KEF Holdings, a Dubai-based diversified investment conglomerate, has launched Meitra Care Network, an eco-system that connects patients with healthcare service providers through technology and brings them at the doorsteps of the patients. This is set to disrupt India’s US$193 billion (Rs14.07 trillion/Dh708.31 billion) healthcare sector, by making healthcare truly patient-centric, equitable and sustainable for everyone, everywhere.

Meitra Care Network (MCN) was inaugurated on Saturday, the 13th of February by Smt. K. K. Shailaja, Honourable Minister for Health, Social Justice and Woman and Child Development – Government of Kerala, in the presence of esteemed guests Dr. Beena Philip (Mayor of Calicut) and Shri A Pradeep Kumar (MLA of Calicut (North)) at Meitra Hospital.

MCN creates an ever-expanding healthcare eco-system bringing patients, doctors as well as primary, secondary, tertiary and critical care service providers under one integrated system, connected through hard and soft infrastructure – that will reduce downtime, wastage of resources and better utilisation of doctors, laboratories, operation theatres, healthcare facilities – to offer the best healthcare services at an affordable price.

The launch of MCN takes at a time when Indian healthcare sector is poised to grow from US$193 billion in 2020 to US$372 billion by 2022, driven by rising income, better health awareness, sedentary lifestyle and better access to medical insurance, according to the India Brand Equity Forum (IBEF).

India’s hospital industry is expected to reach US$132 billion by 2023. The primary care industry in India is currently valued at US$13 billion while medical tourism sector was estimated at US$9 billion. As of April 2020, number of sub-centres reached 169,031 and number of primary health centres (PHCs) increased to 33,987. The number of doctors with recognised medical qualifications in India reached 1.26 million in September 2020.

SOLVING INDUSTRY CHALLENGES WORLDWIDE THROUGH MCN
KEF Healthcare recognises that there is still a gap in collaboration amongst healthcare organizations and limited technology use, to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. KEF healthcare, through MCN, is set to bring the quality care closer to the homes of the patients by establishing tele-medicine enabled clinics, partnerships with secondary healthcare providers, Tele-ICUs and through state-of-the-art Meitra mobile app.

Faizal E. Kottikollon, Founder Chairman of KEF Holdings and Meitra Hospital, says, “Despite the growth and development in our healthcare services sector, certain things did not change – long queues for consultation, diagnosis, expensive treatment and long waiting list for surgeries – resulting in growing frustration among patients.”

“The Indian healthcare sector specifically and industry in general needs technology intervention to put the patients at the centre of the entire process and the healthcare should evolve around them. Meitra Care Network has re-engineered the healthcare delivery system to achieve this.”

The first Clinic under the MCN universe was launched in Kasaragod, named as the Meitra Care Clinic in Chemnad, that packs Meitra Hospital’s world-class experience into a 4,400 square feet facility.

The other facility which is in collaboration with the famous United Medical Center, is called the Meitra United Heart Centre. The centre brings a robust and full-fledged heart and vascular care facility to Kasaragod, set up with an aim to provide comprehensive healthcare for the residents of Kasaragod and the areas around.

Both facilities will play an integral role in uplifting the healthcare scenario of the region, which is the need of the hour.

Meitra Care Clinic boasts of innovations like device-assisted multi-specialty tele-consultations and aims to leverage the expertise of Meitra Hospital to bring a range of tertiary healthcare services to the residents of the region. In addition to family physicians, it also has home care services, psychological counselling, a state-of-the-art physiotherapy setup, laboratory, nutrition & wellness, as well as pharmacy.

FROM INDIA TO THE WORLD, STARTING WITH DUBAI
KEF Healthcare has also announced a ground-breaking collaboration with Canadian Specialist Hospital, Dubai, which will serve as a combined Centre of Excellence, providing the full spectrum of services under heart and vascular care – which the Canadian Specialist Hospital will now be able to offer for the first time as a result of its partnership with MCN.

This will help Gulf-based Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) to avail the facilities in the UAE and India – seamless healthcare experience all over.

This collaboration aligns with KEF Healthcare’s goal of assisting in positioning the UAE as a medical tourism hub through the development of specially designed packages, as well as the introduction of highly specialised surgeries in the region at affordable prices, optimisation of clinical manpower costs, and increased capacity utilisation in key specialties, in established hospitals in the UAE.

MCN is poised to bring the disruptive 4th Industrial Revolution to the healthcare system that will completely change the way people seek medical intervention, receive diagnosis reports, treatment, medication and critical care. Following the launch, MCN will gradually add other healthcare providers under the umbrella and link with the growing number of patients whose health records will also be digitally stored for diagnosis and studying health history.

The hospital industry in India is witnessing a huge investor demand from both global as well as domestic investors, according to Invest India – the National Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency. The hospital industry is expected to reach US$132 billion by 2023 from US$61.8 billion in 2017; growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16-17 percent.

MORE EXCITING KEF HEALTHCARE INITIATIVES COMING SOON
A host of additional major KEF Healthcare projects are already in the advanced stages of planning and are set to be unveiled in the coming year, including the launch of a state-of-the-art wellness resort, so stay tuned to KEF Holdings.