A new multi-specialty Imperial Healthcare City and Hospital of 150-bed is coming up in Bangalore and is scheduled for inauguration in mid-August 2004. The bed strength may go up by 100 if the Bangalore Development Authority approves the additional plan sanction latest by March end.
Imperial was allotted five acres of land by the Karnataka government on the Bannerghata Road. The hospital is also expected to identify areas in districts, work along with the Karnataka government to extend the benefits of corporate healthcare to the remote regions through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for AIDS, communicable diseases, congenital anomalies and geriatric care. Outreach programmes for cancer awareness, early detection clinics and diabetics-hypertension camps will be a regular feature, Dr. Viqar Syed, director, Imperial Healthcare City and Hospital who is a radiation oncologist and member CII- National Committee on Healthcare told Pharmabiz.com.
In the first phase, that is coming up at an investment of Rs.75 crore will have an area of 1.70 lakh sq. m housing three separate institutes for heart, orthopaedics (trauma & sports medicine), nephrology-urology along with a diagnostic centre, Nuclear Medicine, comprehensive cancer care centre, gastroenterology centre and women-child centre. There will be eight operation theatres equipped with laminar air flow, sleep lab, open magnet MRI from Toshiba and 40-50 bed intensive care unit.
The promoter of Imperial is Dr. Nisar Syed, radiation oncologist who is the chairman of the Pinnacle Health Care International, USA and director Long Beach Memorial Canker Centre, Los Angeles. He has partnered with India Builders Corporation's Ziaulla Sheriff to set up Imperial where the promoter has chipped in 80 per cent of the funds and 20 per cent is generated through borrowings. Dr. Nisar along with his US partners operates six hospitals in California and Florida apart from the Bibi Cancer Hospital and Foundation in Hyderabad in 1984.
The unique features of the hospital are the dedicated day care surgical centre and advanced cancer facility. Other features are geriatric cards for the 60 year-olds and a play pen for children (visitors to hospitals needn't take children to see patients).
By mid-2005, the concept of complete healthcare district would be conceptualised with two additional towers. Imperial will also provide the ambience of an international health tourism centre. The tower of 50,000 sq. ft. will have a full fledged women and children health centre with transport incubator facility, two birthing suites, and an infertility centre The Imperial Health Plaza Tower of 1,50,000 sq. ft. will provide direct and indirect healthcare services including Third Party alliances, medical transcription centres, BPO in healthcare, health food stores. There will be fitness centres geriatric clubs, preventive healthcare clinics, allergy centre, buggies to transport elderly patients/ physically challenged cases from the parking lot to the hospital.
For handling accident trauma cases, Imperial will have tie-up with Accident Relief Centres and other networks to provide the speedy and timely attention to victims on the highways or on the city roads. Plans are underway to set up a helipad at one of its terrace towers.
A team of 100 medical professionals will be associated with the hospital.
For the poor patients, efforts to subsidize the charges for treatment will be made through the Imperial Foundation, which will provide tax exemption status to cater to poor, and socially challenged families, informed Dr. Viqar Syed.