CIPACA gets Rs 2 crore funding to strengthen critical care services in rural hospitals

New Delhi: The SAMRIDH Healthcare Blended Finance Facility, a multi-stakeholder innovation and financing platform supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by IPE Global, has provided financial assistance of Rs 2 Crore to CIPACA, a leading service provider for Intensive Care Units (ICU) in rural India.

The assistance is provided as a Recoverable Grant and is being used to set-up ICUs in partnership with small hospitals in the district, towns, and taluks in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. This initiative will strengthen the infrastructure and operations of selected hospitals, establishing them as Centers of Excellence for ICU care and providing accessible and affordable healthcare solutions to underserved communities.

In India, small rural hospitals face challenges such as resource limitations, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals, in delivering critical care services. CIPACA overcomes these challenges by collaborating with hospitals in smaller towns, delivering high-quality ICU services that are both accessible and affordable to rural populations. The solution is supported by a 24/7 committed staff of professionals. The company has so far established ICUs in over 10 Indian states and partnered with 20+ hospitals at the district and taluk levels. CIPACA’s innovative drop-in ICU concept has demonstrated its ability to enhance patient care, contributing to saving 1,00,000+ lives nationwide. The financial support from USAID-supported SAMRIDH, further accelerates the expansion of these high-impact solutions, marking a significant milestone in bolstering healthcare in rural India.

Dr Raja Amarnath, MD, CIPACA, emphasizes the importance of this collaboration stating, “CIPACA works with the motto to help its partner hospitals become more self-reliant. At every Taluk level, there is a great need for tertiary-level ICU care services. We can save more lives by setting up ICUs in these smaller towns and treating patients well during crucial hours. A CIPACA’s ICU in a rural hospital treats up to 100–150 patients in a month, with 1/4^th cost compared with a city hospital ICU, thus saving approximately ₹ 3-5 lakhs for every patient. The hospital also will be able to take on more serious patients for surgeries and other procedures. If properly utilized, this intervention results in annual savings of around ₹ 75-100 crores for the community around each ICU facility. Furthermore, USAID recognized CIPACA’s efforts, and we are grateful for this grant. This encourages us to move further with our expansion and offer our services to patients living in other states.”

Himanshu Sikka, Project Director of SAMRIDH and Chief Strategy and Diversification Officer at IPE Global, underscores the transformative impact of collaboration, stating, “we recognize the challenges faced by rural India in accessing healthcare facilities, especially during critical procedures, delaying urgent attention and impacting patient outcomes. SAMRIDH’s partnership with CIPACA exemplifies our commitment to ensure access to critical care services through strategic alliances, powered by effective market solutions and innovative finance models.

This strategic collaboration between SAMRIDH and CIPACA is set to usher in a new era of quality healthcare, providing people in rural areas with timely critical medical facilities within reach.