India turns to Gulf to sell healthcare services
With UK failing to
live up to initial promise of a fertile ground for attracting
patients for Indian healthcare service providers, attention is now
shifting to the Middle East. A CII delegation of top corporate
hospitals in the country will soon be off to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to
sell India's healthcare services and clinch business.
The delegation that includes top
management from Escorts Heart Institute, Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd., Apollo
Hospitals Group, Ruby Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and Jaslok Hospital would
be in the Middle East form January 10 to January 13, tapping a market whose size
has been estimated to be around Rs. 1,000 crore.
"Patients from the Middle East
always preferred the US or UK for their treatment options. But with stricter
visa norms in those nations. But with stricter visa norms in those nations,
these patients are now flying to Singapore and Bangkok. India has the potential
to become their healthcare destination in terms of logistic advantage as well as
cost competitiveness," Sajal Dutta, MD, Ruby Hospital, Kolkata, who is a part of
the delegation, told ET.
The delegation would not only
strike deals with medical insurance players in the Middle East for transfer of
insurance-covered patients to India but is also scheduled to meet the health
ministry in those nations.
"The government in the Middle
East nations subsidies a part of the healthcare cost. They are also supposedly
looking at signing deals with Indian hospitals for the cost competitiveness they
have in treatment compared to other countries," Mr. Dutta added.
The immediate effect of this
transfer of patients is likely to help the players in Mumbai and Delhi. But in
the long-run, the Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata-based players would be
favourably placed for same standard of clinical governance, but at 30-40 % lower
costs.
The delegation would be
projecting India's specialised medical facility for the planned and scheduled
procedures in therapeutic areas like oncology, cardiology and orthopaedic
replacement surgeries, micro-surgeries and plastic surgeries. Much of their
efforts would also go in removing some of the negative perceptions that India
has in terms of healthcare delivery.
Incidentally, Apollo and
Wockhardt have already drafted strategies for exploring opportunities in the
Middle East region. While Apollo is looking at setting up telemedicine units,
hospitals and clinics, Wockhardt is actively looking at tying up with hospitals
in those regions for patients transfer to their units at Mumbai and Bangalore.
[Economic Times 13/01/2004]
Hindustan Latex, Chinese co in JV for contraceptives
In yet another example of
growing cooperation between India and China, state-run firms from both countries
are joining hands to promote family planning in the world's most populous
nations.
Beijing based Zizhu Pharma and
Hindustan Latex Ltd. (HLL) will promote various family planning products in the
two countries. Top officials of the companies inked the agreement in New Delhi
on December 18.
India is expected to gain
immensely form a new contraceptive made by Zizhu that is available either as an
injection or an implant.
And China can look forward to
Preventol, the emergency contraceptive pill that is the latest product from the
HLL stables. Preventol is meant for use within 72 hours of having unprotected
sex.
Among other HLL products that
will be available in China are male contraceptives, oral contraception pills and
once-a-week oral pills.
HLL chairman G. Rajmohan said
India would definitely benefit from the agreement as China was a world leader in
contraceptives.
"Technology transfer from China
would be beneficial for us. Apart from marketing of products of both countries,
we plan to undertake joint programmes in research and trials of new products."
Rajmohan told IANS.
[Economic Times dated 25/12/2003]
|