India turns to Gulf to sell healthcare services

With UK failing to live up to initial promise of a fertile ground for attracting patients for Indian healthcare service providers, attention is now shifting to the Middle East. A CII delegation of top corporate hospitals in the country will soon be off to Abu Dhabi and Dubai to sell India's healthcare services and clinch business.

The delegation that includes top management from Escorts Heart Institute, Wockhardt Hospitals Ltd., Apollo Hospitals Group, Ruby Hospital, Breach Candy Hospital and Jaslok Hospital would be in the Middle East form January 10 to January 13, tapping a market whose size has been estimated to be around Rs. 1,000 crore.

"Patients from the Middle East always preferred the US or UK for their treatment options. But with stricter visa norms in those nations. But with stricter visa norms in those nations, these patients are now flying to Singapore and Bangkok. India has the potential to become their healthcare destination in terms of logistic advantage as well as cost competitiveness," Sajal Dutta, MD, Ruby Hospital, Kolkata, who is a part of the delegation, told ET.

The delegation would not only strike deals with medical insurance players in the Middle East for transfer of insurance-covered patients to India but is also scheduled to meet the health ministry in those nations.

"The government in the Middle East nations subsidies a part of the healthcare cost. They are also supposedly looking at signing deals with Indian hospitals for the cost competitiveness they have in treatment compared to other countries," Mr. Dutta added.

The immediate effect of this transfer of patients is likely to help the players in Mumbai and Delhi. But in the long-run, the Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata-based players would be favourably placed for same standard of clinical governance, but at 30-40 % lower costs.

The delegation would be projecting India's specialised medical facility for the planned and scheduled procedures in therapeutic areas like oncology, cardiology and orthopaedic replacement surgeries, micro-surgeries and plastic surgeries. Much of their efforts would also go in removing some of the negative perceptions that India has in terms of healthcare delivery.

Incidentally, Apollo and Wockhardt have already drafted strategies for exploring opportunities in the Middle East region. While Apollo is looking at setting up telemedicine units, hospitals and clinics, Wockhardt is actively looking at tying up with hospitals in those regions for patients transfer to their units at Mumbai and Bangalore.

[Economic Times 13/01/2004]

Hindustan Latex, Chinese co in JV for contraceptives

In yet another example of growing cooperation between India and China, state-run firms from both countries are joining hands to promote family planning in the world's most populous nations. 

Beijing based Zizhu Pharma and Hindustan Latex Ltd. (HLL) will promote various family planning products in the two countries. Top officials of the companies inked the agreement in New Delhi on December 18.

India is expected to gain immensely form a new contraceptive made by Zizhu that is available either as an injection or an implant.

And China can look forward to Preventol, the emergency contraceptive pill that is the latest product from the HLL stables. Preventol is meant for use within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.

Among other HLL products that will be available in China are male contraceptives, oral contraception pills and once-a-week oral pills.

HLL chairman G. Rajmohan said India would definitely benefit from the agreement as China was a world leader in contraceptives.

"Technology transfer from China would be beneficial for us. Apart from marketing of products of both countries, we plan to undertake joint programmes in research and trials of new products." Rajmohan told IANS.

[Economic Times dated 25/12/2003]