usenet

Preventive healthcare is the new mantra

By Malathy Iyer
Times News Network
Thursday, July 24, 2003

Mumbai - An annual health check-up is the best
prescription. That's what five-star hospitals and hi-tech
diagnostic laboratories are trying to convince patients.

''This is about preventive healthcare,'' explained Brig.
Joe Curian, director of Raheja Hospital, Mahim. Said
Prakash Mhatre, director of Lilavati Hospital, Bandra,
which offers packages ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000,
''Why should one wait to detect cancer or kidney problems
at an advanced stage when regular checks can detect them
earlier and facilitate complete recovery?''

But observers are more cynical. Some believe the new
emphasis on preventive healthcare is a result of new
insurance companies requiring potential clients to
undergo a battery of tests.Other experts believe that
healthcare providers are simply looking for newer
pastures.

''It is a search for volumes of regular clients,'' said
one industry observer. India's diagnostic industry,
valued at over $800 million, estimates that it has barely
tapped the market potential of over 300 million clients.
Diagnostic tests are one way to snare future business.

''If routine tests are conducted on 100 patients, you can
be sure that at least seven per cent of them will be
borderline cases who require advanced tests, such as the
stress test or even an angiography or CT scan,'' said
Brig. Curian. ''A few among these may need angioplasty or
other surgery. So a series of tests could result in a
handful of clients for the hospital.''

Call it medical altruism or plain business, there is no
denying that the health spotlight is glowing on the
masses. For instance, the Association of Hospitals
organised free walk-in opthalmic tests last month at each
of its 27 member hospitals, including Breach Candy,
Jaslok and Lilavati. Wockhardt nHospital, Mulund, held a
10-day camp last month offering tests at a token fee.
Some diagnostic labs also offered tests at a concession.

Are individuals receptive to preventive healthcare? Not
in great numbers, admitted Dr N. Shah of N.M. Centre for
Excellence, a 15-month-old clinic at Khar dedicated to
preventive health care. This is reflected in the centre's
client list: 3,500 walk-in clients as compared to 12,000
corporate ones.

By contrast, the crowds at free camps are larger. While
the Wockhardt camp attracted 1,700 people, AOH got 2,463.

The costs, obviously, are the hurdle. Dr Shah recalled
how at a gathering of senior citizens he found that 85
per cent had insurance policies, but only one had
undergone a check-up. ''People are reluctant to spend
even Rs 2,000 on a preventive measure.'' Why then are
healthcare hubs keen on these seemingly reluctant
clients? Hospital and laboratory administrators claim
it's part of the relationship-building process.

''Nobody will bank on walk-in clients alone for business,
especially since we offer health packages at a discount
of 40 per cent,'' said Dr Shah.

Not everyone is impressed. Take oncologist Dr Ravi
Chaturvedi. His father recently attended a free medical
tests camp in Coimbatore.

''The clinic, on the basis of the free test results,
asked him to undergo a series of advanced and expensive
tests,'' Dr Chaturvedi said. ''The results confirmed that
my father is healthy, but by then he had spent thousands
of rupees.''

''If routine tests are conducted on 100 patients, you can
be sure that at least seven per cent of them will be
borderline cases who require advanced tests, such as the
stress test or even an angiography or CT scan ''

Read the complete news at:
http://www.timesofindia.com

News Plus
http://www.mantra.com/newsplus

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Panchaang for 26 Ashadh 5104, Thursday, July 24, 2003:

Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Dakshinaya Nartana Ritau
Kark Mase Krishna Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam
Rohini Nakshatr Vriddhi-Dhruv Yog
Balav-Kaulav Karan Ekadashi-Dvadashi Yam Tithau

Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust

Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org

The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate

o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the
educational purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of
this post may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others
are not necessarily those of the poster.

usenet

Preventive healthcare is the new mantra

By Malathy Iyer
Times News Network
Thursday, July 24, 2003

Mumbai - An annual health check-up is the best
prescription. That's what five-star hospitals and hi-tech
diagnostic laboratories are trying to convince patients.

''This is about preventive healthcare,'' explained Brig.
Joe Curian, director of Raheja Hospital, Mahim. Said
Prakash Mhatre, director of Lilavati Hospital, Bandra,
which offers packages ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 4,000,
''Why should one wait to detect cancer or kidney problems
at an advanced stage when regular checks can detect them
earlier and facilitate complete recovery?''

But observers are more cynical. Some believe the new
emphasis on preventive healthcare is a result of new
insurance companies requiring potential clients to
undergo a battery of tests.Other experts believe that
healthcare providers are simply looking for newer
pastures.

''It is a search for volumes of regular clients,'' said
one industry observer. India's diagnostic industry,
valued at over $800 million, estimates that it has barely
tapped the market potential of over 300 million clients.
Diagnostic tests are one way to snare future business.

''If routine tests are conducted on 100 patients, you can
be sure that at least seven per cent of them will be
borderline cases who require advanced tests, such as the
stress test or even an angiography or CT scan,'' said
Brig. Curian. ''A few among these may need angioplasty or
other surgery. So a series of tests could result in a
handful of clients for the hospital.''

Call it medical altruism or plain business, there is no
denying that the health spotlight is glowing on the
masses. For instance, the Association of Hospitals
organised free walk-in opthalmic tests last month at each
of its 27 member hospitals, including Breach Candy,
Jaslok and Lilavati. Wockhardt nHospital, Mulund, held a
10-day camp last month offering tests at a token fee.
Some diagnostic labs also offered tests at a concession.

Are individuals receptive to preventive healthcare? Not
in great numbers, admitted Dr N. Shah of N.M. Centre for
Excellence, a 15-month-old clinic at Khar dedicated to
preventive health care. This is reflected in the centre's
client list: 3,500 walk-in clients as compared to 12,000
corporate ones.

By contrast, the crowds at free camps are larger. While
the Wockhardt camp attracted 1,700 people, AOH got 2,463.

The costs, obviously, are the hurdle. Dr Shah recalled
how at a gathering of senior citizens he found that 85
per cent had insurance policies, but only one had
undergone a check-up. ''People are reluctant to spend
even Rs 2,000 on a preventive measure.'' Why then are
healthcare hubs keen on these seemingly reluctant
clients? Hospital and laboratory administrators claim
it's part of the relationship-building process.

''Nobody will bank on walk-in clients alone for business,
especially since we offer health packages at a discount
of 40 per cent,'' said Dr Shah.

Not everyone is impressed. Take oncologist Dr Ravi
Chaturvedi. His father recently attended a free medical
tests camp in Coimbatore.

''The clinic, on the basis of the free test results,
asked him to undergo a series of advanced and expensive
tests,'' Dr Chaturvedi said. ''The results confirmed that
my father is healthy, but by then he had spent thousands
of rupees.''

''If routine tests are conducted on 100 patients, you can
be sure that at least seven per cent of them will be
borderline cases who require advanced tests, such as the
stress test or even an angiography or CT scan ''

Read the complete news at:
http://www.timesofindia.com

News Plus
http://www.mantra.com/newsplus

Jai Maharaj
http://www.mantra.com/jai
Om Shanti

Panchaang for 26 Ashadh 5104, Thursday, July 24, 2003:

Shubhanu Nama Samvatsare Dakshinaya Nartana Ritau
Kark Mase Krishna Pakshe Guru Vasara Yuktayam
Rohini Nakshatr Vriddhi-Dhruv Yog
Balav-Kaulav Karan Ekadashi-Dvadashi Yam Tithau

Hindu Holocaust Museum
http://www.mantra.com/holocaust

Hindu life, principles, spirituality and philosophy
http://www.hindu.org
http://www.hindunet.org

The truth about Islam and Muslims
http://www.flex.com/~jai/satyamevajayate

o Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the
educational purposes of research and open discussion. The contents of
this post may not have been authored by, and do not necessarily represent
the opinion of the poster. The contents are protected by copyright law
and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
o If you send private e-mail to me, it will likely not be read,
considered or answered if it does not contain your full legal name,
current e-mail and postal addresses, and live-voice telephone number.
o Posted for information and discussion. Views expressed by others
are not necessarily those of the poster.