Hospitals get Bigger and Better

FOR the last couple of years, the city has witnessed a mercurial rise in the health care sector.
Christened as the city that heals, Pune stands out with distinction for its world-class medical facilities. It aspires to not only improve the quality of life of Puneites but also attract a fair amount of patient traffic from across the country.
While medical care gets updated constantly, hospitals like Ruby Hall Clinic, King Edward Memorial (KEM), Inlaks and Budani and Poona Hospital are all in the expansion process.
Ruby Hall Clinic’s executive director, Dr K B Grant states that there is an increase in the number of patients, because people are now averring to the prevention method, and come in for regular health check ups.
Says he, “To accommodate this increase, the old building of the clinic was redone in 1998. In addition, we are busy with our seven storeyed cancer unit, whose costs run to the tune of Rs 30 crores.�
Poona Hospital is another one, undergoing expansion.
The hospital is facing a space crunch since it comes under the purview of a tertiary care centre, resulting in several government patients and pensioners coming to them. Adds director, Dr J Ravindranath, “Our general wards are a support to the society. We have spent over Rs 15 crores over the present expansion plan which will give our hospital 350 more beds for our general wing besides a cardiac surgery unit, with a new wing consisting of an ICU for neuro trauma, neurology and strokes.�
The history of the King Edward Memorial dates back to a time when the hospital had just a 12-bed maternity home. Dr Bhalerao, medical administrator tells us, that today the hospital has grown into a general and speciality hospital with 550 beds, besides becoming a teaching hospital and a research centre.
“The new Dr Banoo Coyaji building accommodates this increase of patients. We have a six-storeyed building costing Rs six crores which will now house most of our new projects,� Dr Bhalerao tells us.
This will encompass an increase of the ICU strength, an additional operation theatre, hi-tech blood bank, diabetes unit, infertility centre, dialysis unit and a day-care centre for haematology and oncology.
prachi.bari@timesgroup.com