Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calls it ‘truly game changing’, Nikhil Kamath reacts with a heart as Dr Devi Shetty announces India’s first nurse-led smart hospital in Bengaluru

India's healthcare sector may be on the verge of a major shift. Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty, Chairman and Founder of Narayana Health, has announced a first-of-its-kind initiative in Bengaluru where nurses will not only care for patients but also run the entire hospital administration.

The announcement caught the attention of industry leaders, including Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and entrepreneur-investor Nikhil Kamath, sparking widespread discussion on social media.

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Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw calls the idea ‘truly game changing’

Sharing Dr. Shetty's video message on X (formerly Twitter), Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw described the initiative as "Truly game-changing."



The post quickly drew praise from healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs and social media users, many of whom called it a bold step towards empowering nurses and transforming hospital governance.

Nikhil Kamath also reacted to the post, dropping a red heart emoji in the comment section.

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Dr Devi Shetty's vision: A hospital run entirely by nurses

In the video message, Dr. Shetty challenged traditional perceptions about the role of nurses in healthcare management.

"Do you think Indian nurses lack the capability to run a hospital? Absolutely not. You are an expert in managing the chaos every single day but the system has never given you the runaround. But we are going to change that today."

He revealed that Narayana Health is commissioning a radically different healthcare facility in Banashankari, Bengaluru.

"At Narayana Health, we are changing the narrative by commissioning a radically unique, paperless smart hospital in Banashankari, Bengaluru, where the entire operational management and governance will be handled exclusively by nurses."

According to Dr. Shetty, nurses will manage the hospital alongside doctors and technicians, while conventional administrative departments will not exist in their current form.

"You are going to take care of the patients with doctors and technicians, and there will be no other departments like HR, finance, etc."

Narayana Health seeks 25 nurses for leadership roles

As part of the project, Narayana Health is inviting applications from 25 nurses who are willing to take on management and leadership responsibilities.

"We are looking for exactly 25 ambitious nurses—from young professionals (1–2 years post-BSc/GNM) to seasoned veterans—ready to step from the bedside into the boardroom."

The selected nurses will receive several benefits, including:

• Dual salaries comprising their clinical salary and additional management incentives
• A fully sponsored executive hospital administration programme at IIM Bangalore
• Leadership and governance responsibilities in the new smart hospital

Social media applauds the nurse-led hospital model

The announcement triggered a wave of positive reactions online, with many users calling it a long-overdue recognition of nurses' expertise.

One user wrote, "Amazing initiative and out-of-the-box thinking."

Another commented, "Empowering nurses a step in the right direction. It's a noble yet highly underrated profession."

A third user said, "Hope it's truly affordable. Great initiative by a legend."

Others saw the move as a glimpse into the future of healthcare administration.

"No Receptions, no scribes, no HR, No Finance - probably a sign of things to come," one person observed.

Another user praised the wider implications of the idea, writing, "Oh ... truly a game changer... giving a new humane outlook to public hospital governance model! Is Govt of India ( Ministry of Health) listening?..... there is a scope in the government sector too. A huge Nursing staff power and expertise left untapped as yet!"

Why this initiative is drawing attention

Nurses are often the backbone of hospitals, managing patient care, coordinating between departments and handling day-to-day challenges on the ground. However, leadership positions in healthcare institutions have traditionally been dominated by administrators and doctors.

Dr. Devi Shetty's proposed nurse-led hospital aims to test whether those with the most hands-on experience in patient care can also successfully lead hospital operations, potentially creating a new model for healthcare management in India.

With support from influential voices such as Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and reactions from entrepreneurs like Nikhil Kamath, the initiative has already become one of the most talked-about healthcare announcements on social media.