Calcutta, June 26: Hospital administrators are in great demand in the city and colleges are rolling out courses to plug the gap.

“Hospitals are run differently now. We can no longer afford to employ graduates and train them on the job. We must employ trained professionals to deliver quality services,” said Rupali Basu, the CEO of Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals.

Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) has launched a two-year diploma in hospital management, while the West Bengal University of Technology offers a two-year course in the same subject.

“The demand for students with hospital management degree has gone up with the opening of private hospitals in the city. Hence, we introduced a masters degree in hospital management in addition to a bachelors programme,” said Santanu Ray, the director of NSHM.

A fresh hospital management graduate can expect an annual salary between Rs 1.5 lakh and 3 lakh.