HCG to expand in East

HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited(HCG), a leading provider of cancer care treatment, is looking at expanding in the eastern region through partnerships apart from setting up a greenfield project in the city.

Speaking on the sidelines of an interactive session, Ajai Kumar, chairman and chief executive officer of HCG said, "We want to provide cancer treatments to patients here in the city and in the eastern region for which we want to set up a dedicated cancer hospital in central Kolkata, because I feel the eastern part is not adequately served, when it comes to cancer."

It would spend approximately Rs 50 crore in setting up the 50-bed hospital in Kolkata, spread across 50,000 square feet, slated to be completed within two years, which could be scaled up to100 beds gradually.

The healthcare player follows a 'hub and spoke' policy whereby it has three dedicated cancer care hospitals(which would be four after the hospital in Kolkata) as the 'hub' and another 16 units as the 'spoke', where usually patients come for follow up treatments, informed Kumar.

The hospital in the city would be the main 'hub' of cancer treatment catering to the eastern region, he added.

This apart, HCG would also scout for opportunities, in tying up with government hospitals in Kolkata and talks were on, he further added.

It would partner with Siliguri-based Medica North Bengal Clinic for providing expertise and management in cancer care.

It had also ventured overseas after entering into an agreement with a Dhaka-based hospital,he informed.

Plans of venturing into Sri Lanka was also under consideration, he alleged.

Currently it receives around 25,000 patients suffering from cancer, annually.

The company had also introduced cyberknife robotic radiosurgery system which would provide painless radiation to patients suffering from cancer at an overall cost of Rs 2.5-5 lakh.