A close look at almost any hospital department today demonstrates the acute deficit in meeting the human factor goals of well-being and general efficiency in healthcare planning. There have been umpteen instances in modern-day hospital care, where hospital-acquired infections due to faulty air-conditioning, inadequate water supply/drainage etc have resulted in patient morbidity and even mortality. In the coming days, the Indian healthcare industry will witness a continued demand for construction of modern facilities. The annual value of healthcare construction projects will therefore see an up-trend over the coming years, driven by factors such as opening up of the insurance sector, privatisation initiatives etc. Planning, the key tool to success Like any other industrial venture, proper planning of hospitals is vital for the success of the venture. If hospitals are properly planned and designed, then substantial amount of profit can be earned. Therefore, the first step for a healthcare facility is proper project conceptualisation with the right mix of beds and amenities to generate sufficient income and attract maximum clientele. For this, a comprehensive market research is essential to gauge the demand-supply ratio for healthcare services, apart from evaluating competition. Consequently, this would help in preparing a workable functional matrix, specific to the facility. Apart from drawing up detailed plans catering to landscape, beds, availability of utilities in the vicinity, considerable inputs from agencies such as air-conditioning, electrical, plumbing etc. are critical to finalise the working plan of the building. Moreover, in healthcare construction projects inputs from equipment vendors in speciality areas such as operation theatres, cath-labs[i], linear accelerators, CT-scanners[ii] and MRI[iii], among others are of prime importance. In the Indian healthcare segment, minimal emphasis is given to support services such as kitchen, laundry, CSSD[iv], power back-up and so on. Not only are these services vital, but these also involve high capital cost and recurrent expenses and therefore should be properly planned. A detailed financial feasibility report would then show the promoters the viability of the project subject to various scenarios such as effect on profitability with change in the debt/equity ratios, project cost escalation and so on. Such studies, if conducted, will help in avoiding financial mishaps in the long-term, thereby facilitating smooth operations. Apart from this, planning also specifies alternative plans, which can be examined in the context of the opportunities and constraints facing the promoters. ‘Green’ architecture is very much in vogue at present. So, promoters developing hospitals should incorporate such designing approach, which paves the way towards energy efficiency, an improved indoor environment through the use of green building materials, encourage recycling and waste prevention etc. Commissioning of the hospitals after construction is another vital part of hospital planning. This phase includes proper recruitment, devising salary structures and tariff for various services, plan systems for various departments, comply with all statutory requirements, design various forms/records and so on. Today’s informed consumer is ready to pay for quality services, but is equally displeased if sub-standard services are provided to him/her. Adopt what is good In While it may not be prudent to follow the western concepts blindly, domestic developers can pick-up certain aspects from the modern concepts. Some of the aspects that can be adopted are flexibility for future expansion, larger secondary areas for better patient comfort, proper deployment of utilities in wait areas, nurse stations, storage, changing rooms, alcoves for stretchers/wheelchairs, adequate transport facilities, parking facilities, proper light and ventilation, among others. In short, a holistic approach for design, construction, operations and maintenance will help a healthcare facility to fulfil its core mission of protecting human health, eventually providing the country’s healthcare industry a facelift. |
