Tiruchi emerges medical hub of central Tamil Nadu

From small nursing homes and clinics to multi specialty hospitals and super specialists, the healthcare scenario in the city has undergone a sweeping change. With Tiruchi emerging as a medical hub for central Tamil Nadu, healthcare professionals here are positive that given it's strategic location, the city is on the way to becoming the most sought after health care centre after Chennai and Coimbatore.

Multiple factors are expected to propel this development: several diagnostic and surgical procedures cost less than metros; young specialists are choosing to practice here; at least two corporate multispecialty hospitals by Apollo Hospitals and Cethar Vessels are underway; and medical tourism has been projected to take off aided by good international air connectivity.

M.S.Ashraf, former national vice-president, IMA says, “While metropolitan hospitals cater primarily to urban centres, it is imperative to develop healthcare in tier two cities to reach out to lower middle class and rural population.” The long pending demand for upgrading Annal Gandhi Memorial Hospital on a par with other national medical institutes is vital he adds, laying emphasis on trauma care as numerous road accidents occur in the 30-mile radius of Tiruchi.

Earlier, while people moved to Chennai for bypass surgeries and only a handful of specialists were available, today advanced technology and diagnostic procedures, save a few, are available. A number of single specialty hospitals for psychiatry, plastic surgery, gastroenterology, eye care and subspecialties among them are on hand. Cardiology, neonatal care, oncology, and infertility treatment are set to receive a boost, along with neurosciences, geriatric and trauma care.

“Today patients want all services under one roof and are willing to spend more if there are no hassles. Day care surgeries and minimal invasive procedures are sought after with patients preferring shorter stay at the hospital,” says K.Govindaraj, Director, Dr.G.Viswanathan Speciality Hospitals. Oncology and laparoscopic surgeries are the strengths of the hospital that has introduced several advanced procedures at its recently opened unit at Babu Road. A new centre in Mambazha Salai would focus on linear accelerator treatment and trauma care.

Mohansundaram, Joint Director, Health Services, believes that with industries and institutions emerging around the city, there is a need for comprehensive health centres. Besides, patients from at least six districts come here for advanced surgeries and specialties.

“With potential for practice in metros almost reaching a saturation point, an increasing number of specialists are eyeing Tiruchi. Doctors trained in Europe and America is settling down here. But to make the city an attractive option, overall infrastructure must be developed,” says S.Chandrakumar, Managing Director, KMC Group of Hospitals. Immediate plans of the hospital that prides itself on renal and orthopaedic transplants include an exclusive cardiology block.

There are still a section of people travelling to Chennai for medical treatment, though this is concentrated in the upper middle class. While unavailability of a handful of diagnostic and surgical procedures maybe a reason, social stigma and satisfaction of treatment with the names in healthcare is the driving force.

Multi specialty hospitals are trying to cash in on this segment, by prioritising on ambience in addition to quality treatment- something which Vasan Healthcare group with two multispecialty hospitals Maruthi and ABC is also looking at. The Maruthi Hospital which claims neurosciences and neonatal care as its stronger points is treading into cardio thoracic surgery and surgical oncology.

Medical Tourism

Tiruchi's connectivity to South East Asian countries has raised the scope of medical tourism. Sri Lanka is seen as a potential source to be tapped. “Affordable healthcare would be the city's USP. Some major surgeries are performed here for nearly half the cost of metros,” says Mr.Chandrakumar.

For medical tourism, development of infrastructure and public transport, increase in hotels and availability of service apartments, and developing heritage tourism would facilitate more patients to choose the city for medical needs, opines Dr.Ashraf.

Undoubtedly health costs are spiralling and health insurance is mooted as the unanimous counteractive. Extending advanced healthcare to poorer sections would be feasible only through government insurance schemes while mandatory health insurance for salaried classes could make costs less dreaded, are common views.

Making quality treatment cost effective is a social responsibility and the need of the hour to put Tiruchi on the healthcare map.