co-operative Medical College, Kalamassery here on Thursday.

Co-curricular activities are as important as academics, he said while inaugurating the festival.

Twenty-one medical colleges from the State are taking part in the four-day festival. Those participating comprise five government, 14 self-financing and two co-operative sector medical colleges.

The arts festival was inaugurated by actor Jayaram. K. Babu, Minister for Excise, presided over the function. Competitions were held on the first days in various items including Kathaprasangam, lalithaganam, oppana, classical music, folk dance, story writing, poetry writing, painting and collage.

About 3,000 students will be participating in the 90 events at the festival.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2683223.ece

PLEXUS-11 concludes

Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College (GMC) bagged the overall championship at Plexus-11, the 27th All-Kerala Inter Medicos Fest. Alappuzha GMC came in runner-up and Thrissur GMC second runners-up. The four-day celebrations came to an end on Sunday.

Athira R Nath from Kottayam GMC won the title in kalathilakam with 17 points and Sujith Varghese of T’puram GMC won the kalaprathibha with 15 points.

Ritu R Krishna (13 pts) of Pariyaram Medical College got the Chitrapratibha title and Angel Ann Mathew (10 pts) of Kochi Cooperative Medical College bagged the Sargapratibha title. Minister for Cooperation C N Balakrishnan was the chief guest at the valedictory ceremony.

The four-day event was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Cooperative Medical College on December 1.

The spirit and colours at the events struck the chords in every heart when the 102 events took off one after another at numerous venues.

Around 2,500 participants and an equal number of students from 22 colleges converged on the campus. This is the first time that both government and private medical colleges have competed together. All the four stages saw contestants putting their best foot forward in games, music, skits, plays, dance, talk and writing and art giving the judges a tough time.

Nostalgia, in which students had to dance to the tunes created before 1980 was a big hit.

Other popular programmes were whistling a song, self-portrait making, group dance, both male and female, classical dance and synchronised dancing.

“It could have been better organised. The judgement was flawless though,” said a majority of the students.

The home team said, “Some slips occurred for we were smaller in strength, about 500 students, but we did our best.”

Each day was dedicated to a cause. The students launched an AIDS campaign on World AIDS Day, the inaugural day. December 2 was dedicated to National Pollution Prevention Day.

A thought was given to to the differently-abled on December 3, International Day of Persons with Disabilities and December 4 marked Navy Day.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/PLEXUS-11-concludes/340184.html

New canteen at General Hospital
The Ernakulam General Hospital, which already has a sophisticated Dietary Kitchen, will soon have a canteen with all modern facilities. MLA Hibi Eden laid the foundation stone for the canteen on Monday.

The canteen is constructed at an estimated cost of `21 lakh, District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth said. Of the total cost, `11 lakh comes from the Hibi Eden’s MLA Development Fund and `10 lakh from Ludy Luiz’s MLA Development Fund.

The canteen is expected to be completed in three months. Hospital Superintendent Dr M I Junaid Rahman said that the government had sanctioned `2 crore for the development activities of the hospital and `50 lakh for TB treatment.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/New-canteen-at-General-Hospital/340556.html

Nurses at Amrita on strike

A flash strike by nurses at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences turned violent as the nurses clashed with the police who were called in to control the crowds. Two persons were injured in the melee.

The nurses had gone on strike as leaders of the newly-formed United Nurses' Association said that they were allegedly beaten up by the hospital staff when they reached there for talks with prior appointment. Talks had yet to resolve the issue regarding the dismissal of a nurse and transfer of yet another one, Sudeep Krishnan, state secretary of the Association, told The Hindu .

The hospital authorities declined to comment on the issue. Sources said that a male nurse was suspended after many complaints were received against him. According to sources, 110 female and 90 males nurses had joined the strike.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2693744.ece

Nurses at Amrita on strike

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2693744.ece

Police lathicharge striking nurses at AIMS

A section of the nursing staff went on a strike at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) on Tuesday.

Tension prevailed on the campus when the police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd which gathered as part of the protest.

The nurses demanded that the management reinstate their colleagues who were terminated. They said that they had formed a unit of the United Nurses Organisation which is active in other districts. The union was formed at AIMS on December 2. They alleged that the management was trying to weaken the union.

“When they terminated the president of the union and transferred its general secretary to Mysore with the intention of splitting the union we took out a protest demanding that the president be reinstated. Since we continued to protest, the management agreed for talks.

They spoke to three members of the state committee of the union on Monday evening and gave them an appointment for talks at 12.30 pm on Tuesday,” said a member of the union.

“But when the state committee members arrived for the talks they were beaten up. Three persons were injured, one of them seriously. So we intensified our strike and more nurses, about 1,000, joined the protest,” he said.

When contacted the hospital sources had a different version. “The management did not get any representation on problems of nurses. Moreover, no notice was served regarding the strike. We got a complaint against a contract staff, whose tenure is nearly over, for immoral behaviour.

Based on the complaint he was suspended. Some nurses staged a protest against the move. When they obstructed the casualty entrance, we called in the police,” said an official with the Public Relations Department. “Only about 190 nurses staged a protest,” he said.

The police said that they resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd. A case has been registered as three members of the union were injured. The search for the attackers is on, they said.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Police-lathicharge-striking-nurses-at-AIMS/340905.html

http://felican.in/images/felican%20logo.png (http://felican.in/index.html) - Tripunithura

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Focussing on the affordable healthcare space, Manappuram Group will invest nearly Rs 1,000 crore over the next four to five years, to set up a chain of 50 sophisticated medical, dental and diagnostics clinics across South India.

The company plans to set up a chain of sophisticated diagnostics labs, medical and dental clinics and pharmacy outlets in major cities including metros and mini metros, offering affordable healthcare to people, Mr V.P.Nandakumar, Chairman, Manappuram Group, said at a press meet here on Wednesday to announce the launch of the Diagnostics Centre and International Dental Hospital in Kochi.

The Kochi facility, set up at an investment of Rs 50 crore, will be inaugurated by Prof K.V.Thomas, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, on December 10.

According to Mr Nandakumar, the group entered the healthcare space under the brand name MAcare last year, by setting up first such centre at its headquarters in Valappad. Kochi is the second centre which extends over 17,000 sq ft of fully air-conditioned space and is the largest and most sophisticated facility of its kind in Kerala, he said.

MEDICAL CENTRE

A super speciality medical centre will also come up at the Kochi centre shortly that will offer services of expert doctors in all fields of medicine including Cardiology, Nephrology, Neurology and Gastroenterology units. A highlight of the medical centre will be a Laparoscopic Day surgery centre of international standards, where operations in the abdominal and pelvic cavities can be performed using minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery. To patients, these procedures cause less pain and the recovery is much faster without need of overnight stay at the hospital, he said.

ADVANCED SERVICES OFFERED

Speaking on the occasion, Dr P.D.Prasannan, Managing Director, Manappuram Healthcare Ltd, said among its advanced services, the Kochi centre offers a triple test — Ultrasound scan, Mammogram and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology — for early detection of breast diseases. The centre also offers fully automated microbiology, biochemistry and pathology labs and digital X-ray.

The dental hospital offers full range of dental specialities from cosmetic dentistry to the latest implant and maxillofacial surgeries.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/article2695345.ece

Nurses' strike at Amrita continues

Talks between the hospital authorities at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and the leaders of the United Nurses' Association failed to resolve the strike by a section of nurses that began on Tuesday at the hospital.

The nurses' organisation, in addition to the demands of salary hike and other benefits, was asking for giving up the legal action against the nurse who was dismissed from service on Tuesday, and that was not acceptable, according to the hospital spokesperson. The strike began on Tuesday afternoon, after the association leaders, who had arrived at the hospital to discuss matters of a dismissal and a transfer of two nurses, were beaten up allegedly by the staff at the hospital.

The representative of the nurses said that the talks were inconclusive as the hospital had not agreed to any of their demands. Association State secretary Sudeep Krishnan said their demands included reinstating two nurses — one who was dismissed and another who was transferred— at the hospital, implementing minimum wages, maintaining nurses-to-patient ratio according to the mandates of the Indian Nursing Council and abolition of bonds in employing nurses.

The hospital authorities, in a statement, said that contrary to the claim by the nurses' association, the functioning of the hospital has not been affected by the strike in which only a section of nurses was involved.

Hundreds of nursing graduates who are Mata Amritanandamayi's devotees, are waiting to serve patients at the hospital, it said.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2697112.ece

Long wait for 5th floor in Ayurveda Hospital

The executive engineer has submitted a proposal seeking administrative sanction for completion of the fifth floor of the first phase of the new complex of District Ayurveda Hospital in Kacheripady on Wednesday.

“We need at least Rs 1 crore for the fifth floor,” said executive engineer N Robeson.

The new building was opened in June 2010 with two floors. The construction work of two more floors is nearly over. This poses problems for patients and staff. “We have to wait in long queues at the pharmacy counter. Though it has been upgraded into a 50-bedded hospital, only 20 beds are there and facilities are not enough.

It is difficult for the elderly and the ailing to climb the steps. The panchakarma treatments are being done in a makeshift building,” said a few patients from the coastal regions of the district. “The second and third phase have to be completed fast if the hospital has to function properly,” said DMO Dr Amibika whose office is now in Thammanam. “We are coping with what we have. The facilities have to be improved. There are 50 inpatients and around 660 outpatients each day and there is no space for storage and we are short of hands. The work on the two floors (women’s wards) is over but funds are needed to complete the fifth floor (for the aged and children). Unless it is ready by March, it cannot be upgraded to a 100-bedded hospital,” said Dr Rex Nelson, Chief Medical Officer.

“The four staff members provided by the NRHM are of great help,” he said

Construction of ramp, lift and reception area are included in the second phase. X-ray unit, pay wards of different scales and canteen are planned in the third phase.

District panchayat president Eldose Kunnappally said,”We are giving priority to the project. Over `1 crore will be sanctioned soon. Tourism packages can also be incorporated when the pay wards are ready. By next year we will turn this into an ayurveda specialty hospital,” he said. District Collector Sheik Pareeth said he would look into the matterhttp://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Long-wait-for-5th-floor-in-Ayurveda-Hospital/341156.html

Corporation has ideas

Day-and-night medical stores are common in Mumbai, Bangalore and in our capital city but there is hardly a single medical outlet that is kept open 24X7 in the commercial capital of the state, putting those in need into dire straits.

Considering the gravity of the situation, the Kochi Corporation will soon hold talks with the office-bearers of All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association to see whether it would be possible for the proprietors to keep open one or two shops during the day and night by taking turns.

“At present, there is no law which makes it mandatory for the drug stores to keep the shops open for 24 hours. To our knowledge, an outlet near Goutham Hospital, Panayappilly, is kept open throughout day and night,” said Kochi Corporation Town Planning Standing Committee chairman K J Sohan. He said that all the civic body can do is to urge the medical stores near the hospitals to keep them open during night on rotation basis. “We cannot ask these shops to function 24X7. But, considering the humanitarian angle of the issue, it should be sorted out by the owners of the medical stores themselves,” he said.

Kochi Corporation Health Standing Committee chairman T K Ashraf reiterated the same view.

“It is for a good cause. So definitely we will hold talks with the All-Kerala Chemists and Druggists Association to see whether they can keep open at least one or two medical shops during the night. They have various concerns including staff shortage and security. So they can think of keeping open the shops near hospitals. Usually, the hospitals will be active throughout the day and night and the issues related to security will be less,” he said.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Corporation-has-ideas/341155.html

Mr V.P.Nandakumar, Chairman, Manappuram Group, to announce the launch of the Diagnostics Centre and International Dental Hospital in Kochi.
The Kochi facility, set up at an investment of Rs 50 crore.

According to Mr Nandakumar, the group entered the healthcare space under the brand name MAcare last year, by setting up first such centre at its headquarters in Valappad. Kochi is the second centre which extends over 17,000 sq ft of fully air-conditioned space and is the largest and most sophisticated facility of its kind in Kerala, he said.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/3960/28238604.jpg

cc: Manorama

Nurses at Amrita on strike

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2693744.ece


Nurses' strike resolved

The nurses' strike that began on Tuesday at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) was resolved after talks that went on past Thursday midnight between hospital management and the nurses' association.

P. Rajeev, MP; Hibi Eden, MLA; District Collector P.I. Sheikh Pareed; vice-chairman of the Mata Amritanandamayi Math Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri; CEO of Amrita Television K. Gopalakrishnan; and representatives of the United Nurses' Association participated in the talks.

Mr. Pareed said that the hospital management had agreed to withdraw the cases against the protesting staff, while three months' time has been given to settle the staff demands for better pay.

Also, a decision was taken at the meeting to revoke the transfer of a nurse, which was one of the reasons cited by the protesting staff.

Meanwhile, two persons were arrested on charge of allegedly detaining an agitating male nurse, police said.

The High Court had on Thursday directed the City Police Commissioner to provide protection to the AIMS for its smooth functioning.

The bench comprising Justice Pius C. Kuriakose and Justice K. Harilal issued the direction on a petition filed by the AIMS management.

The strike began at AIMS after a nurse was dismissed and another transferred on certain complaints received by hospital authoritieshttp://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2700339.ece

^^

Dhanesh, these news have to go to discussion thread!

Fire fear in Kochi hospitals

In the wake of the devastating fire at AMRI hospital in South Kolkata where over 70 persons were killed, it is feared that the hospitals in Kochi are more or equally vulnerable to fire as most of them are not equipped to meet the emergency.

The Fire and Rescue officials had recently alerted these hospitals to maintain proper fire precautions but nothing has been done yet.

Sources in the Fire and Rescue Services said the hospitals don’t have any kind of fire and safety requirements. “The Indian Buildings Act and the Kerala Buildings Act clearly state that a building should be constructed only with all kinds of fire and safety precautions. Even if hospitals make any kind of alteration in the construction or make extensions, they should get the permission of the Fire and Safety Department. Though we suggest more fire and safety measures, our words are never taken seriously,” a Fire and Rescue official said.

According to Joe Kuruvilla, senior officer, Fire and Rescue Department, the major problem in Kochi is that most hospitals were built several decades ago without safety steps. “The hospitals here are mostly built several years ago. They are multi-storied buildings and any kind of fire at top floors will be disastrous. A hospital at South has been build in the congested space and in case of a fire, even the fire engines cannot enter the premises of the building,” Joe Kuruvilla said.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/fire-fear-in-kochi-hospitals/341882.html

Hybrid surgery proves most effective

When Ramesh Mayaji Patil, a native of Mumbai, consulted his physician after he experienced an unusual chest pain and a change in his voice, he never realised he was suffering form aneurysm. Tests revealed dangerously large swelling of his major blood vessel - aorta. Aneurysm had affected the vessel right from his heart and extended almost into the abdomen. As a consequence his windpipe was being compressed and food pipe too.

The doctors told him that the condition required a long and complicated surgical procedure - hybrid aortic surgery. As he did not know where such surgeries were being performed, his son Dr Swapinil, a radiologist, had learnt from his colleagues that such surgeries were being done at Medical Trust Hospital in Kochi.

Hybrid procedures incorporating surgery with stenting has become an innovative method of treating the dreaded diseases of aortic aneurysm. This approach reduces the complication rates and time of recovery.

He contacted chief cardiac surgeon of the hospital, Dr John E V. Ramesh was flown in to Kochi.

After a thorough work up by the team of doctors it became clear that he would require a two-stage operation. The doctors lead by Dr John E V performed the eight-hour surgery to replace the valve and two major portions of aorta known as root and arch. The procedure requires the patient to be cooled to 18 degree celsius to protect his brain and the circulation to be arrested completely. During an hour of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, something like suspended animation, the major part of the surgery was completed and patient slowly came back to ‘life’. After four days the doctors performed a key hole ‘endovascular stent’ to cover the lower part of the aneurysm. Ramesh has been discharged after a two-week-long recovery.

The team comprised of Dr Satish, cardiac anesthetist, Dr Pradep Naick, Dr Arunna Sairam, cardiologists Dr Sajy Kuruttukulam and Dr Harsha Jeevan and radiologist Dr Rahul Seth.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Hybrid-surgery-proves-most-effective/341872.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R68PmZrsKxk/TuL8LbI7-7I/AAAAAAAAArs/X03H3EoZa54/s400/MAcare+Manappuram+Inauguration.jpg

Union Minister KV Thomas today inaugurated Manappuram Group’s diagnostics and dental care centre in Kochi. Branded as MAcare, this 17,000 sq ft integrated facility is the largest diagnostics centre in Kerala.

The International Dental Hospital was inaugurated by Hibi Eden, Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly. The Pharmacy Division was inaugurated by Sebastian Paul, former MP.

Presiding over the occasion was Tony Chammany, Mayor of Kochi Corporation. The Welcome Speech was by Manappuram Group Executive Chairman, VP Nandakumar.

MAcare is a proposed 50-centre diagnostics chain promoted by Manappuram Group with an investment of Rs. 1000 crore. The highlight of the Kochi centre is its industry leading size, an exclusive Day Surgery Centre, and the latest diagnostics equipments.

Manappuram has also launched a retail jewellery chain, branded as Riti Jewelry, for which it is tying up Rs. 100 crore in PE funds shortly. According to Nandakumar, the Group is in talks with a few PE funds with which it already has associations for its listed and flagship company, Manappuram Finance Ltd

‘Country lacks advanced diagnostic system’

Diagnosis is an area in our health care system that needs a lot of advancement. Even reputed hospitals and doctors fail to diagnose a number of diseases, said K V Thomas, Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs. He was speaking at the inauguration of the MAcare’s Kaloor centre. Even today, we are forced to send blood samples to London in order to detect certain diseases, he said. The minister said health tourism industry is fast looking at Kerala as a destination not only for ayurvedic treatment but also for modern medicine. Speaking at the function MLA Hibi Eden said ”in spite of the State’s progress in the health sector, the costs for treatment are on the rise making it unaffordable for large sections of the population.”

Dr Praveen Lal who spoke on the occasion said that there was a gradual change in the attitude of authorities towards health care. “Earlier it was about detecting the maximum number of patients and giving them some sort of treatment to check the spread of diseases and epidemics.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/%E2%80%98country-lacks-advanced-diagnostic-system%E2%80%99/342244.html

KOCHI:� In the wake of the devastating fire at AMRI hospital in South� Kolkata where over 70 persons were killed, it is feared that the hospitals� in Kochi are more or equally vulnerable to fire as most of them are not equipped to meet the emergency.
The Fire and Rescue officials had recently alerted these hospitals to� maintain proper fire precautions but nothing has been done yet.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/fire-fear-in-kochi-hospitals/210495-60-122.html

God save our hospitals from fire!

In a shocking revelation, Kochi’s Town Planning officials have said that the majority of the multispeciality hospitals in the city are ill-equipped to deal with an emergency situation.

“All high rises in the city should be constructed according to the norms laid out by the Fire and Rescue Department. The Corporation will give permit to the building only after the Fire and Rescue Department gives it a No-objection certificate,” said K J Sohan, chairperson, Town Planning Committee, Kochi Corporation.

“As a minimum requirement, the hospitals should at least have a rescue-friendly location and design. Even that is lacking in our city hospitals,” he added.

K Ramanan, Senior Town Planner, Kochi, says the issue arises as the hospitals fail to follow the safety norms set by the competent authority.

“During construction, the healthcare institutions focus on getting the NOC from the Fire and Rescue Department and the permission of the Corporation. Hence, they follow all the norms. After construction, the norms defined in the permit are thrown to the wind. This is mostly seen at the time of extensions. For example, it is mandatory that an open space at least 5 metres wide be left around every building. But, this is seldom adhered to. The hospitals either persuade authorities to relax the norms or do it on their own without consulting the authorities concerned,” said Ramanan.

“Most of the time, the hospital’s location makes it impossible for a Fire and Rescue vehicle to go near them. The lack of parking and open spaces makes things worse. The congestion also increases the risk of the fire spreading onto the nearby buildings.

For example, a renowned multi-speciality hospital in the heart of the city is situated in such a way that an emergency situation in the hospital will immediately affect the entire area since it is situated barely metres away from an arterial road. In such a condition, even trained rescue personnel cannot help people as the area of impact will be very large,” he added.http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/god-save-our-hospitals-from-fire!/342752.html (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/god-save-our-hospitals-from-fire%21/342752.html)

Kochi has always been a place for Healthcare conferences!

National conference of surgeons at Kochi from Dec 25 (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/national-conference-of-surgeons-at-kochi-from-dec-25/926439.html)
The six-day national conference of the Association of Surgeons in India will be held here from December 25. Over 5000 surgeons from various parts of India are expected to participate in the 71st Annual conference. Dr Santosh John Abraham, Organising secretary and Dr C G Raghu, organising chairman of the conference told reporters here. Besides delegates from neighbouring countries, participants from UK, US, Europe, Australia, South East Asia and South Africa are expected to participate, they said. Several national and international faculty who are top researches, teachers and experts in various techniques from leading hospitals around the world would attend the conference, being held in Kerala for the second time. The theme of the conference is 'Surgery Sans Frontiers'. Discussions on the current management modalities of various surgical conditions, interventional techniques and surgical procedures will be held and an exhibition of advanced diagnostic equipments and innovations in the field of surgical procedures is also being organised, the organisers said. The conference will commence with a pre-conference workshop covering most basic and advanced surgical procedures, performed by experts in their respective fields. This will be followed by a series of continuing medical education lecturs on Dec 26. Nine concurrent academic, scientific sessions on different organ systems and diseases would be held.

PGHR group's Hospital in Cochin
The PGHR group, which owns hotels like Renai Cochin (formerly The Renaissance) & Blue Waters Cherai is entering into Healthcare by opening a 500bed super speciality hospital namely Renai MEDI CITY @ Palarivattom, Kochi.

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/7074/1copycopy.jpg
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/73/1copytq.jpg

This is new to me! Has anyone got information about this project?

PGHR group's Hospital in Cochin


This is new to me! Has anyone got information about this project?

It was posted earlier .... however dont hv updates

It was posted earlier .... however dont hv updates

Their website says its opening early 2012! Has the construction started? Any info on location?

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/380105_100144456766122_100003117030336_291_390223789_n.jpg

Kerala's first Diabetics focused Tertiary Hospital opened in Kochi. Silverline Hospital, is a well equipped hospital, is has specialized division in Endocrinology and hormone treatments. A super specialty center, has advanced treatments in Diabetics and diabetic related areas like retina clinic, cardiac center, neurology etc as well as a lifestyle clinic and a research center.

Located in K.P Vallon Road in Kadavanthara, in heart of Kochi city.

Kochi making its way as a Hub in Healthcare

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Source: UPDATE - Oct '11

Health club opened
Smart Escaso Club, promoted by a group of physiotherapists, opened a branch at Palarivattam here on Friday.

Eye care foundation

The Koothattukulam-based Sreedhareeyam Ayurvedic Eye Hospital and Research Centre has started a foundation for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy patients.

“A clinical research and survey conducted by the research and development section of Sreedhareeyam has found out that these are the most dangerous of eye diseases that can lead patients to blindness, if not treated in time. Even in advanced countries, modern medical science is still on the budding stage in finding efficient treatment for these,” N.P.P. Namboodiri, chief physician of Sreedhareeyam, said.

The hospital was using traditional Ayurvedic principles. In the last 10 years, more than 2 lakh patients had been treated for retinitis pigmentosa and diabetic retinopathy, he said.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2733848.ece

Eye care foundation

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2733848.ece

Actually the treatment center for these is coming up at its Kaloor Center, where a new hospital block is coming directly behind existing facility, while research is happening in Koothathukulam HQ.... This was not mentioned in the report

Renal and ophthalmology block of the Medical trust Hospital inaugurated (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2751019.ece)
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00875/KI27MEDICALTRUSTDCV_875647e.jpg

The laws governing organ transplant would be modified for the benefit of patients, said Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.

The Chief Minister was speaking after inaugurating the renal and ophthalmology block of the Medical trust Hospital here on Monday.

Matter of concern

Though some regulations need to be there to govern organ transplant, red-tapism cannot be allowed to take its toll.

The rising cost for medical treatment has become a matter of concern in Kerala. The State government is committed to ensure good medical treatment to all sections of the society. A project for making medical treatment available at affordable rates is being worked out with the support of hospitals and insurance companies, he said.

Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany presided. Excise Minister K. Babu, P. Rajeev, MP, Hibi Eden and Benny Behannan, MLAs, and P.V. Antony, Managing Director of Medical Trust Hospital and P.V Louis, medical director of the hospital, spoke.

Technology knows no boundaries, says minister

Surgeons and surgeries are part of any medical system irrespective of region, economy or rural-urban divide. So, the latest technology and knowledge on surgeries should cross all boundaries, said excise and fisheries minister K Babu.

Speaking at the inauguration of ASICON 2011, the 71st annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India, in Kochi on Tuesday, he said the theme of the meet, 'Surgeries Sans Frontiers', was apt as at present technology was crossing all borders, economic and political.

He said the conference should be a platform where the best of surgeons meet to explore new possibilities, share knowledge, and build a network of experts to reach out to communities across the country.

The conference was presided over by Dr B K Sinha, president, ASI. A directory of ASI members was released at the function. Among others who spoke on the occasion were Prof Rama Kant, Dr N K Pande, Dr C G Raghu and Dr Santosh John Abraham.

More than 6000 surgeons from across the country are participating in the three-day conference which will conclude on December 30.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Technology-knows-no-boundaries-says-minister/articleshow/11271954.cms

^^

Kochi is already a hotspot for MICE tourism. Can't imagine how Lulu will add to the scene! :)

Minister stresses need for medical care for all

http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00876/27kikss02-surgery_G_876542e.jpg
Right to healthcare:Excise Minister K. Babu at the annual
conference of the Association of Surgeons of India held at
Kochi on Tuesday.

Surgical care should reach all those who need it, said Excise Minister K. Babu, at the annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India (ASI), here on Tuesday.

Social and economic barriers should not prevent people from being able to access the service of the surgeons. The theme of the conference, surgery sans frontiers, has great relevance in the society, he said.

Dr. R.K. Karwasra, secretary of ASI, presented a report at the conference. Dr. Barun K. Sinha released the directory of the ASI and Dr. Rama Kant received the first copy. Dr. C.G. Raghu, Dr. Said Dee and Dr. P.S. Bakshi, ASI office bearers, spoke.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2753832.ece

Their website says its opening early 2012! Has the construction started? Any info on location?

Structural work is completed..It is just opposite to the Renai. You can see it on left side when you go to alwaye. :)

Edappally school to get physiotherapy centre (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/edappally-school-to-get-physiotherapy-centre/215684-60-122.html)
It is good news for the differently-abled children from the Ernakulam sub-district. The Government UP School at Edappally is soon to get a full-fledged physiotherapy centre for children with special needs. The funds for the building will be allocated from the local funds of MLA Benny Behanan. The physiotherapy centre is a part of the Central government’s Inclusive Education for Disabled Children (IEDC) programme which looks at integrating differently-abled children in normal schools.
Under the IEDC programme, children identified with various kinds of disability are selected and given physiotherapy sessions twice a week. “There are three kinds of differently-abled students who get treatment here. First, there are those who are disabled but are still in school, secondly, there are the home-based students and thirdly, the ones who are out of school owing to temporary illness or other related reasons.
Though the physiotherapy treatment under the IEDC programme was inaugurated at Edappally in July this year, due to the absence of a building for the purpose, the equipment were kept in the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) building.
“As of now the facility is functioning out of the SSA building. This is a common building meant for training of the SSA staff, meetings, camps and all other related programmes of the SSA. It is not always possible to have a building for physiotherapy. This is often becomes a problem as most disabled patients need continuous treatment”, said Thomas, Edappally BPO. One of the reasons for the delay in procuring the funds was that there are no funds under the SSA for a new building for physiotherapy.
“We had sent applications to several to centres including the Primary Health Centre at Edappally, the District Medical Office and so on,” said the BPO.

PGHR group's Hospital in Cochin

Renai Medicity - Mamangalam, Palarivattom

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/384972_112070185576910_100003217880545_63964_451343345_n.jpg

Construction updates
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http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/8457/131211105159.jpg

Knee replacement surgery at KIMS (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/Knee-replacement-surgery-at-KIMS/347846.html)

‘Guruvandanam,’ a free knee replacement initiative for retired teachers organised by Kerala Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) under the aegis of the Department of Orthopaedics and the KIMS Charitable Society, will be inaugurated on Friday. The surgery which requires about Rs 2 lakh will be done free of cost.

For those residing in Kottayam, Idukki, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts the surgery will be held at KIMS, Edappally, Kochi. After preliminary examination, 40 persons selected by an expert committee can undergo surgery. Selection is based on the intensity of the illness and economical background. The programme will be inaugurated by Jamal Manakkadan, municipal chairman, Kalamassery. Actor Siddique is the guest of honour.
Dr Jose Thomas Pappanacherry will introduce ‘Guruvandananm’. The hospital’s charitable wing offers treatment free of cost to deserving patients.
Surgery is also being conducted free of cost at KIMS, Thiruvananthapuram.

6-year-old undergoes complex facial surgery (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/article2760340.ece)


In the span of a week, young Abhayakumar had a taste of hell and heaven. The six-year-old had little idea of things to come when he boarded an autorickshaw to see his aunt off at the Chengannur railway station on December 20 afternoon.

In a flash, everything changed for him as a speeding car collided with the autorickshaw in which the boy was travelling along with his uncle and aunt. The boy lost part of his face in the accident and was brought to Specialist Hospital here by night.

“Policemen retrieved the damaged portion of the boy's face from the accident site and sent it in another ambulance by the time he was brought here,”

“The severed portion had all the bones and flesh intact, but was highly contaminated. Another daunting task was that blood vessels were so small that chances of success were less,” said Dr. R. Jayakumar, head of the Department of Plastic and Micro-vascular Surgery, who headed the surgery.

Dr. Jayakumar, who addressed the press meet to announce the success of the surgery on Thursday at the hospital, along with Dr. K.R. Rajappan, director of the hospital, said that no available literature showed that successful execution of composite facial graft, that too involving only a portion of the face, was done in the country till date.

“The critical issue is proper preservation of the severed body organ and bringing it over on time. In this case, the body portion was properly packed and refrigerated. It is always advisable to bring in severed body organs to the hospital within six hours,” said Dr. Rajappan.

6-year-old undergoes complex facial surgery (http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/article2760340.ece)

Surgery, at Kochi Specialist's Hospital (http://www.specialistshospital.com/index.php), said to be the first of its kind in the country

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/2940/25013730.jpg

Source: Metrovartha

New MRI scan centre at General Hospital

A new regional MRI scan centre will come up at the General Hospital here.

P. Rajeev, MP, said here on Monday that Rs. 1.5 crore had been allotted from his MP fund for the project. The proposed MRI centre will be modelled on the Regional Dialysis Centre functioning at Aluva, he said.

Mr. Rajeev said the scan centre will be supported by the Cochin Shipyard. He said that the aim of the centre is to offer the MRI scan at Rs. 1,500. He said that private scan centres charge between Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 10,000 for an MRI scan.

The MP said that the proposed centre at the General Hospital will be fully under government control. A managing committee comprising the MP as chairman, and District Collector as working committee chairman, will monitor the activities of the centre. Mr. Rajeev said that he had sought the support of the government for the successful implementation of the project that would benefit the public. Eight new dialysis units will be set up in the second phase of the Regional Dialysis Centre at Aluva.http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article2770395.ece

^^

Get an MRI done at Rs 1,500 (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Get-an-MRI-done-at-Rs-1500/articleshow/11345825.cms)
An MRI scan centre will be set up at the Ernakulam General Hospital soon, from where the public can undergo scanning at a cheap rate of Rs 1,500.

Announcing the proposal, P Rajeev MP said that he had allocated Rs 1.25 crore from his MP fund for the purpose.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 3 crore. Cochin Shipyard Limited has expressed its willingness to fund the rest of the money.

"The idea arose out of the fact that no government hospital in Ernakulam district has such a facility. The nearest ones available are at the medical colleges at Kottayam and Thrissur. Patients who are financially backward have to either travel long distances or approach private scan centres in the city which charge Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000." Rajeev said.

"Even at the Kottayam and Thrissur medical colleges, the centres are being run by private persons. Hence, doctors across Kerala have been pressing for a government-run MRI scan centre for some time," Rajeev said.

"GH superintendent Junaid Rahman is expected to head the centre. The hospital has sought the support of the state government and the health minister in this regard," Rajeev said.

"The centre will be modelled on the Aluva Regional Dialysis Centre which provides dialysis service for Rs 200. We are also planning to reduce the scanning charges further for those patients who are below the poverty line. We also plan to welcome donations from welfare organizations to meet the expenses," Rajeev said.

Lourdes hospital gets paediatric nephrology unit (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/lourdes-hospital-gets-paediatric-nephrology-unit/351168.html)

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/5968/lourdew.jpg

A new paediatric nephrology unit was inaugurated at Lourdes Hospital here on Saturday by hospital director Fr Sabu Nedunilath.

Santhwana Mental Health Clinic founder and director Fr Varghese Puthussery spoke on the occasion. Children with kidney ailments spoke about their disease, treatment and the related experiences. Dr Varghese Cherian, head of the paediatric unit, and Dr Binu Upendran, head of the nephrology unit, said the clinic had facilities to treat all kind of kidney ailments seen in children.

Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala, Thrikkakara, Kochi
http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/6616/pc300389f.jpg
By prasanth_kcv (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/prasanth_kcv) at 2012-01-09

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/4867/pc300390.jpg
By prasanth_kcv (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/prasanth_kcv) at 2012-01-09

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/6971/pc300391.jpg
By prasanth_kcv (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/prasanth_kcv) at 2012-01-09

^^

This is their biggest facility outside Kottakkal. They have one more inpatient facility in the state at Aluva, Kochi.

^^

This is their biggest facility outside Kottakkal. They have one more inpatient facility in the state at Aluva, Kochi.

Yes, Aluva one is one of the oldest in the state.... Heard that they are expanding the city OP block in MG Road to accomodate a few IP cases and treatment facilities.

Equally, they have brought some acres of land in Thiruvairanikulam area to set up an Herbal Garden and Medicine unit.... I think, Kottakal is expanding very strongly in Kochi. Looking for a Medical college from their part soon......

Dist to get Rs 337 cr for health sector (http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/kochi/dist-get-rs-337-cr-health-sector-628)
The district collector, Mr P.I. Sheikh Pareeth, on Tuesday said that the final draft for the district projects to be included in the comprehensive health scheme for the 12th Five Year Plan has been submitted to the State Government.

According to this, projects to the tune of Rs 759.58 crore will be implemented in the state.

A sum of Rs 337 crore will be spent on 1625 health schemes under different local bodies in the district in the next five years.

A sum of Rs 422.58 crore will be spent on 675 ancillary schemes for raising infrastructure facilities to international standards, the district collector said.

The NRHM is giving Rs 18 crore each year for the district and these funds will be made available for the district till 2018.

Kochi to host psychiatry conclaves (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kochi-to-host-psychiatry-conclaves/articleshow/11492753.cms)



The city will host two conferences on psychiatry this week, discussing the latest treatment modalities and research studies in this field. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences will conduct the Indian Global Psychiatric Initiative 2012 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Union minister K C Venugopal will inaugurate the conference on Tuesday at 12 noon at the hospital.

Organized in association with the Indo-Australian Psychiatry Association and Indo-New Zealand Psychiatry Association, the conference will be attended by experts from US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Italy, China, Germany, Sri Lanka, Canada and Russia. Around 500 delegates from India and abroad will present papers and discuss the importance of research and new developments in psychiatric treatment.

Professor Pedro Ruiz, president of the World Psychiatric Association, professor Macheri Kesavan, research scholar from Harvard University, professor John Oldham, USA, professor Russel D'Souza from Australia, and professor Dinesh Arya will attend the conference. Dr Abraham Varghese, president of the Indian Medical Association, Kochi, Dr Prem Nair, medical director, AIMS, Dr K Kesavan Kuty, head of the department of Psychiatry and Dr N Dinesh will also be present.

Meanwhile, the 64th annual conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society will begin at Hotel Le Meridian on January 19. More than 3000 psychiatrists from various parts of India are expected to participate. Delegates from abroad are also expected to attend the deliberations.

Vayalar Ravi, minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, will inaugurate the conference on Thursday 6 pm. Union minister professor K V Thomas will release the souvenir and state minister K Babu will release the membership directory. The function will be presided over by the Indian Psychiatric Society national president professor M Thirunavakkarasu. Dr Roy Abraham Kallivayalil will be instated as the new president of the Psychiatric Society. Dr Dinesh Bhugra, president- elect of the world Psychiatric Association will address the function. The conference, organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society Kerala branch and Cochin Psychiatric Society, will conclude on Sunday.

Kochi to host psychiatry conclaves (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Kochi-to-host-psychiatry-conclaves/articleshow/11492753.cms)
The city will host two conferences on psychiatry this week, discussing the latest treatment modalities and research studies in this field. Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences will conduct the Indian Global Psychiatric Initiative 2012 on Tuesday and Wednesday. Union minister K C Venugopal will inaugurate the conference on Tuesday at 12 noon at the hospital.

Organized in association with the Indo-Australian Psychiatry Association and Indo-New Zealand Psychiatry Association, the conference will be attended by experts from US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France, Italy, China, Germany, Sri Lanka, Canada and Russia. Around 500 delegates from India and abroad will present papers and discuss the importance of research and new developments in psychiatric treatment.

Professor Pedro Ruiz, president of the World Psychiatric Association, professor Macheri Kesavan, research scholar from Harvard University, professor John Oldham, USA, professor Russel D'Souza from Australia, and professor Dinesh Arya will attend the conference. Dr Abraham Varghese, president of the Indian Medical Association, Kochi, Dr Prem Nair, medical director, AIMS, Dr K Kesavan Kuty, head of the department of Psychiatry and Dr N Dinesh will also be present.

Meanwhile, the 64th annual conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society will begin at Hotel Le Meridian on January 19. More than 3000 psychiatrists from various parts of India are expected to participate. Delegates from abroad are also expected to attend the deliberations.

Vayalar Ravi, minister for Overseas Indian Affairs, will inaugurate the conference on Thursday 6 pm. Union minister professor K V Thomas will release the souvenir and state minister K Babu will release the membership directory. The function will be presided over by the Indian Psychiatric Society national president professor M Thirunavakkarasu. Dr Roy Abraham Kallivayalil will be instated as the new president of the Psychiatric Society. Dr Dinesh Bhugra, president- elect of the world Psychiatric Association will address the function.

The conference, organized by the Indian Psychiatric Society Kerala branch and Cochin Psychiatric Society, will conclude on Sunday.

MAcare Medical & Dental Clinic, Kochi (http://manappuramhealthcareltd.com/more.php?locId=19)

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Heal Wellness (http://www.healwellness.com/) start Kochi operations

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/6213/50258797.jpg

Source: Manorama

http://www.ancips2012.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/ancips-logo1.jpg (http://www.ancips2012.com/)

Annual Psychiatric Seminar from January 19 (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/annual-psychiatric-seminar-from-january-19/221223-60-122.html)
After a gap of 12 years, Kochi will play host to the annual conference of the Indian Psychiatric Society (http://ips-online.org/index.php), to be held at Hotel Le Meridian, here, from January 19 to 22. More than 3,000 psychiatrists, both local and international, are expected to participate in the 64th edition of the event.
The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Psychiatry...mysteries to molecules’, which will also be attended by a number of national and international experts, including researchers and academicians. American Psychiatric Association National president Dr John Oldham, European College of Psychiatry president Dr Joseph Zohar and American Psychiatric Association designated president Dr Dilip V Jasthe will be among the delegates.
The event will be inaugurated by the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi. Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies, K V Thomas and Excise and Ports Minister K Babu will be present. On the sidelines of the conference, a seminar-cum-workshop will be held.
The programme, ‘Bridging Voluntary Work and Science of Mind in Psychiatric Rehabilitation’, will be inaugurated by former Speaker and Health Minister, V Sudheeran.

Co-operative Medical College: Projects worth Rs 14 crore sanctioned

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Source: Manorama

New look for General Hospital (http://http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/New-look-for-General-Hospital/354561.html)


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Getting admitted to a hospital might be among the worst ways to hurt your pocket. But not if the hospital involved is the Ernakulam General Hospital. On the contrary, being admitted here might actually earn you a few extra bucks!
The general hospital is all set to get a rehabilitation centre under its physical medicine wing where patients will not only be treated but will also get an opportunity to produce small scale goods and sell them. “This is targeted at those patients who are on wheelchairs and others with similar disabilities. In their free time they can make small products like soaps, soap powders, phenyl and so on. A kiosk will be set up to sell the produce.

They can also sell it to the hospital. The facility will be extended to some of the patients at the Palliative Care Unit and in the Destitute ward.”, said Superintendent of the hospital, Dr Junied Rehman. The move is part of an ambitious project under the Asset Maintenance Fund for which the hospital has received a fund of Rs 2 crore.

The money will go into renovation and modernisation of the physical medicine wing. Facilities like a well equipped gymnasium and cubicles for Infra red therapy, phototherapy and other treatments are part of the plan.

Rare surgery performed at KIMS hospital, Kochi (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/rare-surgery-performed-at-kims-hospital/223675-60-122.html)
KOCHI: A 34-year-old woman has undergone knee replacement surgery on both legs at KIMS Hospital here.
A team of doctors under Orthopaediatric surgeon Dr Pappanachery performed the surgery.
Both kneecaps were replaced at the same time. The woman has been fitted with artificial knees made from oxinium ceramic. The patient had been unable to walk for a long time because of pain.
The oxinium implant was used as the woman was young. Furthermore, the knee would last much longer than the regular variety.
The hospital authorities said that the woman was doing fine and would be discharged at the earliest.

Lifeline Group Abu Dhabi (http://www.lifelineauh.com/index.php) to invest in Cochin & Calicut
The Lifeline Hospital Group started in Abu Dhabi with its first designed and operated hospital in the centre of the city in May 2007. Since then, the Group has grown to manage a number of hospitals and clinics in the GCC. There are now four healthcare facilities in Abu Dhabi, UAE and one in each of the cities Muscat, Sohar and Salalah in Oman. Lifeline's first hospital in Dubai, the Modern Lifeline Hospital, will be operation by mid 2012. The hospital will be located near Time Square Shopping Centre just off Sheikh Zayed Road. The Group is also establishing facilities in Doha in Qatar and further a field in Cochin and Calicut, India. All new facilities will provide patients with primary, secondary and tertiary care. The Group also has interests in Pharmacy Retail, Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment distribution, IT Consulting and implementation.

Source (http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120124113103)

Lifeline Group Abu Dhabi (http://www.lifelineauh.com/index.php) to invest in Cochin & Calicut

In days to come, I feel, Emke Group would be almost the Alma Mater of Kochi city.... Anyway nice to hear they confirming a news, which was all in rumours for past 2 years

Apollo is there in Kochi ..... where is it coming .....

Our Reach projects are in Karaikudi, Erode, Kochi, Chi

If my source were correct, this piece of news is outdated and not correct. Some time back, I believe it was in 2009 there was a proposal for a JV between Lakshmi Hospital group and Apollo to allow the former as franchise to brand few of its hospitals as Apollo Reach. This was particularly for its Tripunithara, Aluva, and Udayogamandal units along with planned ones in Kottayam, Sabarimala etc
planning so.


Apollo Hospitals will make an entry into Kerala with a greenfield project in Kochi.
The company plans to invest Rs 150 crore in the project for which it is in talks with real estate facilitators.

“We had talks with Le Meridien group which has a few patches of land in the city. For the hospital project we will need five acres of land. It would be a multi-specialty hospital with an initial capacity of 100 beds, scalable to 300 beds. The investment on the project can be around Rs 150 crore,” said Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals.

Apollo will also have a training institute for nurses and para-medical staff along with the hospital. The healthcare major has been receiving proposals from several hospitals in Kerala whose second-generation management are no more interested in running the healthcare business. The company, however, has been keen to enter cities with over 10 lakh population.

Asked how Apollo viewed the market which has thousands of missionary-run hospitals, Reddy said: “When we started the first corporate hospital in India, the country only had government hospitals, those run by charity institutions and small private firms. So we won’t face much competition in the Kerala market.”

Further, the company is in the process of setting up 13 new hospitals and expanding capacity of four of its existing facilities. The new projects will add a total of 2,860 beds by FY15. The total cost on the ongoing projects is Rs 1,646 crore. This includes four Reach hospitals, three super specialty hospitals in Mumbai and one super specialty hospital in Patna.

The construction work on the company’s first medical college in Hyderabad is in completion stage, he said. The college has received the state and university approval and is waiting for the Medical Council of India’s nod. The college occupies 10-acre land within the Apollo Health City.


Source : BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/apollo-plans-rs-150-cr-hospital-in-kerala/463549/)

Apollo Hospitals will make an entry into Kerala with a greenfield project in Kochi.
The company plans to invest Rs 150 crore in the project for which it is in talks with real estate facilitators.

“We had talks with Le Meridien group which has a few patches of land in the city. For the hospital project we will need five acres of land. It would be a multi-specialty hospital with an initial capacity of 100 beds, scalable to 300 beds. The investment on the project can be around Rs 150 crore,” said Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals.

Apollo will also have a training institute for nurses and para-medical staff along with the hospital. The healthcare major has been receiving proposals from several hospitals in Kerala whose second-generation management are no more interested in running the healthcare business. The company, however, has been keen to enter cities with over 10 lakh population.

Asked how Apollo viewed the market which has thousands of missionary-run hospitals, Reddy said: “When we started the first corporate hospital in India, the country only had government hospitals, those run by charity institutions and small private firms. So we won’t face much competition in the Kerala market.”

Further, the company is in the process of setting up 13 new hospitals and expanding capacity of four of its existing facilities. The new projects will add a total of 2,860 beds by FY15. The total cost on the ongoing projects is Rs 1,646 crore. This includes four Reach hospitals, three super specialty hospitals in Mumbai and one super specialty hospital in Patna.

The construction work on the company’s first medical college in Hyderabad is in completion stage, he said. The college has received the state and university approval and is waiting for the Medical Council of India’s nod. The college occupies 10-acre land within the Apollo Health City.


Source : BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/apollo-plans-rs-150-cr-hospital-in-kerala/463549/)

waww thats a great news , greenfield project by Apollo at 150 crores:banana:

guys why no banana for this news!!!!

^^ We are already flooded with investments on Retail,Hospitality and Healthcare ..So nothing new...

If something significant on IT comes You will see :banana::banana::banana:

waww thats a great news , greenfield project by Apollo at 150 crores:banana:

guys why no banana for this news!!!!

:banana::banana::banana::cucumber::cucumber::cucumber::banana::)

Can someone list the major healthcare related investments in Kochi...seems like there are plenty u/c

Apollo Hospitals will make an entry into Kerala with a greenfield project in Kochi.
The company plans to invest Rs 150 crore in the project for which it is in talks with real estate facilitators.

“We had talks with Le Meridien group which has a few patches of land in the city. For the hospital project we will need five acres of land. It would be a multi-specialty hospital with an initial capacity of 100 beds, scalable to 300 beds. The investment on the project can be around Rs 150 crore,” said Prathap C Reddy, chairman, Apollo Hospitals.

Apollo will also have a training institute for nurses and para-medical staff along with the hospital. The healthcare major has been receiving proposals from several hospitals in Kerala whose second-generation management are no more interested in running the healthcare business. The company, however, has been keen to enter cities with over 10 lakh population.

Asked how Apollo viewed the market which has thousands of missionary-run hospitals, Reddy said: “When we started the first corporate hospital in India, the country only had government hospitals, those run by charity institutions and small private firms. So we won’t face much competition in the Kerala market.”

Further, the company is in the process of setting up 13 new hospitals and expanding capacity of four of its existing facilities. The new projects will add a total of 2,860 beds by FY15. The total cost on the ongoing projects is Rs 1,646 crore. This includes four Reach hospitals, three super specialty hospitals in Mumbai and one super specialty hospital in Patna.

The construction work on the company’s first medical college in Hyderabad is in completion stage, he said. The college has received the state and university approval and is waiting for the Medical Council of India’s nod. The college occupies 10-acre land within the Apollo Health City.


Source : BS (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/apollo-plans-rs-150-cr-hospital-in-kerala/463549/)

Well, I don't find anything great about it... Its going to rather any one another hospital. May be a well recognized brand, but appears too minuscule for Kochi.

Well, the write-up style of what Apollo Chairman percevies about Kerala Market, itself is a big mistake..... The missionary run hospitals in Kerala and Jharkhand or MP or Orissa are quite different. Most of the hospitals in Kerala, whether run by Missionaries or individuals are competing each other, rather than mere service oriented sector. They are constantly increasing their facilities, putting up latest equipments, more new procedures that match to any hospital internationally. Its quite different from the style of Missionary run hospitals from other parts of India.

I have once visited a Hospital run by CSI in Calcutta and found it not even comparable to our government run medical colleges.... Whereas if one looks at Angamaly's LF Hospital or Lourde hospital, its comparable to treatments in West....

The neatness of the hospital, the glazed marble tiles, uniquely designed designer uniforms, the branding style donot represent Modern hospitals or not. Yes in these things, many of Missionary hospitals might not be excellent. But the purpose of hospital is not for enjoyment, rather treatment....

In Apollo hospital, even a year back, they used traditional Angioplasty surgery via foot, whereas several multi-specialty hospitals in Kerala have discarded this technique and using Radial surgery so that discharge can happen within a day....

100 bed hospital is a joke in Kerala.... Take Kunjalu's Nursing Home which itself is a 70 bed facility.....

I don't feel any fancy about it, rather than saying, yes one more national brand is coming to Kochi, a city where more than 4 major Medical cities are being planned and worked on......!!!! Thats all....

Ophthalmology meet opens (http://thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/article2856989.ece)

http://i41.************/351bvh2.jpg
Shashi Tharoor, MP, honouring S. S. Badrinath with a lifetime achievement award at the 70th conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society that began in Kochi on Thursday

Even as the country is poised to become the third largest economy in terms of purchasing power, there exist people who are marginalised in terms of poverty and separatist attitude, but the vision of India that is marching forward needs to include all of them in one fibre; said Shashi Tharoor, MP, here on Thursday.

Delivering the inaugural address at the 70th annual conference of the All India Ophthalmological Society, Mr. Tharoor said that the people of India manage to reach a consensus in spite of the cacophony of its own diversity and this thread needs to be taken up by doctors in their vision to bring in those who have been left out.

N.S.D. Raju was installed as the new president of the AIOS at the function. Dr. Raju is the second Keralite after Tony Fernandes to become the president of the AIOS.

The function also honoured two doyens of ophthalmology for the service they had rendered to the society and for research in the field. S. S. Badrinath, founder chairman Emeritus, Sankara Nethalaya, Chennai and B. Shukla from Gwalior were given lifetime achievement awards by Mr. Tharoor.

K. Mohandas, Vice-Chancellor of the Kerala University of Medical and Allied Services; Adrian Koh from Singapore; V. K. Raju from the US; Lalit Verma, secretary, AIOS; Anita Panda, president-elect; D. Ramamoorthy, chairman, scientific committee; and A. Giridhar, the chief organising secretary of conference, were among those who spoke.

Several foreign and Indian experts along with large delegation of ophthalmologists across the country have arrived to participate in the seminars and scientific sessions that would take place in the next three days. The meet would conclude on Sunday.

Well, I don't find anything great about it... Its going to rather any one another hospital. May be a well recognized brand, but appears too minuscule for Kochi.

I don't feel any fancy about it, rather than saying, yes one more national brand is coming to Kochi, a city where more than 4 major Medical cities are being planned and worked on......!!!! Thats all....

Dude, why did you suddenly loose all the enthusiasm? May well be another hospital, but that's how it works. If you are not feeling fancy about it, don't reply ! :nuts:

Dude, why did you suddenly loose all the enthusiasm? May well be another hospital, but that's how it works. If you are not feeling fancy about it, don't reply ! :nuts:

I was enthusiastic about the project much eariler when it was known a major national brand coming to Kerala.... I thought it was coming with a bang.... Felt so bad, hearing they have terribly under-estimated Kerala and coming up with a small hospital (that too not even a boutique kind unlike Fortis)....

Some years back, they were announcing big projects like multiple hospitals with JV with Lakshmi Hospital and stuff like that. And that didn't work out.... And coming up with a pretty clinic kind of stuff, when they operate much larger campus elsewhere in the country.... On the top, the arrogrant way of its Chairman's style of calling it Corporate hospital and no match before so-called silly missionary hospitals/private hospitals in the state, which has invested twice or thrice of what Apollo thinks, is something over-the board for me

I expressed my opinion, after seeing this kind of attitude from a national major, which was unexpected. I can understand if Hotels or clubs calling many cities in Kerala Tier 2. But when comes to Hospital/medical field, Kerala is one of the TIER-1 areas and deserve much more than silly attitude of a national brand, which I call it arrogance.

I was enthusiastic about the project much eariler when it was known a major national brand coming to Kerala.... I thought it was coming with a bang.... Felt so bad, hearing they have terribly under-estimated Kerala and coming up with a small hospital (that too not even a boutique kind unlike Fortis)....
[/B]

a project which can be scaled upto 300 rooms is not all that small ... considering 150 crores investment ... cosmopolitan cities should hv such branded options also...

a project which can be scaled upto 300 rooms is not all that small ... considering 150 crores investment ... cosmopolitan cities should hv such branded options also...

+1

A Rs 150 crore, 300 bed medical facility is not a small investment. And this might be a test dose too. Kerala unlike RoI is highly saturated as far as medical options are concerned. Its a fact that we don't have many tertiary top notch facilities, but few in those lines are being set up. So its easy to build a mega facility in any other part of the country and assure returns on the flag fall. It's ain't the same to penetrate to a market which has the set benchmarks for healthcare in the country. So happy to see majors considering Kochi in their portfolio.

Can someone list the major healthcare related investments in Kochi...seems like there are plenty u/c

1 - Lakeshore - Expansion
2 - Medical Trust Institute of Medical Science - Phase 1 completed
3 - Rajagiri Medical College - In progress
4 - Kochi Medical city - Land identified
5 - Renai Medicity - Construction in final phase
6 - Aster Medi city - Construction progressing
7 - Health City by Baby Memorial Hospital - Proposed
8 - Fortis - Proposed
9 - Apollo Reach Hospital - Proposed
10 - Molecule-7 - In progress
11 - Sunrise - Expansion
12 - Gurudev Institute of Medical Sciences - In progress
13 - Lifeline Group Abu Dhabi - Proposed
14 - Project by MIMS - Reported (not confirmed)
15 - Ernakulam General Hospital - Expansion
16 - Co-operative Medical College - Expansion