The leading super specialty hospitals of India provide specialized services to the patients. During these challenging times of the pandemic, these hospitals leave no stone unturned to ensure that the patients are provided with the best healthcare and treatment facilities. These hospitals serve the patients with the utmost care and dedication. At the same time, these also help the doctors and other healthcare professionals to fully develop their individual talents.
One such noteworthy super specialty hospital which has earned a stellar reputation for delivering the finest healthcare services is none other than Medica Superspecialty Hospital (MSH). Medica began its journey in 2006 with a group of like-minded individuals coming together to give shape to their dream of building a healthcare chain in eastern India that would bring world-class tertiary care to the masses at a price affordable to all.
Today, the Medica Group of hospitals is one of the fastest growing healthcare chains in Eastern India, with hospitals in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Assam, and Odisha. Medica Superspecialty Hospital at Kolkata is one of the premier hospitals of the country and the flagship of the Medica Group. After starting its journey with the Medica North Bengal Clinic in Siliguri West Bengal, the group opened the doors of Medica Superspecialty Hospital, Kolkata in 2010 addressing the void in tertiary healthcare in the East.
It is the largest centre for ECMO patients in Asia and runs the largest dialysis set up in India with over 5000 dialysis a month. MSH also runs one of the most successful kidney transplant programs of the country. It also supervises dedicated superspecialty institutes in cardiac surgery & cardiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics and joint replacement, GI & general surgery, ENT, breast diseases, and critical care.
Insightful Leadership
Medica Hospitals has achieved several milestones under the fervent leadership of Dr. Alok Roy, the Chairman and Managing Director. He is the source of vision, philosophy, and direction behind the hospital. His knowledge and expertise in healthcare project management and business appreciation, coupled with his brilliant communication skills and dynamic leadership, have always put the organizations he has been associated with on the national and global healthcare scene.
His experience of over 25 years has helped him to evolve into a reputed hospital management specialist. At present, besides Medica Group of Hospitals, Dr. Alok Roy is also helming as Chair, FICCI, Health Services Committee. He had the pleasure to serve as the President (a first ever from the healthcare industry) of the prestigious Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) a 150-year-old institution.
Dr. Alok’s experience of over 25 years has guided him to evolve into a hospital management specialist, who is willing to address the need for affordable yet quality healthcare in India. “Today at Medica Group of Hospitals and our flagship Medica Superspecialty Hospital in Kolkata, we provide integrated solutions on the entire spectrum of healthcare delivery”, states Dr. Alok.
Bringing Forth a Plethora of Services
Medica Hospitals has contributed majorly to the community’s welfare through various CSR projects, KARMA – Kolkata Accident Response and Medical Assistance (a tie-up with the Kolkata Police for the safe transport of road traffic accident victims), Caddies’ Welfare Scheme, and tie-ups with rotaries for life-saving heart surgeries, being some of them. It has introduced schemes such as Medica Flying Doctors (senior doctors travelling to remote locations to see patients), HOPE for elderly parents of NRIs with no support in Kolkata, and virtual consultation clinic (for online consultation) to make healthcare more accessible.
The hospital started its home care services with the intention of reaching healthcare where it is needed most. Elderly people find it difficult to make constant treks to hospitals, yet their health needs constant monitoring. For chronic patients, repeated hospital admissions can be a huge drain on their resources. Starting from health assistants to on-call doctors and nurses, diagnostic facilities and home hospital set up, home care caters to all kinds of medical needs of its members.
Embracing Efficiency to Deliver Better Results
Medica Hospitals is currently absolutely focused on working closely with the government in mitigating the COVID pandemic. It is the primary concern of its doctors, nurses, and the entire management. The hospital is managing both COVID patients and treating the terminally ill patients with equal care. It is strategically trying to manage its existing resources while increasing efficiencies as it keeps on adding capacities to support the government’s initiative to add up more beds. Once the hospital overcomes the pandemic tide, it will help in restoring some semblance to its regular treatments at its buzzing OPDs like before.
Implementing Technology and Innovation to Ensure Better Operations
Medica Hospitals believes that digital technology is touching the lives of every human being today in one way or other. AI and Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) today is addressing some of the key challenges like accessibility and affordability. “Every patient who comes for treatment expects the best out of us and we as caregivers always strive for excellence yet keep it affordable”, says Dr. Alok.
The hospital is focused on upskilling of resources as to operate the best instruments it needs skilled technicians. “We are lucky that our resources think alike, and all our specialists feel that way and have a common goal of exceptional patient care. That is very fundamental and inherent to our growth. Unless we innovate, we cannot provide best treatment”, opines Dr. Alok. He believes that innovation does not always necessarily mean procuring a new machine or create a new process; it entails how one handles a circumstance which could be behavioral, handling inter-personal relationships, maintaining professional ethics, increase efficiency, and create differentiation.
Overcoming Challenges with a Game Face
The management and staff of Medica Hospitals do not dwell upon challenges, but any infrastructure so huge needs humungous effort and dedication. The hospital is glad that the entire team has channelized its endeavor to set up one of the best hospitals in Eastern India. From there, the hospital has only grown and has never looked back at the speed bumps.
Tackling the Pandemic with Dedication
During the pandemic, Medica Hospitals had been administering the precious vial of life (vaccine) through pre-registered appointments 24×7. To bridge the digital divide, the hospital permitted walk-ins, in case one did not have a smartphone or access to data. Its system is flexible to ensure everyone from 45 years and above besides frontline workers to be vaccinated. Besides that, Medica Hospitals had also been advocating the need for vaccination for every age group and awaiting the vaccine to inoculate every single citizen in the city.
Medica Hospitals invested in its people; as a mark of respect for frontline workers, it did not carry out any salary cuts, but the top management took it upon them to take the hit and maintain stability in the system. With patient inflow at below par beyond COVID and OPDs being non-operational, it was time for senior management to step up and lead by example. The hospital built expertise during this time.
The hospital had successfully changed the internal layouts of the hospital almost a year ago. It focused on creating a safe hospital that treats both non-COVID and COVID patients equally well while following stringent infection control measures. The processes in the hospital like hand washing, sanitization, air circulation system and other safety protocols have come to the forefront now and shall remain so.
Words of Knowledge
While advising the up and coming doctors, Dr. Alok Roy states, “My only advice to them would be that once you wear the white coat you are no less than a uniformed soldier guarding the borders”. He suggests them that their first and utmost priority must be the patients and to ensure their well-being and to repay the belief that their kin has entrusted on them by doing their very best. Dr. Alok believes that doctors are the biggest gift to society, and the emerging doctors are the torch bearers of the ethics. “Believe and trust your instincts and when in doubt reach out to the seniors keeping aside any ego as you are protecting someone’s life”, he further adds.
Future Footsteps
Medica Hospitals has been constantly on the expansion mode over the last few years. It has not limited itself to only Eastern India, but expanded to Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and had the plans of going to Cambodia until COVID’s arrival in 2020. The hospital has opened its second unit in Odisha, and the work on its cancer hospital in Kolkata is also undergoing in full swing.
With businesses seeking to metamorphose, accelerating digital enablement has become a strategic priority. Going forward, Medica Hospitals will rely and invest on technology, tele-consultations, and digital way of operations. It will ensure that healthcare is accessible to all and thorough insurance cover is very important for sustainable treatment. The hospital will emphasize on paying special attention on strengthening last-mile delivery in healthcare services. Team Medica believes that these steps together will lay the foundation for sustained growth, expansion plans, and opening of opportunities for private investment.
