Healthcare Scenario of Kochi 

Overview 

Kochi (Cochin) called the Queen of the Arabian Sea is the major port on the south-west coast of India. It is the part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. Kochi ranks first in the total number of international and domestic tourist arrivals in Kerala. Kochi is known as the financial, commercial and industrial capital of Kerala.  It was an important spice trading centre on the west coast of India. Kochi was ranked the fourth cleanest city in India in the Swachch Bharat rankings for cities. 

Population Mix 

As of 2022, the total population of kochi is 6.70 lakh; of which male were 3,30,466 and female were 3,39,533.  

Rural (52.30%) has slight more percentage of population in comparison of urban (47.70%) population.  

Sex ratio in urban was 1027 per 1000 male and in rural areas it was 1040 per 1000 males. 

The total literacy rate of the district is 95.89%. The literacy rate for urban areas is 96.2% while that of rural areas is 95.2%. It also varies with the gender, with 98.25% of male and 96.51% of female being literates. Total children (0-6) in Kochi city is estimated at  57,272 .The majority of the city’s residents are Malayalis, so Malayalam is the main language of communication. 

Economic Indicator 

The district contributes the highest portion, 41.74%, of the state’s GDP. The per capita income of the district is Rs 2,51,104. 

Construction and manufacturing industries combined contributes 37% of the district’s total GDP, and trade, tourism and hospitality industries together provide another 20%.  

Major business sectors  

It includes construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, transportation/shipping, seafood and spices exports, chemical industries, information technology (IT), tourism, health services, and banking. Tourism is one of the major contributors of the local economy. Kochi is recognised as one of the 17 major industrial cities of India by the World Bank Group.   

Vulnerabilities 

City falls under earthquake Zone III making the state moderately vulnerable to earthquakes of magnitude 6.5 or more. City experiences heavy rainfall and resultant floods during the monsoon, with subsequent damage to life and property. Coastal erosion along the coastal areas is very frequent and severe, necessitating evacuation and rehabilitation of the coastal people.  

Connectivity 

Airport 

The air gateway to Kochi is the Cochin International Airport (CIAL) is located at Nedumbassery, which is about 28 km (17 mi) north of Kochi city, and handles both domestic and international flights. 

The Cochin airport provides direct connectivity to popular international destinations in the Middle East, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore and to most major Indian cities. It is also the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of international passenger traffic, and seventh busiest overall. 

Railway 

The city has four major railway stations – Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town (locally known as the South and North railway stations respectively), Aluva and Tripunithura followed by smaller stations, Edapally and Kalamassery. 

Road 

Kochi is well connected to neighbouring cities and state via several national and state highway. 

Healthcare companies in Kochi

Major Corporates in Kochi 

• Tata Consultancy Services 
• UST Global 
• Wipro 
• IBS Software Services 
• Cognizant 
• Armstech Engineers 
• Prayaga Engineering Constructors 
• EnCAD Technologies Pvt.Ltd.

Growth Plan of City 

Vision – 2030 Kochi 

Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) is planning to launch new projects which will elevate Kochi to a global city. 

Healthcare Scenario of Kochi 

With a large number of advanced tertiary/quaternary care facilities, Kochi has one of the best healthcare facilities in India. It is the prime destination for people seeking advanced healthcare facilities from across Kerala. 

In recent times, it has attracted a large number of patients from all over India, Middle East, African nations as well as from Europe and United States looking for relatively inexpensive advanced medical care. Kochi is the only city from Kerala that have carried out successful heart transplantations. 

Incidences 

Incidences such as epidemics – dengue fever, Chikungunia and pest attacks are on the rise. Fatalities in road accidents, lightning and boat capsizing, possibilities of chemical and industrial disasters and disasters like dam burst also cannot be ruled out.  

Major Government Hospital in Kochi 

General Hospital Ernakulam (GHE) 

GHE is one of the leading hospitals of Ernakulam. It is a 783 bedded multi-specialty famous hospital.  It is one of the top well-equipped government hospitals of Kerala. General Hospital Ernakulam is NABH (National Accreditation Board for Hospitals) acceded. It is also awarded by FICCI in 2012.  This hospital was started in the year 1845 by the Maharaja of Cochin. At present, the hospital administration was taken over by State government of Kerala. 

Punarnava Ayurveda hospital 

Punarnava means “New Again”, established in 1994.All present diagnostic methods are used to get a correct, precise diagnosis along with classical Ayurvedic treatments as well as other supported therapists, like Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Yoga & Naturopathy are combined mutually so as to benefit the needy. They have six branches across Kerala with multiple facilities for accommodation, but the quality of medical care and treatments are the same in all the centres. 

Major Private Hospitals in Kochi 

Aster Medcity 

Aster Medcity is a 670-bed quaternary care facility with one Multispeciality Hospital and eight separate Centres of Excellence.The first quaternary care hospital in Kerala to achieve JCI (Joint Commission International) Accreditation, Aster Medcity also won the NABH Accreditation, first-ever NABH Award for Excellence in Nursing and Green OT. 

VPS Lakeshore Hospital 

VPS Lakeshore (in January 2003), one of the largest, most comprehensive, independent multi-specialty hospitals in Kerala. The hospital provide the advanced hi-tech healthcare in world class standards and offers diverse medical specialties. 

Amrita Institute of Medicine Science 

Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (Amrita Hospital), based in Kochi, Kerala, is recognised as one of the premier hospitals in South Asia. Founded in 1998 by Mata Amritanandamayi Dev.1,300-bedded tertiary referral and teaching hospital, serving more than 10 lakh outpatients and more than 70,000 inpatients annually. 

The hospital’s extensive infrastructure offers facilities comprising 28 modern operating theatres, 275 equipped intensive-care beds, a fully computerized and networked Hospital Information System (HIS), a fully digital radiology department, 17 NABL accredited clinical laboratories and 24/7 telemedicine service. 

Lourdes Hospital 

Lourdes Hospital, is a premier multi-specialty tertiary care hospital situated in the heart of Cochin, the commercial capital of Kerala. Commenced in the year 1965.Lourdes hospital attends to around 500 In-patients and 1700 Out-patients daily and attracts patients not only from all parts of Kerala but from other states of India as well as from abroad. 

KIMS Cochin 

KIMS Hospital Cochin, is a 154 bedded multi- specialty hospital. Five Operation Theaters and dedicated 40 bedded Intensive Care units (ICU) managed by highly qualified Anesthesiologists and Intensivists. 

Specialists’ Hospital 

Established in the year 1983, Specialists Hospital in Kochi, is one of the leading health care providers in the region.  The major services at the hospital includes Plastic and Microvascular surgery, Urology with Laparoscopic Urology and advanced Urodynamics, Opthalmology, Paediatrics. It also has a well-equipped and manned accident and trauma centre attached to the 24×7 Emergency section. 

Renai Medicity 

Renai Medicity is a multi super-speciality Hospital in Kochi, Kerala. The hospital has an in-patient capacity of 500 beds and has 24 hour Accident & Emergency care facilities. It has 15 operation theatres including Hybrid OT’s for cardiothoracic surgeries and 11 separate Intensive Care Units with 120 beds.  

Single Speciality Hospitals in Kochi 

Alexander Eye Centre 

Alexander Eye Centre is an Ophthalmology (Eye Doctor) Clinic in Kakkanad, Ernakulam. 

Lotus Eye Care Hospital 

Lotus Eye Care Hospital – Kochi is the India’s first listed corporate eye hospital in Kerala. The hospital is well equipped latest technology, facilities for comprehensive diagnostics and is backed by a highly skilled and committed team of eye surgeons and paramedic. 

Kusumagiri Mental Health Centre 

Set up in 1971, Kusumagiri Mental Health Centre (KMHC) in Kakkanad in Kochi, Kerala, South India, has been providing world-class mental health services and personalized treatment and care, including clinical consultation and assessment, mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention, resource development and education and training for people of all age groups. It has a facility to treat 100 adults in patients and up to 15 children at the Child Psychiatry Centre. 

Dr. Noushad’s ENT hospital and Research Centre 

The hospital established in 2006, continues to be one the best independent Super Specialty Institute, renowned for its quality surgical procedures. It is an authorized center (Kerala Government) for conducting Cochlear Implant Programme “Sruthitharangam” since 2012.  

Vijaya Institute of Medical Science 

The first fertility centre to successfully implement IVF (TEST TUBE BABY) and other ART service (diagnosing and curing by performing IVF, ICSI, PESA and TESA/ICSI/ET) in Kerala has been operational since 1996 at Kadavanthra, Ernakulam. Till today the centre has carried out more than 6000 treatment cycles of IVF and ICSI, with a high success rate of 40-50%. 

Diagnostic Centres in Kochi 

Vivid Diagnostic Centre 

Vivid Diagnostic centre is Kerala’s first premium standalone centre, furnished with all the modern and advanced digital equipments. The Picture Archiving and Communication (PACS) system ensures an ease in delivering the results.  

Medivision 

They have chain of diagnostic centers in Kerala with more than 40 networked diagnostic centers across the state with Kochi. And more than 2000 collection centres for our laboratory network. 

Medilab 

Medilab founded in 1992. 

Hi Tech Diagnostic Centre 

Hi Tech Diagnostic Center, one of the leading diagnostic centers in Kerala, has been fully operational since 1998 

Patient Drain Area 

• Vypin 
• Aluva 
• Kadayirippu 
• Manakunnam 
• Pukkattupady 
• Pallikkara 
• Kolenchery 
• North Paravur 

Conclusion 

Though Kochi has number of multi-speciality hospitals and has a huge scope for medical tourism in near future. But the medical expenses at private hospitals are high, so it opens the scope for the hospitals that can provide the quality facilities at low affordable prices.  

Above is the superficial and macro level survey if you need a refined market and financial feasibility or any other study related to healthcare is required you can contact us: hospaccx healthcare business consulting Pvt Ltd on hospaccx.india@gmail.com. or you can visit our website on www.hospaccxconsulting.com 

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