The Kuala Lumpur-based Columbia Asia Hospitals, which runs 14 hospitals ac-ross Asia, has now brought in a novel concept of ‘hos-potel’ for providing tailor-made low caloric, hygienic food across all its existing and upcoming hospitals.

The group, which has its Indian headquarters in Bangalore, plans to open 17 new hospitals by the end of 2011, with most of the growth being expected in its largest market — India, Toofan Ghosh, chief executive officer of Columbia Asia Hospitals in India told Financial Chronicle.

“Hospotel is a concept in modern healthcare that we have adopted. Though people come to hospitals primarily for their healthcare needs, but ancillary services like fresh and healthy food, and cleanliness are also equally important to satisfy the patients,” Ghosh said.

As part of the new arrangement, the group is putting in place uniform Café Columbias in all the Columbia Hospitals.

“Besides being a hospital’s in-house fine dining facility, it can have its own identity as it is a very tastefully designed cafe,’ he said.

“A dietitian supervises the food at Café Columbia that takes care of the health and hygiene factor,” he added.

Apart from the custom-made food, friendly staff and attentive services coupled with attractive ambiance will extend a great experience and relief to customers who are either patients themselves or relatives or just people who come to enjoy their repast at Café Columbia.

All these factors differentiate Columbia café from cafeterias of other hospitals, Ghosh added.

He said earlier the group was outsourcing its F&B department, “but then we realised it’s not easy to check and monitor the food quality and freshness if we outsource this crucial service. Besides, we always wanted to offer tailor-made diet, which we were not being able to do in the earlier scheme of things”.

“The new cafeterias will be run by our own food and beverages department. We believe by doing that we would be able to understand and accommodate the patients need better,” said Ghosh.