Business
Most hospitals expect double-digit revenue growth in FY2022
The hospital sector witnessed a spike in Covid-19 occupancies during Q1 FY2022 in line with the active cases in India that touched an all-time high in May 2021, peaking at more than 4x the first wave peak.
The overall occupancy levels were supported by longer average length of stay for Covid patients even as localised lockdowns resulted in a sequential decline in non-Covid occupancies to a certain extent.
The blended occupancy of both Covid and non-Covid patients for ICRA sample set stood higher at 64.2 per cent in Q1 FY2022 (against 36.9 per cent in Q1 FY2021 and 58.8 per cent in Q4 FY2021), an ICRA report said.
Most multi-speciality hospitals derived 25-30 per cent of their Q1 FY2022 footfalls and revenues from Covid-19 treatments and vaccination drives. While the Y-o-Y revenue growth of 129 per cent in Q1 FY2022 for ICRA sample set was optically high aided by the low base, the Q-o-Q revenue growth was also healthy at 15 per cent.
However, higher share of revenues from Covid treatments resulted in a 4.2 per cent Q-o-Q contraction in the average revenue per occupied bed (ARPOB) in Q1 FY2022, even as complex nature of infections and higher proportion of patients requiring critical care treatment and oxygen support aided Y-o-Y growth of 8.7 per cent in ARPOB.
Operating leverage benefits in addition to incremental revenues and margins from vaccination drives and Covid tests resulted in an improvement in OPM for ICRA sample set to 19.3 per cent in Q1 FY2022 (against -9.3 per cent in Q1 FY2021 and 18.4 per cent in Q4 FY2021), the highest witnessed by the sample set in the last few years. This was despite absence of revenues from international patients.
Says Mythri Macherla, Assistant Vice President and Sector Head, ICRA, “While both in-patient (IPD) and out-patient (OPD) footfalls declined sequentially in Q1 FY2022 on account of Covid 2.0, footfalls were far higher than Q1 FY2021, wherein hospital operations were adversely impacted on account of the nationwide lockdown. Most hospitals have witnessed sequentially higher footfalls in July and August 2021 compared to Q1 FY2022 levels.”
“To assess the on-ground sentiments and understand the outlook for FY2022, ICRA conducted a survey of its rated hospital entities. Key findings suggest that with strong performance in Q1 FY2022 and expected benefits from pent-up demand for electives, respondents expect occupancies in FY2022 to be better than FY2020 levels and ARPOB to remain range-bound in FY2022 despite higher contribution from Covid. More than 2/3rd of the survey respondents expect double-digit growth in revenues in FY2022, and OPM to revive and be higher than FY2020 levels on the back of healthy improvement in occupancy levels.”
The net debt for ICRA sample set increased by Rs 350 crore as on June 30, 2021, compared to March 31, 2021 on account of advance payments for vaccine procurement and higher pharmacy stocking of Covid medicines.
In terms of capex, many companies in the sector have gone slow on greenfield expansion in the last few years as the focus was on improving returns on existing facilities.
Players are now looking at adding bed capacity within the existing infrastructure, and some of the larger players are actively scouting for inorganic growth opportunities. However, owing to the healthy cash generation and strong liquidity position, the interest coverage ratio is projected to improve.
The Government of India and the Reserve Bank of India have taken multiple measures to support the sector, including an on-tap liquidity window, dedicated ECLGS credit lines, etc. which is likely to support liquidity of industry players.
Business
Govt earmarks Rs 2,010 crore to boost judicial infra, eCourt modernisation

New Delhi, July 26: The government has allocated Rs 2,010 crore to boost judicial infrastructure and digitisation of courts, including necessary training and capacity building programmes.
According to Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the District and Subordinate Courts, a sum of Rs 810 crore has been allocated in the Union Budget 2026 for judicial infrastructure.
In addition, sum of Rs 1,200 crore has been allocated in the Budget for the eCourts Project Phase-III being implemented for digitisation of courts including necessary training and capacity building programmes, he said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
Adequate budgetary provisions are made under these Schemes based on approved outlays and availability of funds.
“However, the expeditious disposal of cases depends on multiple factors including complexity of case, quality of investigation, availability of relevant evidence and presentation thereof by the Advocates, timely delivery of the court processes, active participation of the parties, judicial procedures, etc,” said the minister.
The government, in coordination with states and the judiciary, has taken several measures to ensure accessible, speedy and effective justice across the country.
Meanwhile, a Centrally Sponsored Scheme to set up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs), including exclusive POCSO (ePOCSO) courts was launched in October 2019, for the expeditious trial and disposal of pending cases related to rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The scheme was extended twice, with the last extension valid up to March 31, 2026 for establishment of 790 FTSCs. The scheme has been temporarily extended upto September 30, 2026.
As per the information made available by the High Courts, as of April 30, 775 FTSCs, including 398 exclusive POCSO (e-POCSO) Courts were functional in 29 States/UTs, informed the minister.
Business
HDFC Bank shares fall over 1 pc as US law firms launch securities probe

New Delhi, July 24: Shares of India’s largest private sector lender, HDFC Bank, fell more than 1 per cent in early trade on Friday after three US law firms announced separate investigations into whether the bank may have violated federal securities laws.
The investigations were announced by the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, the Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz and Glancy Prongay Wolke & Rotter through separate press releases.
According to the law firms, the investigations are focused on whether HDFC Bank and certain of its executives made materially misleading statements or failed to disclose information relevant to investors, potentially violating US federal securities laws.
The probes stem from a May 27 report by The Indian Express — which alleged that HDFC Bank made payments of about Rs 45 crore (Rs 450 million or around $4.7 million) to the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to attract large institutional deposits.
The report also alleged that the payments were booked as marketing expenses and that the bank’s Chief Executive Officer was aware of them.
According to the law firms, HDFC Bank’s American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) fell $1.02, or 4.1 per cent, to close at $23.78 on May 27 following the publication of the report.
The firms have invited investors who suffered losses in HDFC Bank ADRs to contact them and share relevant information as they assess whether there are sufficient grounds to pursue securities-related claims.
However, no securities class action lawsuit has been filed against HDFC Bank at this stage. The investigations are preliminary and are intended to determine whether legal action is warranted.
However, the lender has not issued any statement on the matter to the stock exchanges — the NSE and the BSE — till 10:30 am.
On Friday, HDFC Bank shares fell as much as 1.44 per cent during early trade on the BSE. The stock has declined more than 25 per cent over the past one year, nearly 20 per cent in the last six months, and around 25 per cent so far this calendar year.
Business
IndusInd Bank shares tumble over 6 pc after Q1 results

New Delhi, July 23: Shares of private sector banking stock IndusInd Bank fell more than 6 per cent in early trade on Thursday after the bank posted its June quarter earnings.
The banking stock plunged as much as 6.29 per cent to 1002.50, hitting an intraday low of Rs 1,002.50 on the BSE at around 11:50 am.
At the last count, the stock was trading at Rs 1,006.75, a decrease of 5.90 per cent.
The selling pressure in the banking stock came after the private lender reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 1,037.05 crore for the first quarter of FY27 on Wednesday, compared with Rs 604.07 crore in the corresponding period last year.
The earnings were supported by a 21 per cent decline in provisions and contingencies, which stood at Rs 1,384 crore.
The lender’s net interest income (NII) rose 1 per cent year-on-year to Rs 4,685 crore, while its gross non-performing asset (GNPA) ratio improved to 3.25 per cent. Gross slippages also declined to Rs 1,660 crore from Rs 2,567 crore a year ago.
Earlier in June, the bank witnessed selling pressure after reports claimed a complaint seeking an investigation into alleged insider trading, governance lapses, and audit shortcomings at the bank.
The selling pressure in shares followed reports suggesting that a whistleblower had approached multiple authorities — including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) and other agencies.
According to them, the complaint alleged insider trading, manipulation of financial records, evergreening of microfinance loans, suppression of audit findings and attempts by senior management and board members to conceal irregularities.
Additionally, the stock has touched a 52-week high of Rs 1,077.80 and a 52-week low of Rs 710.85 on Thursday on the BSE.
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