The hospital was unable to benefit from having a branded image or running extensive advertising campaigns when it first opened. In fact, its key strength was much more important - it was based on trust. The first international patients at Vaidya Healthcare came through the trust Dr. Kiran B. Nair earned while practising at another hospital, choosing to continue their treatment with him after he founded his own center. This helped the center earn credibility through results and not advertising.
The response did not take time. With an increasing number of patients, the hospital rapidly outgrew its initial space, and had to lease a four-star accommodation with 26 rooms located near the hospital in order to house outpatients(OP) during treatment from 2014 till 2019. This decision was highly unusual and represented not only rapid development of the institution but its desire to provide consistent care to its patients.
Realising the need for sustainable infrastructure, construction of the new hospital building commenced roughly around 2016. The extension made Vaidya Healthcare become an inpatient care facility with 27 beds and treatment rooms and rehabilitation facilities aimed at ensuring full recovery of patients.
However, apart from development, Vaidya Healthcare started focusing on quality. Soon after its establishment, the process of NABH accreditation was initiated and in 2017, Vaidya Healthcare became the first NABH accredited Ayurvedic hospital in Ernakulam district. This fact represents the commitment of the hospital to implementation of standardized clinical procedures and continuous improvement in quality and patient safety that became especially significant when the patients from all over the world started coming here.
In addition, the organization was one of the earliest organizations to follow the integrated healthcare model, which includes Ayurveda and Neuro-Physio Rehabilitation. During those days, where most organizations failed to think of the combination of such approaches, Vaidya Healthcare not only became an Ayurveda hospital but also a rehabilitation center. It has been emulated by many other organizations later on.
However, it was challenged in some ways that were beyond its control.
First of all, the outbreak of Nipah virus in 2018 had a serious impact on international medical travel. Therefore, the hospital decided to concentrate on domestic clients without discontinuing its services. In 2018, floods hit Kerala and logistics became difficult. The hospital's vehicles were badly damaged. There were also severe staff shortages; however, the hospital continued functioning and provided food and assistance to stranded individuals and truck drivers.
However, the situation posed by the coronavirus pandemic was even more challenging. Given that patients from almost 12 countries were under treatment and the international border got closed out of the blue, the hospital managed to coordinate with various embassies for almost a month before sending these patients back safely home. Whenever required, patients from other states would be brought to the hospital using hospital vehicles and the drivers would remain in quarantine after each trip. In spite of the difficulties, the management paid the employees full salary.
In today's time, Vaidya Healthcare has transformed into a well-known international rehabilitation center with 27 inpatient rooms, nine doctors, its own Physiotherapy and Neuro-Rehabilitation Center, NABH certification and a good name earned mainly by way of patient referrals.
Dr. Kiran B. Nair Vaidya recalls his institution's journey and says, "Over the years that have passed since Vaidya Healthcare began operations, every hurdle be it infrastructure related or flood, pandemic or global health crisis, has only made us stronger and resilient. Whatever comes next, we are prepared for that too." For Vaidya Healthcare, the transition from being a small five-bedded hospital to a world-renowned rehabilitation center is nothing but a story of resilience and innovation.
