The firm is in final round of talks with major multi-specialty tertiary care hospital groups to introduce a technology called e-Intensive Care Units (ICU). “We are expected to finalise the deal with some hospital groups by the end of this month,” Rajeev Chopra, vice chairman and managing director, Indian subcontinent, Philips Electronics India told Business Standard.
According to the company, eICUs will allow hospital networks to connect to each other and manage patients remotely even in small towns or cities . “We are in the process of implementing these solutions in two major hospitals and these will go live soon. At our end we are fully ready and customers in India can install these solutions immediately,” a company spokesperson added.
eICU, like a traffic control unit, monitors patients in different hospitals and makes interventions at right time. Through the technology, specialists sitting in a major hospital can monitor and review patients status on screen.
eICU is part of Intellihospital concept by Philips — which includes next generation wireless patient monitors including high end and value segment, ventilation equipment with non invasive capabilities, anesthesia machines, eICU remote patient management solutions and electronic ICU charting systems.
The firm had earlier said that the cost of e-ICU will start from Rs 2 crore and will increase depending on the number of ICUs. However, various functions of Intellihospital are implemented in hospitals like Fortis Gurgaon, Narayana Hrudalaya in Bangalore, Lilavati in Mumbai and Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune.
Philips India has posted a 23.2 per cent growth in gross income on 12 months ending on March 2012 compared to the financial year 2010-11. While lighting contributes 55 per cent of the total revenue, healthcare’s share is about 25 per cent.