2842
/ 3
Min Read
Healthcare has emerged as one of the country's largest sectors in business and considerable progress has been achieved in the promotion of health in India. The industry is investing in new technologies and has been growing at a rapid pace.
The hospital industry in India accounts to 80% of the total healthcare market. Growing at a CAGR of 16-17%, the industry is expected to reach $132 billion by 2023 from $61.8 billion in 2017. The Government of India is also planning to increase public health spending to 2.5% of the country's GDP by 2025.
Though hospitals, dispensaries, public health centers and other medical facilities are present, but fail to cater to the needs of the poor due to high pricing. Understanding these problems, the government has launched major initiatives to provide healthcare facilities to the poor.
2 major beneficiaries offered by the government
In order to provide healthcare to financially-backward persons, the government has launched schemes, namely Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY). These beneficiaries are availed by the lakhs of financially-backward persons across the country.
The hospitals that are empanelled with the schemes usually offer 25% of its beds to the poor. Recent news update shows that the Surya Sahyadri Hospital in Pune will provide 100% beds, making it India’s first hospital entirely for the poor.
Dr Sudhakar Shinde, state Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for MJPJAY, who also heads Ayushman Bharat in Maharashtra, shared, "Surya Sahyadri Hospital will be completely dedicated to the poor and with a 100 per cent bed capacity for beneficiaries of both government medical aid schemes."
"Normally, 25 per cent of beds are reserved by hospitals empanelled with the schemes. Now, Surya Sahyadri has approached us to run both schemes at their new facility efficiently. A meeting was also held with hospital officials and an audit completed. As soon as things get approved, the hospital will be up and running in tandem with our schemes," Shinde added.
Providing full-fledged treatments
Surya Sahyadri Hospital will cater mainly to beneficiaries of two government schemes, PMJAY and MJPJAY. The new medical establishment will have facilities on par with super-specialty hospitals and will also reserve all of its beds for the economically-backward
Apart from routine procedures, treatments for cardiology, neurology, dialysis and chemotherapy will also be made available in the hospital.
Dr Ketan Apte, Unit Head, Sahyadri Group of Hospitals, stated, "We are already enrolled under MJPJAY for the last five years, as well as the PMJAY more recently."
"At our Deccan branch, we see massive footfalls to avail of MJPJAY. The number of beds is limited — most stay occupied due to a huge patient overflow. Operation theatres are also full and this results in an ever-increasing waiting list. It becomes difficult to give justice to all, many of whom come from different parts of the state. So, we felt a dedicated hospital for beneficiaries of schemes would be a better idea. It is possible for us to do as we have other facilities in various parts of the city and state," he further stated.
