AIG Hospitals lays foundation for 1,000-bed hospital in Visakhapatnam
Mumbai: AIG Hospitals has laid the foundation stone for a new 1,000-bed greenfield multispeciality hospital in Visakhapatnam, with the first phase expected to be operational by October 2028.
The foundation stone was laid by Sri Nara Lokesh, Hon'ble Minister for Human Resource Development, Information Technology, Electronics & Communications and Real Time Governance, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
The ceremony was attended by Sri Ayyannapatrudu Chintakayala, Hon’ble Speaker, Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly; Sri Bharat Muthukumilli, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, Visakhapatnam; and Sri Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Hon'ble Member of the Legislative Assembly, Bheemili.
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The facility will be developed in two phases comprising the main hospital campus and an adjoining nursing college. Phase 1, comprising Towers A and B with 650 beds, is expected to be operational by October 2028. Phase 2 will add a further 350 beds in Tower Cover the following two to three years, taking the campus to 1,000 beds.
Beyond clinical services, the campus will house a Nursing College, a paramedic training centre, a research laboratory, an AI centre, and a 500-seater academic auditorium.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. D Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said, "Over three decades, what we learned at AIG is that clinical excellence can only thrive when it is complemented by continuous academic activities and backed by research. That is why the research laboratory and the academic block are not additions to this project; they are part of its structure from the beginning. Our intention in Visakhapatnam is to build the whole ecosystem and make it future-ready", the press release stated.
The hospital will have more than 50 medical and surgical specialities, with modern clinical infrastructure including modular operating rooms, latest cathLabs, advanced endoscopy suites, fully equipped 150 critical care beds and a 50-bed emergency department. The outpatient block has been designed for approximately 5,000 consultations per day.
A dedicated Mother and Child block with 120 beds, including a 15-bed neonatal intensive care unit, birthing suites and paediatric services, will form part of the campus.
Dr. Reddy further added that “A project of this size needs a state that truly understands the futuristic measures for its people and under Swarnandhra Vision 2047, the Government of Andhra Pradesh has put in the confidence in us to not just build a world-class hospital but the one which serves the people by being equitable, accessible and affordable."
There will also be provision for hostel accommodation for nursing staff, accommodation for visiting faculty, and low-cost accommodation for patients' families. At full operation, the facility is expected to employ approximately 9,000 people and have 1,000 doctors on its rolls.
Speaking on the occasion, Sri PVS Raju, Vice-Chairman, AIG Hospitals, said, "A project of this scale creates employment at every level, be it clinical, technical, administrative and support functions. We expect around 9,000 people to be employed here. But the more durable contributions are the Nursing College and the paramedic training centre. They will keep producing trained professionals to build a sustainable healthcare practice in the entire region. We have provided hostel accommodation on campus because that has been the practical barrier for so many students, particularly women, from various districts in AP."
Dr. Rakesh Kalapala, Director, AIG Hospitals Visakhapatnam, further added, "This will be a technology-enabled hospital from day one, with AI integrated into clinical workflows, imaging, diagnostics and hospital operations rather than added later as a layer. Most of the families we will serve here come from nearby towns and cities, and for many of them a serious diagnosis has meant travelling out of the state for treatment. Our commitment is that they receive the same standard of care, delivered with the same compassion, close to home."
