Health Cross: How Three Kolkata Doctors are Redefining Home Health Care.
In a quiet residential flat tucked inside Kolkata’s Anandam Housing Complex, something extraordinary began in late 2022. Not a tech startup. Not a luxury clinic. But a doctor-led movement to bring hospital-quality care to patients’ homes — one that would change how hundreds of families experience health and healing.
Health Cross Home Health Care is the brainchild of three young doctors — Dr. Ashik Ikbal, a consultant critical care physician; Dr. Inayet Kabir, a specialist in geriatric care; and Dr. Swarup Chatterjee, also a geriatric care expert. Friends since their medical college days, the trio found themselves on the COVID-19 frontlines, often treating patients in overstretched hospitals and witnessing firsthand the devastating gaps in India’s home health care infrastructure.
“There were elderly patients left alone in homes, unable to get to hospitals,” recalls Dr. Ikbal. “Many post-surgery cases returned home with no follow-up. We knew the system needed to change — not just in quality, but in compassion.”
So, with borrowed equipment, a second-hand ambulance, and a small flat doubling as office and dispatch center, the three doctors launched Health Cross. Their vision: to make clinically sound, dignified care accessible at home, especially for Kolkata’s elderly and chronically ill population.
Care That Begins with Compassion — and a Doctor
Unlike many home care agencies that operate on a caregiver-only model, Health Cross is built on a simple, bold promise: Every case is doctor-supervised.
Whether it’s an elderly person with dementia, a diabetic patient needing insulin management, or someone recovering from orthopedic surgery, the Health Cross process always begins with a doctor’s consultation — either in person or via telehealth. This clinical-first approach ensures personalized care plans, medical accuracy, and faster escalation if emergencies arise.
Today, the team has grown into a network of 10+ doctors, 30+ nurses and caregivers, 4 physiotherapists, and 24/7 ambulance support. But the founders still hold their mission close.
“We don’t just send a nurse. We send a coordinated system of care,” says Dr. Ikbal. “Families can access doctors anytime, get real-time updates, and feel confident that their loved one is in safe hands — all from home.”
Inside the Health Cross Model
Health Cross operates on a tech-enabled, patient-first model:
- Initial Consultation – Conducted by a senior doctor to assess medical, emotional, and lifestyle needs.
- Customized Care Plan – May include nursing, doctor home visits, lab tests, physiotherapy, or medication management.
- Dedicated Team Deployment – Trained professionals are assigned, supervised directly by the medical team.
- Monitoring & Family Updates – Families receive progress reports, vital updates, and 24/7 helpline access.
- Technology Integration – Families can track care, book services, receive e-prescriptions, and consult doctors — all via mobile.
With this model, Health Cross has made elderly and post-hospital care not only accessible but trustworthy, even for middle-income families.
Built for Seniors, Backed by Science
Geriatric care lies at the heart of Health Cross’s offerings. The team has developed specialized programs that cater to:
- Dementia and memory care
- Stroke rehabilitation
- Fall-prevention and home safety audits
- Elderly companionship and wellness checks
- End-of-life palliative care
Importantly, all these services are delivered at home, often at prices that are 40–60% lower than extended hospitalization, without compromising medical quality.
Families in Salt Lake, Rajarhat Newtown, Dum Dum, Lake Town, and North Kolkata have already turned to Health Cross not just for recovery, but for long-term care partnerships.
Milestones on the Journey
Since its founding in 2022, Health Cross has marked several critical milestones:
- 2022 – Launched with home doctor visits, nursing care, and COVID-19 home support
- 2023 – Opened a dedicated rehab and wellness center for stroke recovery
- 2024 – Expanded services to more neighborhoods and partnered with diagnostic labs and local pharmacies
- 2025 – Serving 500+ active patient families, with hundreds more using on-call and one-time services
And the growth continues — not through aggressive advertising, but through word of mouth and trust.
Why Families Choose Health Cross
So what makes Health Cross different from dozens of other agencies?
- Doctor-Led, Always: Every case supervised by registered medical practioners
- 24x7 Emergency Support: Ambulance services, oxygen supply, ICU-at-home setup, HomeBase ESG, portable X-ray, blood investigations, and other pathological tests
- Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees, with customized plans
- Technology-Enabled: Digital records, medicine reminders, WhatsApp access
- Empathy-Driven Team: Caregivers trained not just in skills, but in soft skills and elder handling
Perhaps most importantly, the brand is rooted in values. “We are doctors first. Every decision we take is based on clinical need, not commercial return,” Dr. Ikbal notes.
A Family Member in a Doctor’s Coat
What started as a pandemic response has now evolved into one of Kolkata’s most trusted home healthcare networks. From dressing wounds to managing chronic diabetes, or simply offering companionship to a lonely senior — Health Cross is filling a long-ignored gap in Indian healthcare.
For families, the brand has become more than a service provider. As one client testimonial reads: “They’re like a family member in a doctor’s coat — always available, always listening, always caring.”
As the aging population rises and healthcare continues to decentralize, Health Cross stands as a model of innovation, compassion, and doctor-led excellence. In a time when so much healthcare feels cold and rushed, this Kolkata-born initiative reminds us that the best medicine often starts with simply showing up — and staying.
To learn more about their services:
www.healthcross.org
Contact : 7439036203
Areas Covered: North Kolkata, Salt Lake, New Town, Lake Town, Dum Dum
24/7 Helpline Available
What's Your Reaction?
