Lucknow: Acknowledging that UP’s healthcare landscape has undergone visible change over the past few years, Apollo Hospitals managing director Suneeta Reddy on Saturday said that ‘intent has turned into impact’.She was in Lucknow to meet chief minister Yogi Adityanath and discuss her group’s ongoing projects besides reviewing internal progress of work at the Lucknow centre.“I first met Yogiji in 2018 when Apollo was investing in its Lucknow hospital and sensed a strong political will to drive transformation. From then to now, I can clearly see that transformation happening,” she told TOI in an exclusive interaction.She said that with the Noida International Airport coming up, UP could become a top centre in medical value travel. “With better connectivity, upcoming infrastructure such as Noida airport and expanding hospital networks, UP also has the potential to emerge as a stronger destination for advanced care and medical value travel,” she said.About her meeting with the CM, she said: “He doesn’t exude just vision but is ensuring execution. I have seen greater budget allocation, investments in the right infrastructure, and a real focus on people. The govt has put significant money into healthcare, and not just basic healthcare but also high-end healthcare, so that quality care is not denied to people because they cannot afford it.”Stating that UP was central to her group’s expansion plans, she said: “We are doubling our capacity in Lucknow. Then, our 400-bed hospital in Varanasi is in the advance stages while evaluating Kanpur (as next destination). We are also there in Noida. So, we are continuing to strengthen our presence in UP.”Commenting on the changing canvas of health sector and way forward, she said: “UP’s healthcare future lies in networks linking big hospitals with local providers — bringing care closer, enabling early detection and easing pressure on tertiary centres.”But what about affordability? Reddy said: “Insurance will play a bigger role as healthcare costs rise and out-of-pocket spending declines. Stakeholders are working and will have to work more extensively to create more affordable packages.”Replying to a query on why corporate hospitals are not able to serve Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries, she said: “This is great scheme. But package rates often do not reflect actual treatment costs – which speak for need a to recalibrate. This can be done through “scientific costing” of rates based on procedure inputs, location-linked costs and standardised kits. saying it would keep care affordable, maintain quality and draw in more smaller hospitals.Reddy concluded on the note that technology and artificial intelligence could play a significant role in disease prevention.
