GNRC Acquires a New set of Facilities

GNRC, Guwahati has recently acquired one hospital, one diagnostic centre and a barren piece of land to build a hospital from a NRI-promoted group called Brahmaputra Hospitals Limited (BHL). Said Dr NC Borah, Founder and Chairman, GNRC, "The first is a multi-speciality hospital in Six Mile area, South of Guwahati. The second is a high-tech diagnostic centre in Rajgarh area, North-east of the city. The land is in North of Guwahati, next to the Brahmaputra river."

The amount for this takeover is undisclosed. Dr Borah added that GNRC is spending approximately Rs 15 crore on renovation, excluding equipment cost. The brand names of the hospitals and diagnostic centres are yet undecided.

The hospital in Six Mile will start by December. "The building has been completely renovated according to GNRC requirements. Then, the diagnostic centre will be renovated six months after commissioning of the first hospital. A high-end 1,500-bed hospital would be constructed in the barren land, targeting medical tourists from South-east Asia," added Dr Borah. The construction of a four-land highway connecting North-east India to the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Burma, etc will ensure a steady stream of medical tourists, he believes. The diagnostic centre is likely to be branded as a wellness centre offering preventive care facilities. The new centres would act as spokes for the main GNRC Hospital. "The new hospital has to be integrated to the existing brand associations and we have to ensure that it complements the existing brand equity of GNRC," informed Vivek Shukla, branding and marketing consultant for GNRC.

When asked whether the centres would operate on a shared pool of resources with the main hospital, Priyanka Borah, Full-time Director of GNRC, said, "Though doctors will be hired afresh, the support staff will be shared. We are targeting the new centres to be self-sufficient and independent."

(Ref: The Express Healthcare November 2007)

Lavasa & Apollo to Develop Health Centre at Pune

Both Groups will invest in medical, wellness facilities and care for the elderly

Lavasa Corporation Ltd has recently signed an agreement with the Apollo Hospitals Group, to set up an integrated healthcare and wellness destination at the Lavasa Hill town near Pune. The services will be spread over 200 acres of land. Initially, the plan is to establish a multi-speciality hospital with a capacity of 50 beds which will be ready by 2009. Eventually, the services shall extend to wellness services, rejuvenation, long-term care, research and development.

The integrated hospital and wellness centre will have four major service verticals viz., as medical cluster, wellness cluster, long-term care and education-R&D zone. The medical cluster will have a higher secondary care hospital and medical and surgical ICUs for key specialties like cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology and paediatrics. Support services like radiology, imaging and a diagnostic laboratory will be set up alongside.

The wellness cluster will comprise facilities for complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition, preventive care, ambulatory care, a medical spa and a rejuvenation spa. Long-term care will include rehabilitation services for patients who have undergone orthopedic surgeries, and those with neurological disorders. A retirement village is also being studied. The education and research zone will have a medical convention centre, training for nurses and technicians, continuous medical education, stem cell, genomics research and clinical trials facilities.

Ajit Gulabchand, Chairman of Lavasa Corporation Ltd, said, "Our vision is to develop Lavasa as a centre of excellence in major research and development fields and a preferred destination for both business and leisure. The medical expertise of Apollo will enable us to provide world-class healthcare facilities at Lavasa and improve the quality of life of its residents. With their vast experience in this field, Apollo brings both international best practices as well as a stellar track record. The Centre will also create employment opportunities and give impetus to the region's development." Shobana Kamineni, Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "We plan to develop a destination for healthcare and wellness services, research and development and medical education. The services shall cater to both the Indian population and foreigners."

(Ref: The Express Healthcare November 2007).