The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique conflict to healthcare businesses across the region. While hospitals operated at the forefront at maximum capacity to manage COVID-19 and emergency cases in these unprecedented times, multiple “elective” departments such as plastic surgery, dentistry, aesthetic dermatology, and ophthalmology were given the short end of the stick during periods of intense lockdown, resulting in financial loss.
Karan Rekhi, CEO of Forte Healthcare, a consultancy firm, observed that healthcare chains were seen to be more resilient than their counterpart, the humble standalone clinic. These chains benefited and cut costs as they were able to shuffle their staff, rotations, and rapidly make adequate adjustments within their own facilities to accommodate the changing landscape. Standalone clinics, alternatively, were forced to shut down operations entirely and made to implement solutions upon reopening, functionally arresting their operations with alternative patient flow management as advised by regulatory authorities.
“Due to heavy financial investments made prior to lockdown, borrowing interests piled up on many healthcare clinics, leaving them with few options on recouping losses,” Rekhi added.
Experts warn that the upcoming 18 months will drastically shift dynamics in this sector, but with proper guidance moving forward, should not be an area of concern to investors of big chains.
Forte Healthcare provides advisory services to healthcare investors and institutions, and has successfully catered to more than 116 startups in the past two decades. They established last year in the UAE with a vision to endorse diversity and novelty in the field of healthcare.
“Lockdown was painful for many sectors and healthcare was undoubtedly one that took a hit,” Rekhi said. “However, these businesses managed to rebound in some aspects.”
Mainframe hospitals and healthcare chains saw a rise in hospital efficiency and financial improvement, as corporations realigned themselves to adapt to the changing climate. Telehealth and online consultations, additionally, came to the forefront at this time, benefiting both the patient and the institution.
Rekhi remains optimistic that breakthrough plans to revive smaller clinic operations post-pandemic will transpire.
He said that small clinics and elective surgeries should be merged into larger hospitals, as this particular market calls for consolidation and integration. Big institutions would benefit with additional income, while the smaller clinics could use the provided facilities to carry out business as per normal.
Healthcare across the region varies widely — while some countries relish in world-class centers and facilities, others lack basic long-term care. Utilizing their professional talent and expertise, Forte Healthcare aims to unify the global landscape of the healthcare industry as a whole, allowing for a more fruitful and robust approach to health management.
