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The Centre relaxes the building height regulations to allow for vertical expansion in Hospitals.

New Delhi, India: In response a long-standing request from the private sector of healthcare, the Center has eased the height restriction of hospitals. The Bureau of Indian Standards, which replaced the National Building Code, last week notified a new National Building Construction Standards, 2026. This eases infrastructure restrictions imposed on hospitals, intensive care units and other healthcare facilities, but with enhanced fire safety provisions. Dr Sangita Reddy Group MD of ollo Hospitals & President, NATHEALTH welcomed the amendments. “The new rules are a timely step to enable future-ready infrastructure for healthcare in India.” In addition to allowing hospitals to optimize their costs, they will be able to operate more efficiently. Fortis Healthcare CEO Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi said that the ability to expand vertically would help fill cacity gs in urban areas with high density, while also avoiding long gestation times associated with new hospital development. According to NATHEALTH the reform allows hospitals to improve their operational efficiency, better utilize the existing infrastructure while reducing cital expenditure and the time required for new greenfield project.

Published May 4, 2026 08:17 AM IST.

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The patient’s wait for a ventilator lasted 18 hours. The healthcare system has been unable to keep up with the demands of the patient. He is now on the edge of death. Harpreet the brother of the patient recalled that their ordeal began on May 1, at 6:30pm, when his brother was beaten on his head by a sickle. This happened in Samrala, Punjab. “We rushed to a private Ludhiana hospital where he was then intubated and taken to Govt Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh.

The family’s nightmare was only beginning. Around 1am the family learned that no ventilator-equipped bed was available. In the next hour, his family was transferred to PGI. However, they encountered a bureaucratic obstacle. The critical case was not handled by a doctor who coordinated the care.

While they waited for a room, the relatives manually pump an ambu bag over a three-hour period. They claimed that the doctors in the emergency room told them to return Manpreet because no beds were likely to become available soon.

They left only to rush back to GMCH in the morning with Manpreet suffering from respiratory distress. He was in a worse condition on the way. They were sent to PGI by GMCH. After TOI intervened, a ventilator finally became available on Saturday afternoon and the patient was moved to ICU. This case has shocked the authorities. Dr Ravneet Kour, the director principal of GMCH told TOI they were going to purchase more ventilators, while Prof Vivek Lal, the PGI director, promised that they would do “man-to man mping” in order for doctors to coordinate personally during critical referrals. Neurosurgeons in the area have proposed a centralised, real-time pool of public and private ICUs in the city in order to avoid such distressing cases. This wake-up message may not be enough to prompt the authorities into action.

Published May 4, 2026 04:55 PM IST.

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M&A boom sweeps Gujarats healthcare market –

Ahmedabad. The private sector in Gujarat is undergoing a consolidation wave, with mergers and acquisitions as well as operational tie-ups increasing across cities such Ahmedabad Vadodara, and Surat. Recent deals show a clear shift in strategy among the large hospital chains. They are expanding their cacity and strengthening their regional presence more through acquisitions than by launching new projects. Marengo Asia Hospitals acquired a majority stake in Sunshine Global Hospitals which runs two NABH accredited facilities in Surat, Vadodara, with a total cacity of 400 beds. This expansion in western India is being done by Marengo Asia Hospitals. Marengo’s cacity in Gujarat now exceeds 1,150 beds. This places it in the top five hospital networks of the state. “As our expansion in western India continues, we are becoming one of Gujarat’s largest players,” stated Dr Raajiv Singal, founder member, group managing Director and CEO of Marengo Asia Hospitals. Sources from the industry added that consolidations were driven both by the expansion ambitions and operational pressures of smaller, doctor run hospitals. While the larger players strive for scale, multi-city networks and digital infrastructure, smaller hospitals are faced with increasing administrative costs and regulatory compliance.

Today, running a hospital is more than just providing clinical care. A small business owner said that the cost of accreditation standards, administrative systems, and insurance processes are often too high for smaller businesses to afford. Maxivision’s chairman and managing directors, Dr GSK Velu said that Gujarat is a key growth market. After building a solid base in cities such as Rajkot, Morbi and Jamnagar, we are now evaluating opportunities in major centres. Bhailal Amin General Hospital has acquired two hospitals in Vadodara. One is in the old town and another in Gotri. Both are expected to be operational in the near future. Parul Sevashram (PSH) in Vadodara has acquired hospital operations located in Channi and Padra. “We’re also in discussions with other hospitals”, said Dr Geetika Patel, director of PSH, and vice-president at Parul University.

According to industry experts, corporate hospital chains can benefit from improved financial management and standardised clinical protocols, as well as stronger procurement systems. This will improve efficiency and profitability. Due to their limited administrative abilities, standalone hospitals face difficulties in scaling up. Analysts attribute this trend to Gujarat’s industrial base, increasing urbanisation and the growing demand for advanced healthcare.

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Top private hospitals could drop out of government-sponsored health plans.

Bengaluru. The contribution that government health schemes make to the revenues at India’s largest private hospital chains has declined. This may indicate that private healthcare providers are reevaluating their involvement. Experts believe that payment delays, low reimbursements, and price restrictions may have contributed to the squeeze on profitability. Max Healthcare, Narayana Health and Fortis Healthcare are among the hospital chains that have reported revenue impacts and highlighted challenges with managing government health schemes. Data from the business advisory firm PraxisGlobal Alliance shows that, on average, state-backed healthcare schemes like the Central Government Health Scheme, Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, and Central Government Health Scheme, account for 25% of revenues at top private hospitals. Praxis Global Alliance said to ET that government schemes’ revenue share could fall by 3-5 percent in the first quarter FY27, due to de-empanelment of selected employees or bed cs.

CGHS provides coverage for central government workers and pensioners while ECHS offers protection to defence personnel, their families and dependents. Both have set rates for private hospitals that are accredited and both have played a central role in the current dispute.

While the signs of unhpiness have been evident since 2020, the voices from the industry have only become louder over the past year. ollo Hospitals is not directly talking about government schemes because they are a very small part of the business. In the third fiscal quarter of FY26 83% of revenue from inpatients came from cash and insurance patients, according to its management. All other categories including government schemes are a smaller portion of the remaining 17%. A query sent via email to

ollo Hospitals was not answered until the time of publication. Experts believe that there are two pressures: low reimbursement rates and slow payment. Akhil Puligadda is a Praxis Global Alliance practice member in healthcare and life science. He said that hospitals were trying to switch their payer mix to payers who have shorter payment periods. This would help them maintain a healthier working cital. Max Healthcare

‘s losses have been quantified. On its Q3 results call, it estimated a Rs. 200-crore impact on revenue from joining CGHS. It must provide a 30% discount for chemothery drugs under its memorandum.

“We discontinued the supply of drugs when the margin was below 30%. In cases where the margin exceeds 30%, we continue to supply but with lower revenues,” said Yogesh Sareen, chief financial officer, in an earnings conference call. Yogesh Sareen estimated that the current hit was Rs 140 crore, after taking into account GST and oncology effects. Abhay Soi, Chairman of

, said: “What they asked was to sell below the purchase cost. Everyone has stopped using it.

A deliberate backwards move Narayana Health took a conscious decision in December to limit scheme volumes for hospitals in the northern region. This was due to late payments and drug coverage cs. The company stated that “this resulted into a conscious decision to control the volume of schemes”. HealthCare Global was under different pressures. The transition of the Odisha State Scheme pushed down average revenue per patient by 3% in its eastern cluster. A dispute in Andhra Pradesh over a state-sponsored scheme led to a strike of nearly 25 days in Vizag. This caused a disruption in volume for several months due to the long cancer treatment cycles. Manish Mattoo, the chief executive officer of , said that “the impact is manageable and structurally insignificant”. Fortis Healthcare has seen positive results with CGHS after rate revisions, but the hospital network said confusion about drug pricing remains under ECHS. Experts in healthcare say hospital chains rely on high-value treatment and private patients for revenue growth. Madhur Singhal is the managing partner of Praxis Global Alliance. He said that on the financing side some hospitals pledge government receivables for short-term loans from non-banking finance companies (NBFC). Max Healthcare says that the longer-term solution lies in revised rates.

Published on May 7, 2026, at 8:06 AM (IST)

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Abbott’s first-quarter results surpassed Wall Street expectations due to its strength in medical devices and cancer diagnostics

Bengaluru, India: Abbott slightly beat Wall Street expectations for quarterly revenue and profit on Thursday. This was partly helped by the newly acquired cancer diagnostics company. The company has also seen continued growth in its medical devices unit, which is its largest by revenue. According to LSEG data, the company recorded a first-quarter adjusted profit per share of 1,15 cents, compared with analysts estimate of $1,14 cents.

The total revenue for the first quarter was $11.16 billion, which is higher than analysts’ expectations of $11billion. Abbott announced in November that it had agreed to purchase cancer-test manufacturer Exact Sciences for $105.25 per share, in a deal worth up to $23 Billion. This was one of Abbott’s largest acquisitions. It also marked a major push in the ridly growing cancer diagnostics market.

(Reporting and editing by Siddhi Mahtole in Bengaluru, Puyaan Singh in New Delhi)

Published On r 17, 2020 at 7:55 AM IST
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AIIMS Launches Low Cost Advanced Test to Make Epilepsy Treatement Safer

New Delhi – All India Institute of Medical Sciences launched an advanced blood test service that will help doctors better treat epilepsy and reduce side effects related to medicine. The AIIMS Neurosciences Centre’s new facility will monitor levels of levetiracetam, a commonly used antiepilepsy medicine, and lamotrigine in the blood of patients. This is because different doses can affect patients in different ways, and incorrect levels of drugs may not control seizures or even cause toxicity. The testing is free and currently offered by TDM, a specialised test. AIIMS officials have said that the tests could be offered later at heavily subsidised rates in accordance with institute policy. Private laboratories charge between Rs 6,000-Rs 10,000 for similar tests. Experts say the test will help doctors to personalise their treatment by adjusting the dose of medicine according to a patient’s response, his body chemistry, and any side effects. It can also be used to determine when medicines aren’t reaching their effective levels, despite being taken regularly. AIIMS officials have said that the AIIMS facility will improve access to precision based epilepsy treatment. Prof S.B. Gaikwad said that advanced neurodiagnostic equipment is helping to improve the diagnosis and treatment for complex neurological disorders. Prof Ashok Sharma is the professor in-charge of Neurobiochemistry Laboratory. He said that a very small blood sample will suffice for the tests and the reports can be accessed online through e-Hospital or ORS portals. Both OPD and admitted AIIMS New Delhi patients can use the facility. The facility is open to both OPD patients and admitted ones at AIIMS New Delhi, and at the NCI AIIMS Jhajjar Campus. Doctors say that epilepsy patients require years of medication, and frequent monitoring. Affordable access to these tests is important.

Published on May 11, 2026, at 7:10 AM (IST)

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