230-bed facility to begin operations by January 2027; expansion to 1,300 beds planned
Ranchi, April 22 – The Azim Premji Foundation is setting up its first-ever hospital in India, located in the Itki block of Ranchi, Jharkhand. This 230-bed super-speciality hospital, part of a broader private university campus, will offer free health services to the poor, according to Anand Swaminathan, head of the Foundation’s health project.
Hospital to Expand to 1,300 Beds Eventually
Situated on a sprawling 150-acre Azim Premji University campus, the hospital is scheduled to begin operations by January 2027. The facility will eventually expand to a 1,300-bed hospital, Swaminathan said at a press briefing. Construction of both the hospital and an affiliated medical college is currently underway.
Model for Nationwide Replication
If successful, the Jharkhand hospital will serve as a blueprint for 15 similar hospitals to be established across India. “We aim to expand our healthcare mission nationwide based on the learnings from this first venture,” Swaminathan added.
Free and Affordable Healthcare Model
The hospital will provide free treatment to the poor, with other services priced affordably to ensure accessibility. The Foundation is also focused on enhancing health outcomes in tribal communities, especially in areas with poor indicators.
Education and Nutrition Initiatives Included
Alongside the hospital, the Foundation is developing a CBSE-affiliated school on four acres of the same campus. The school will provide free education up to Class 12, along with mid-day meals, uniforms, textbooks, and health check-ups. Around 1,200 students are expected to be enrolled.
Health Outreach in Tribal Districts
The Foundation has identified 100 districts nationwide—half of them tribal-dominated—for targeted healthcare intervention. In Jharkhand, these include Ranchi, Gumla, Simdega, and Lohardaga. The Foundation is already working in Bero and Itki blocks of Ranchi, and also in Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh, collaborating with government bodies to strengthen frontline health systems.
Rs 7,500 Crore Annual Health Investment Planned
Swaminathan noted that the Foundation plans to invest up to ₹7,500 crore annually in healthcare across the country. While there has been improvement in the health of tribal populations over the decades, data from the National Family Health Survey-5 shows that challenges such as low immunisation rates, anaemia, and child malnutrition still persist.
