A nation of the healthy people is destined to be  a wealthy nation. All the developed nations of the west are fortunate to have a superior healthcare system. Asian Countries are far from a model of social justice- when it comes to healthcare.

While the healthcare sector remains as India's most   distressed sector, International healthcare chain Columbia Asia has come forward to address several healthcare issues that  the  countries  of  the  continent  are  facing.

Columbia Asia is owned by over 150 private equity companies, fund management organizations and indivi-   dual investors. Laying the foundation stone of their first hospital in Hebbal, Bengaluru, Columbia Asia Hospitals started their journey in India almost twelve years ago in 2005.

The hospital group's vision has been translated into market leadership as their hospitals now stand as Asia's prominent hospital. With a headquarter in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur, Columbia Asia runs a chain of multi specialty and comprehensive healthcare facilities across  Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Backed by their latest equipment coupled with latest technology, the hospital group provides a wide array of medical services such as General Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics &Gynecology, Orthopaedics, Medical & Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine.

Most of their hospitals also provide comprehensive tertiary care and high end services in multiple specialties like Interventional Cardiology, Heart Surgeries and Transplant services which are well supported by state-of-the-art ancillary  services that include an Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Physiotherapy, Laboratory, Pharmacy and Imaging.

Over 6000 staffs including doctors and outsourced staff are employed at the eleven hospitals in India. With around 100-200 beds per medical facility totaling approximately 1500 beds, the building design showcases smooth patient flow. New medical technologies help in    early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, shorter patient  stay  and  improved  outcomes.

Columbia Asia has built clinical capabilities over the years and has added high end tertiary specialties like Cardio-Thoracic Vascular surgeries, Interventional Cardio-logy, High End Radiology and Imaging, Interventional Radiology, Interventional Neurosurgery, Organ Transplants , Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson's patients in addition to existing capabilities like joint replacements, High  Risk Pregnancies, High End Neo-natal & Paediatric Care, Lifestyle Diseases etc.

Beside this, the hospital has built comprehensive packages for some of the specialties e.g. Diabetes, Cardiac, Child Birth, Kids, Senior Citizens fortheir  ease.

"At Columbia Asia Hospitals, patients are at the center  of focus and providing care and comfort in comfortable ambience is the top priority. The patients participate in  in decision making and the treatment plan is prepared accordingly.

The hospital periodically updates the family of the health status hence giving them the  kind  of  care  they  expect. The look and feel of Columbia Asia Hospitals is characterized by a harmonious   blend of architecture and interior design.

The expertise and competence of their consultants, paramedics and staff forms the essence of the brand," said a senior executive from Columbia Asia' India Management office in  Bengaluru.

Dr.NandakumarJairam has been leading the hospital group from    the front. Since his appointment as the CEO and Group Medical  Director of Columbia Asia Hospitals in India, Dr.Jairamhas led a significant transformation, further consolidating Columbia Asia's position as a healthcare leader in the continent.

Dr Jairam has an impeccable track record of professional success in healthcare. He is the Chairman of the NABH under the auspices Quality Council of India, and Past Chairman of the health services committee of FICCI. He was a member of the Health insurance  forum  of  IRDA  and  FICCI.

He is also responsible for the development of the self-help group  forOstomy patients, and was the Vice President of Ostomates, India until 2007. He was the Chairman, Health CII institute of quality from 1999 for a period of two years.

He also led the delegation of health profes-sionals as its Chairman, to England under the Indo UK partnership treaty. From 1996 to 1998 he was the Medical director of Mallya  Hospital,  Bangalore.

Dr Nandakumar Jairam is trained in colorectal and Minimally Invasive Surgery. He has spent time in the UK and the USA. He attended a course at   St Marks Hospital in Colorectal surgery in 1986. He is an alumnus of Bangalore Medical College, National College, Basavanagudi and Bishop Cottons School, Bangalore, India.

He has been  an examiner for MBBS and the MS examinations of several Indian Univer-sities and he was also an examiner for DNBE in surgery and inspector for the National Board. He has several papers including publications in the prestigi-ous British journal of Surgery and presentations to his credit.

Dr Jairam nurtures the passion to scale new heights of success through saving the lives of patients. Under his stewardship, Columbia Asia has been  at the forefront of new medical break   throughs.

To reduce the expenditure incurred by common patients on treatment of several deadly deceases, Columbia Asia Hospitals has taken several initiatives.

It will not only go a long way in providing cost-effective healthcare services to lower strata of  the society but through this there will  be a more trustworthy healthcare system.

The hospital group has tie-ups  with corporates and industrial outfits. Their representation offices outside the operational countries have attrac-ted a large number of patients from Kenya, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Middle  East.

Columbia Asia Hospitals group is all set to come up a 200- bedded   hospital in Bengaluru where the Sarjapur Road meets the Outer Ring Road.

The hospital will cater to the numerous corporates, schools and the housing societies in the close vicinity. They are also in the process of building another hospital in Pune which will be their second hospital  in  the  city.