ICICI Lombard Health Insurance and CNBC-TV18 honours India's best Healthcare Providers

ICICI Lombard General Insurance, India's largest private sector general insurer and CNBC-TV18, India's biggest business medium today announced the winners of "India Healthcare Awards 2010'. These awards are a first-of-its-kind in the country that recognizes and honors the best medical service providers in India. The winners were felicitated at a gala awards ceremony in Mumbai by Mr. Dinesh Trivedi, Honorable Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare.

The awards witnessed the presence of the Indian Healthcare community, leaders and representatives from Indian private and government organizations, policy makers and important luminaries from sectors affiliated to the industry.

Speaking on the occasion, Dinesh Trivedi, Honorable Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare said, "Let me begin by complimenting CNBC and ICICI Lombard. The Indian healthcare ministry requires a dedicated bureaucracy; a system which cannot pause. We have a long way to go. India is capable of providing world class hospitals and professional people and there is no reason why we cannot deliver. This is one area which genuinely requires a public-private partnership and we have to get off of all the shackles."

Further, he added, "Let's try and think of a model where, we have some sort of measure of well-being; how many schools, colleges, hospitals, how many people at the village level can afford healthcare. Without these measures, I am afraid we are going to be lagging behind."

Chanda Kochhar, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank Ltd. added, "The Indian Healthcare industry needs to look at becoming six times it's current size by 2020 and that's exactly the scale and size that the industry needs to gear itself for. The Indian healthcare system needs to deliver the three A's to the Indian population, that is, increasing accessibility, affordability and assurance of quality of healthcare facilities in India. By providing Indians with basic healthcare and education facilities, the healthcare industry as a whole will benefit entire growth in India become truly inclusive."

According to Senthil Chengalvarayan, President and Editorial Director, CNBC-TV18, "ICICI Lombard Health Insurance CNBC-TV18 India Healthcare Awards 2010 aims at recognizing the achievements of the best Indian Health Care Providers who have undoubtedly extended best infrastructural facilities, excellent in-house services to the patients and have provided holistic care for the well-being on an individual".

Speaking on the occasion Bhargav Dasgupta, MD & CEO, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd. said, "The Indian healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace and healthcare providers are now looking at ways of enhancing overall patient experience with improving operational efficiency. ICICI Lombard is committed towards providing comprehensive Health Insurance solutions with a view to meeting the need for quality healthcare in the country and this proactive initiative by ICICI Lombard Health Insurance and CNBC-TV18 is to reaffirm the effort."

The ICICI Lombard Health Insurance and CNBC-TV18 India Healthcare Awards 2010 received an overwhelming response with around 2000 applicants from India's biggest hospitals from all parts of the country. The best hospitals were chosen based on a robust three phased research methodology commissioned by CNBC-TV18, sponsored by ICICI Lombard Health Insurance and conducted by IMRB International, pioneers of Indian market research who were also the knowledge partners for these awards.