Fortis entry in Jalandhar likely to challenge pvt hospitals

The entry of corporate giant Fortis Healthcare last week in the health sector of Jalandhar is likely to give the existing set up of over 950 private hospitals in the district a challenge.

Jalandhar neither has any government medical college, nor does it has any big private medical institution like Dayanand Medical Hospital or Christian Medical College as Ludhiana. Still, Jalandhar has always been considered as the biggest destination for medical tourism as more than 40 per cent of the patients taking treatment at private institutions are NRIs — be it for cardiac ailments, cancer, in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, spinal or ortho-surgery, cataract, dental, hip replacement and prostate problems.

With the Fortis management acquiring Shrimann Hospital for Rs 462 crore that already has 25 specialty departments, the possibility of NRIs drifting towards it does not get ruled out, especially since they have a high paying capacity and look for a facility with more patient comfort.

Ashish Bhatia, executive vice-president, Fortis Healthcare, said, “We shall definitely look forward to higher patient inflow in Jalandhar. We shall of course be offering a full corporate environment, patient-centric care and advanced infrastructural set-up here in a matter of just two months as we take over the system completely.”

Even though everyone’s guess is that the charges at Fortis will jump as soon as the taking-over process is completed, Bhatia has announced that there will be no increase in charges for the patient. “We have not come here with a new price list. The charges for various medical facilities shall remain the same. The patients need not worry on that front,” he said.

However, owners of most hospitals are of the opinion that Fortis shall cater to a different clientele and their footfall shall not get affected because of its entry. “We offer very competitive charges in our hospitals unlike the corporates. The patients or their attendants generally go in for surveys at various hospitals ahead of any surgical intervention or other major treatment. When they shall compare rates, the existing hospitals will have an edge,” said a senior IMA functionary from the city.

A private hospital owner not wanting to be quoted said, “All of us were a bit wary even when Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) had taken off. But so far, we are not facing any competition from it. Our clientele does not match. Every new set up carves its own niche and own space and does not usually acquire anyone else’s.”