Docs to act for cancer awareness

For the last few days, Somnath Sonwalkar, an occupational therapist at KEM Hospital, Parel, has been a regular at the hospital's lawn after finishing work at the outpatient department.

Joining a group of theatre actors, Sonwalkar, 29, uses his college theatre experience to rehearse his lines to perfection for a street play against tobacco consumption.

On May 31 — World No Tobacco Day — Sonawalkar will be part of a 20-minute play at three different locations in Parel.
For the first time, the Mumbai chapter of the Indian Medical Association has organised a street play roping in medical and paramedical professionals along with the local 'Jidda' theatre group to raise awareness about ill effects of tobacco.
“We see several cases related to tobacco abuse and counsel them against its consumption. However, this play will allow us to talk to the general public and convince them in an different manner to stop using tobacco,” said Sonwalkar.
“The play peppered with songs will address issues such as reasons for smoking or chewing tobacco, effects of long term tobacco use and how to stop consumption,” said Dr Kishor Khushale, associate professor at KEM Hospital who has written and directed the play.
Rahul Bhandare, the hospital's ward boy, will assist with the play's music while three doctors will act as medical professionals providing information to patients and journalists.

Apollo Hospitals to invest Rs 1,500 cr by 2014

Apollo Hospitals Group will invest Rs 1,500 crore for increasing the number of beds to about 11,500 by March 2014, according to the Chairman, Dr Prathap C. Reddy.
After inaugurating an oncology facility at Apollo Hospitals near here, he told pressperons that the healthcare major had added 800 beds last year in its 56 hospitals, which now have 9,000 beds.
With the opening of six new hospitals in 2012, it would have over 10,000 beds. It is also planning to add 60 new clinics to increase the same to 100 this year.
Cardiac clinic
In Gujarat, where Apollo Hospitals and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd have a 50:50 partnership, the duo have decided to launch an additional cardiac clinic by July 2012 at an investment of Rs 15 crore. They are also considering to set up one or two more hospitals in Gujarat, he said.
The two partners are looking at setting up outpatient clinics in African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda as well.
Overseas foray
Asked about Apollo Hospitals’ overseas foray, Dr Reddy said that the Group has, after expanding its reach to Dubai, Mauritius and other places, “temporarily” decided to focus only on India. However, its super-specialty facility in Tanzania will increase the number of beds from the existing 300 to 500.
Replying to a question about the 1,300-strong Apollo Pharmacy chain, he said the Group has identified some potential investors abroad for setting up more such pharmacies in India once the FDI norms are eased by the Government.
Dr Reddy said the Group is expecting to get loans to the tune of Rs 600 crore for expansion this year. “We may also plan to add 4,000 beds next year during 2014-17.”

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser visited Medanta

HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser visited Medanta multi-super specialty hospital for medicine and research near New Delhi yesterday. 
Sheikha Moza was briefed on the various sections of the hospital, such as the cancer treatment division and the attached research centres in addition to a number of other sections including the intensive care unit, the outpatient clinics, laboratories, the robotic surgery and brain surgery units. 
Sheikha Moza met a number of the physicians and officials in charge of the hospital and discussed scopes of co-operation between the hospital and the health sector in Qatar in the medical, educational and research fields.    




Medanta – the Medicity is one of India’s largest multi-super specialty institutes located in Gurgaon, a bustling town in the National Capital Region. 
The institution has been envisioned with the aim of bringing to India the highest standards of medical care along with clinical research, education and training. 
Medanta is governed under the guiding principles of providing medical services to patients with care, compassion, commitment.  
It is spread across 43 acres and includes a research centre, medical and nursing school. It has 1,250 beds and over 350 critical care beds with 45 operation theatres catering to over 20 specialties. 
Medanta houses six centres of excellence which will provide medical intelligentsia, cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure with a well-integrated and comprehensive information system.

PE firm Advent International invests $105m in Care Hospital.

Private equity firm Advent International has picked up equity in hospital chain Care by investing $105 million. With this the healthcare services provider hopes to consolidate its position in the sector and bet big on the growth opportunities to set up more hospitals in Tier II locations.
“We believe that there is tremendous potential in the Indian healthcare market. Through this, Advent brings relevant global experience to support Care’s expansion plans in India as the hospital chain aspires to match the best international benchmarks in healthcare delivery,” said Georg Stratenwerth, managing director of Advent India PE Advisors.

For the undisclosed equity that Advent holds, it has acquired shares from some of the existing investors and injecting additional capital into the business. Post the investment, the management continues to be the same. The multi-specialty chain has presence in southern cities like Hyderabad, Vishakapatnam among others cities like Raipur, Bhubaneshwar, Nagpur and Pune.

“The partnership with Advent provides us with the required resources and support to expand our presence and reiterates our commitment in providing the best in healthcare” said Care Hospital founder B Soma Raju adding that the hospital had begun in 1997 with a 100-bed facility.

The hospital chain, which specialises in cardiac care, neurology, nephrology and general medicine, is said to be ranking 5th among all hospitals in the country in terms of number of beds and revenue. The group has a total of 1,590 beds across eleven hospitals.

Prior to Care, Advent had invested in CAMS, which is into providing of outsourced transaction processing for mutual funds and insurance along with Element-K, a corporate e-learning business acquired by SkillSoft. Advent International has globally invested in over 30 healthcare companies worldwide across a broad range of sub-sectors, including pharmaceuticals, healthcare services and medical equipment.