The 88-bed super specialty Sushrut Hospital & Research Centre, completes its first year of operation on June 15, 2003 but it has very little to celebrate. The six-storeyed hospital with an occupancy level in single digits tells the tale.

"We are unable to meet even the operational costs," says Dr RA Nambiar, Medical Superintendent at Sushrut. The empty beds in the ICU, OPD and the Burns & Trauma Ward explained the revenue position of the Hospital.

Dr Nambiar attributed this state of low occupancy to the poor marketing efforts by the hospital. "We offer quality services at reasonable charges. But there is some negative propaganda being done against us by the nursing homes surrounding us," she defends.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL), Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers (RCF), National Organics Chemicals Industries Ltd. (NOCIL) and Tata Power had taken the initiative in establishing this centre. The hospital funds its own operational costs.

"We are hoping to make some progress with the help of corporate houses," says N R Ranganathan, the Administrative Officer. The hospital has already established ties with HPCL, RCF and Mazagaon Docks for their staff check-ups and admission. "We hope to increase the number of corporate patrons in the near future. Things are still in the pipeline," he adds.

The Burns Ward in the hospital is 30-bedded and has a 9-bed ICU. It has had 15 patients since it was started in March 2003. Dr Suhas Abhyankar, one of the plastic surgeons in the Burns ward at Sushrut hospital says, "The hospital has all the latest equipments and facilities in every department. Our charges are very reasonable as compared to the other private hospitals in the city."

He adds. "The key to improving the position of the hospital is to make people aware of the services available at the hospital. Tying up with corporate houses is definitely one way to improve the flow of revenue. Growth will not happen overnight, but it will definitely happen with time," he reaffirms. Will the corporate houses be able to bail this one out?