Healthcare consulting organisation TR Life Sciences has established partnerships with prominent healthcare institutions, including medical colleges, to ensure the seamless delivery of services and promote medical training. In an interaction with Express Healthcare, Dr Gopal Sharan, Managing Director, TR Life Sciences underpins challenges, trends, and opportunities in the Indian healthcare sector
TR Life Sciences recently signed an MoU for a few health projects in different parts of the country. What are the main aims and key components?
TR Life Sciences has signed five MoUs with healthcare projects in Delhi, Bihar, and the East and North Eastern parts of India. These partnerships aim to improve access to quality healthcare services by addressing challenges in the regions, including the shortage of medical professionals and hospital manpower. The health projects will offer cutting-edge healthcare services and technologies and will be staffed by highly qualified medical professionals. The MoUs include developing new healthcare facilities and expanding existing ones, such as hospitals, diagnostic centers, and medical colleges. These new projects will not only provide state-of-the-art healthcare services with well-planned medical colleges and hospitals but also create numerous job opportunities for healthcare professionals in the region. Additionally, they will help to reduce the burden on existing healthcare facilities, providing patients with greater access to healthcare services. Out of five, two MoUs were signed for Bihar which includes a 150-bed Hospital Project in Darbhanga and the expansion of Rina Devi Memorial Hospital & Medical, Nursing & Pharmacy College in Mohania. The MoUs with two leading hospital owners of Bihar aim to establish two new state-of-the-art hospitals there.
What are the main challenges of the Indian healthcare sector with special reference to hospitals or private provider segments?
The Indian healthcare sector faces major challenges, including inadequate access, affordability, and a shortage of healthcare workers. Rural areas lack basic healthcare infrastructure, making it difficult for private healthcare providers to deliver consistent and high-quality care. Affordability is a key issue, with high costs for medical equipment, medicines, and consumables, and the high cost of infrastructure building making it difficult to run hospitals profitably. The low level of insurance coverage results in high out-of-pocket spending, especially in rural areas.
A shortage of skilled healthcare workers is another major challenge, leading to longer wait times, reduced quality of care, and increased costs for patients who have to travel to urban areas for treatment. The healthcare sector is highly regulated, and regulations vary significantly from state to state, making it difficult for private providers to operate efficiently and comply with regulations related to licensing, accreditation, and quality control.
To address these challenges, all stakeholders including policymakers must work to improve access to healthcare, increase insurance coverage, and invest in training and education for healthcare workers. Streamlining regulations and improving the business environment for private healthcare providers will also be important.
What are the emerging trends and latest advancements in the healthcare industry? What value is technology adding to the healthcare system and how has it improved the healthcare structure in India?
The adoption of technology has significantly improved the accuracy of diagnostics, advanced techniques for surgeries have better outcomes, and online healthcare & telemedicine has reduced the burden on physical infrastructure. Digital/online healthcare has been playing the role of a powerful catalyst. Online consultations and technological platforms are in high demand. Given that the pandemic has extended the need to socially distance, teleconsultations have become a need in rural & urban setups alike. The use of IT tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and the Internet of Things (IoT) simplifies the lives of patients, doctors, and hospital administrators by performing tasks that are typically done by humans, but in less time and at a fraction of the cost. Further robotic surgery, also called robot-assisted surgery, allows doctors to perform many types of complex procedures with more precision, flexibility, and control than is possible with conventional techniques. Many senior surgeons in their day-to-day practice are adopting this in metro cities. This is expected to bring more precision and success rates in the surgeries.
What are the major challenges in critical care in tier II & tier III Cities. How can we empower rural areas with known facts and scale health awareness among them?
Providing critical care services in rural areas is challenging due to several factors. One of the main challenges is the lack of infrastructure and trained professionals in these areas. Additionally, there is a higher risk of infection due to limited resources and inadequate measures in place. The disparity in ICU bed distribution between rural and urban areas further exacerbates the problem. However, there are opportunities to overcome these challenges through the use of technology, such as telemedicine, and by equipping ambulances with the necessary equipment for critical care. Empowering rural communities through training and skill development sessions can also improve access to critical care services. Furthermore, investments in infrastructure in rural areas can make a significant impact in providing better access to critical care services for those who need it.
What kinds of innovations TR Life Sciences have brought in so far? What are the future plans of the company? Finally, for brownfield hospital projects, what kind of support do you expect from the Centre or states’ government?
TR Life Sciences has established partnerships with prominent healthcare institutions, including medical colleges, to ensure the seamless delivery of services and promote medical training. The company is also working towards enhancing access to patient data and maximising its potential in treatment through the integration of IT systems in hospitals.
In the future, the company plans to expand its services by setting up cardiac hospitals in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, with a focus on saving lives and continuously developing the capacity of healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs to deliver the best-in-class hospitals in the country.
To support Brownfield Projects, the company anticipates that public-private partnership (PPP) schemes will be introduced, with financial assistance provided in the form of Viability Gap funding. The government is also expected to provide regulatory support by expediting approvals and creating a tax-friendly environment. Additionally, there will be a continued emphasis on developing skill development institutes to support the growth and development of the healthcare sector.
What is the way forward for a robust healthcare ecosystem in the country?
Developing a robust healthcare ecosystem is essential to ensure that all citizens have access to affordable and quality healthcare services. There are several key areas that need to be addressed to achieve this goal.
Firstly, investing in primary healthcare in both rural and urban areas is crucial. This includes focusing on preventive care, which can help reduce the burden on hospitals and healthcare systems.
Secondly, increasing public spending on healthcare as a percentage of GDP is important. This can help provide adequate resources and funding for healthcare services, which is especially important for those who cannot afford private healthcare.
Thirdly, focusing on digital healthcare and interconnected healthcare service delivery systems can improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare services. This includes telemedicine and other digital technologies that can connect patients with healthcare providers, even in remote areas.
Fourthly, having a central health database can provide useful insights into healthcare trends and needs, which can help policymakers make informed decisions and allocate resources more efficiently.
Finally, the development of advanced healthcare skill development institutes is crucial for training healthcare professionals and ensuring that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to provide high-quality healthcare services.