A new 1,000-bed hospital announced by Devi Shetty on Tuesday at the Bengal Global Business Summit will have an OPD that can treat 5,000 to 7,000 patients a day, the doctor said on Wednesday.

The initial investment will be Rs 1,000 crore, but Shetty, chairman of the Bangalore-based Narayana Health group, said he would be happy to “invest any amount” because of his old association with Kolkata.

“We have committed Rs 1,000 crore but it will be a lot more than that in a phased manner. This is one city where I started my career, I know what Bengal is and I am happy to invest any amount of money in Bengal,” Shetty told The Telegraph on the concluding day of the summit.

“Kolkata requires a huge hospital with very advanced facilities for cardiac, cancer care, organ transplant and all advanced surgeries with a research interest. For all that to happen, one needs 1,000 beds.”

The hospital, he said, would become an academic institution and train postgraduate doctors and nurses.

“It should have a large number of ICUs and should be smart and paperless. It would become a part of the community, so the patients, their families, doctors, nurses, technicians and medical equipment are all seamlessly connected,” Shetty said.

Asked whether a hospital in Bengal would have such a high footfall — 5,000 to 7,000 patients at the OPD daily — Shetty said there are hospitals in India that record a similar OPD footfall.

“Bengal has a very high population, and if a hospital sees 100 or 200 patients
at OPDs per day, it is not going to make much of a difference. When one sees 5,000 to 7,000 patients per day, the number of tests will be dramatically reduced (expansion of OPD care will increase the chances of timely detection of disease and arresting its progression, thereby reducing the need for tests later),” Shetty said.

Expansion of OPD care will increase the chances of timely detection of disease and arresting its progression, thereby reducing the need for tests later, he explained.

“We will start with 1,000 beds and a huge OPD block, which can take care of at least 5,000 to 7,000 outpatients. Most patients need OPD care and very few need inpatient care,” he said.

The Narayana Health group, he said, is in the process of acquiring the land and the first phase of the hospital is expected to become operational by 2025.

Another Bangalore-based healthcare chain, Manipal Hospitals, which has recently acquired 84 per cent stake in AMRI Hospitals, is planning to invest around Rs 120 crore in Kolkata.

“In AMRI Hospitals, we have started investing in technology. We are looking at fresh investments like robots that will increase the capabilities of these hospitals,” said Dilip Jose, managing director and CEO, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd (Manipal Hospitals).

Jose was also present at the business summit.

“In the past three to four years, for various reasons, the hospitals have not upgraded their technology. We are spending before the end of this financial year and, in the next financial year, we will spend Rs 115 to Rs 120 crore in technology and building upgradation,” said Jose.

AMRI has a property in New Town that can function as a 400-bed hospital.

“After the existing hospitals are upgraded, we will look at the new hospital,” Jose
said.