Rupak Barua: Turning Around Healthcare Organizations Through Passion and Grit

Rupak BaruaRupak BaruaRupak Barua
www.insightscare.com
2020 / Vol. 1 / Issue-1
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders
Rupak Barua
CEO
Suresh Ramu
Co-founder & CEO
LEADER OF THE MONTH

Leaders;
Embracing
Adversities for
Human Society
Editor
Vishal Muktewar
n our worst of times, we seek guidance; we seek
Ipeople who will understand our problems. We
look towards people who will not only have the
required solutions but also inspire us to become better
in our endeavors.
Industries all across the globe are witnessing the
advancements of technological transformation.
However, the transformation in the healthcare
industry has been considerably impacting human
society. Though these technological advancements
have brought many positive changes, they have also
increased the complexities for the healthcare industry
to deal with. It has become a struggle for them to
sustain themselves in the face of adversities.
Therefore, an immense amount of responsibilities
have fallen upon the shoulders of the healthcare
industry leaders.
To stand ﬁrmly and help the organization sustain itself
in the face of adversities, healthcare leaders are
devising innovative ways. They promote their ideas

and assert collaboration among their employees with
reasoned diplomacy and bluntness. Being a leader in the
healthcare industry, they have to be coherent, however,
having empathy for their people plays a crucial role in the
long run.
Healthcare leaders understand that they can not do all the
work by themselves. They are aware of the complex
st
dynamics of the 21 century and how difficult it is to sustain
themselves in the important sector of Healthcare. Hence,
these spearheads incorporate constant learning for finding
new ways of learning. They are always on a quest to
improve their organization and foster a culture of unceasing
learning within their staff.
Their equanimity in the face of success or failure allows
them to see a clear picture and make informed decisions
that effectively help to uplift the quality of care for
humanity.
Thus, through this edition of Insightscare, we bring forth
some of the notable personalities in the healthcare industry
who are at the helm of the invention and are devoted to
yield the quality care for the humankind across the globe.
We see it as an honor to introduce you to ‘Dominant
Leaders in the Healthcare industry’. This issue consists of
some of the ambitious leaders in the healthcare industry,
who with their years of expertise, are taking initiatives to
develop innovative products and help organizations thrive
in the rapidly changing atmosphere of Healthcare.
On the Cover, we are privileged to introduce you to Rupak
Barua, Group CEO of AMRI Hospitals. Rupak is an
industry veteran and is seen as an influential personality.
His love of technology and a vision of providing quality
care to the Indian people, helped him to transform the
quality care provided by the country’s private hospitals.
As the Leader of the Month, we have Suresh Ramu, Co-
Founder and CEO of Cytecare, who aims to cure cancer
by embracing the patient-centric approach. With
Cytecare, Ramu strives to strengthen India’s fight against
cancer by devising advanced medical diagnosis.
We have also enlisted: Abhik Moitra, CEO of HBG
Medical Assistance,who, with his years of diverse
industry expertise, is continuously developing new
policies to transform the healthcare industry; Dr. Kishore
Kumar, Founding Chairman of Cloudnine Group of
Hospitals, is changing the way the maternal and neonatal
care is provided by setting high standards for care; Dr.
Ranjeet Singh Ajmani, CEO of PlasmaGen
BioSciences, who along with his expert team, has been
making every effort in the domain of Plasma product
Industry to make PlasmaGen a one-stop destination; and
Srikanth Chellappa, Director of Contact Doctor
Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., who has strengthened the
foundation for the digital healthcare revolution in India.
Apart from the above, we are also privileged to mention
the notable contribution of: Prasad Pasam, CEO of Shar
Technologies; Rajat Kr. Sachdeva, Director of Dr.
Sachdeva’s Dental Implant Clinic; Ryan Fernando,
CEO of QUA Nutrition Clinics; and Dr. Simal Soin.
Alongside the above mentioned prominent leaders, we
have also added articles penned-down by the in-house
editorial team. These will provide valuable insights in the
healthcare industry.
Have a great read Ahead!

RupakRupakBARUA
Cover Story
10

SURESH RAMU
Striving to Cure Cancer
with A Patient-Centric
Approach
16
Helpguide
10 Ways to Age
Healthily
32
Article
LEADER OF THE MONTH
Abhik Moitra
Redeﬁning the
Healthcare Policies
20
Dr. Kishore Kumar
Providing Topnotch
Infant Healthcare
Solutions
22
Dr. Ranjeet
Singh Ajmani
Dedicated to
Make a Self- Sufﬁcient
India in Plasma
Protein Therapy
26
Srikanth Chellappa
Driving the Digital
Healthcare Revolution
30
20
22
30
26

Art & Design Head Amol Kamble
Associate Designer Poonam Mahajan
Co- Designer
Sapna ShindeArt & Picture Editor
Savita Pandav
SME-SMO Executive Manoj Shelge
Circulation Manager Tanaji
Digital Marketing Manager Prashant Chevale
Technical Specialists Amar, Pratiksha
Business Development Executive Pooja, Ruchi, Nikhil
Business Development Lead Nandan Deshpande
Sr. Business Development Manager Megha Mishra
Editor-in-Chief Pooja M. Bansal
Managing Editor Shruti Jambhale
Publishing Control Team Rahul Niraj
Quality Assurance Team Darshan, Abhishaj, Sneha
Contributing Editor Shreevershita Gupta
January, 2020

RupakRupakBARUA
Healthcare is one such sector where one
can be the part of a corporate structure,
yet play a role in social welfare
Cover Story

C
hallenges can be intimidating. However, they also
have the capability of bringing out the best in a
person. Had it not been for challenges and the
necessity of action that they create, mankind would have
been deprived of many great inventions and discoveries.
Challenges nudge people to go beyond their comfort zone
and look for opportunities they couldn’t find. It lets them
discover themselves as an individual, their characteristics,
strengths, and weakness that makes them up. And those
who thrive through these challenges emerge as people who
are looked up to and who inspire others.
As someone who has an insatiable appetite for new
challenges, Rupak Barua, has not only won new frontiers
for himself but also set a benchmark in the healthcare
industry. The dedicated and target-oriented personality is
credited with taking charge and turning around several
private hospitals that otherwise would have turned into bad
investments.
The Journey
Since childhood, Rupak’s father instilled in him the value of
leading a life that has to be meaningful and constructive, by
being actively involved in helping others. He saw his father
working till his last breath, determined, actively involved
and associated with many welfare activities. The
philosophy of his life was to serve people and to leave
behind a legacy of service. And Rupak is carrying forward
that legacy through his work.
Keeping his ultimate goal in mind, after completing a Post
Graduate course in Marketing, Rupak successfully pursued
MDP in Hospital Management from IIM-Ahmedabad and
IIM-Bangalore. Healthcare is one such sector where one
can be the part of a corporate structure, yet play a role in
social welfare.
Stepping into the healthcare sector was a turning point in
his life and the more challenges he faced, the more
motivated he became. He took up challenging tasks one
after the other and met these challenges successfully, which
helped him to earn a name for his problem-solving role and
bringing about a new era in the healthcare sector in
Kolkata.
In a healthcare industry career spanning more than three
decades, Rupak has held several senior positions in top
corporate hospitals of Kolkata. He adds, “There is no
denying the fact that my growth has been from the
grassroots level. I started my career as a management
trainee, from where I rose to head a renowned chain of
diagnostic centers. I had a passion for marketing and
explored new spheres of activity. Before joining AMRI
Hospitals in 2014 as Group CEO, I was heading CMRI
Hospitals, and later, BM Birla Heart Research Institute,
which are both parts of the CK Birla Group.”
Turning around AMRI
Taking up the charge of AMRI Hospitals in 2014, a few
years after the Group had faced a major setback, was
perhaps the most difficult challenge Rupak had ever
accepted. He reminisces, “My passion for turning around
an organization at its most crucial phase has been my forte.
This time, too, I succeeded in re-establishing AMRI to a
niche position. I also consider my efforts to redefine AMRI
as the fastest growing healthcare chain in Eastern India to
be a significant achievement.”
Ever since Rupak took charge as the Group CEO, he
worked towards regaining and boosting the confidence of
patients, doctors as well as other stakeholders. With huge
support from the promoters of the Group, he spearheaded
the launch of a new international standard super-specialty
hospital at Bhubaneswar in 2014. He also led the charge to
upgrade the other units of AMRI in Kolkata (Dhakuria,
Mukundapur, and Salt Lake) with high-end equipment
(some for the first time in Eastern India), besides getting on
board fresh talent, both in terms of doctors and in the
organization’s rank and file.
A Challenging Sector
As someone who has been closely associated with the
healthcare industry, Rupak feels that apart from the intrinsic
Healthcare is one such
sector where one
can be the part of a
corporate structure,
yet play a role in
social welfare
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders

challenges, many external factors have made the sector, a
challenging one. The hospital, as a brand, needs to be
pushed further, and even private players have to put in a lot
more effort since it is not always possible for the
government to take initiatives. While the government has
played a significant role in developing and improving
infrastructure, there still is a need to improve air
connectivity, making tertiary hospitals accessible from all
corners of the country. Also, brand promotion needs to be
improved and made more widespread. Hospitals also need
to attract patients from Bangladesh and other neighboring
countries.
Making an Impact
As an industry veteran, Rupak is seen as an influencer and a
change-maker. Understanding his role, he leaves no stone
unturned to bring required positive changes. In terms of his
contribution, as an active member of several industry
bodies, he has pushed for a more service-oriented
healthcare system, with a focus on technology and merit.
At present, he is the Vice President of the Association of
Hospitals of Eastern India, and the Chairman of CII
(Eastern Region) Healthcare Sub-committee and Chairman
(Eastern Region) of the CII’s Healthcare Skills Council. He
is also an active member of the Bengal Chamber of
Commerce & Industry, besides being the National Industry
Expert of the Indian Chamber of Commerce. Through all
these bodies, he has worked towards upholding the spirit of
dedication, commitment, and transparency.
These are also the qualities that have been reflected in his
current office as the Group CEO of AMRI Hospitals, which
has, over the years, grown as the largest private network of
hospitals in Eastern India. Rupak adds, “I believe my efforts
to motivate the Group and to re-establish AMRI in a
prominent place on the region’s healthcare map has worked
in providing people with healthcare service that is both top
quality and value for money, adding in a small way to the
success of Bengal.”
With hope and utmost enthusiasm, Rupak shares, “A
change I would like to see is healthcare becoming more
affordable and accessible, with the help of the government.
While both the Central and the State governments have put

AMRI Hospitals brings
to the table a class of its
own, making the healthcare
group a major player in
keeping Eastern India
ahead of the curve.
‘‘
‘‘

healthcare on their list of priorities, it would be a welcome
change if the masses received the benefits of the massive
technological shifts that are taking place in healthcare.”
Chalking the Growth Ahead
Digitization and technological advancements are two
keywords that have disrupted all the industries as we see it,
with healthcare being no exception. Rupak feels that with
the world taking a major leap forward through digitization,
healthcare service providers need to take a fresh look at all
aspects of their services. This starts with regular operations
to patient relations to providing value-added services.
Digitization of healthcare has also changed the ideas of
telemedicine and they need to churn out newer ways to
address the issues. Under the current circumstances, it is
imperative that all private healthcare service providers
should put the utmost importance on proper and seamless
service, besides ease of access to quality care at a value for
money rates.
This rapid growth also makes the healthcare industry as an
attractive platform for entrepreneurs. Rupak believes that
for aspirant healthcare entrepreneurs, the future can only
get brighter, provided the necessary factors are in place. He
adds, “In my three decades as a healthcare professional, I
have realized that anyone staying in sync with advanced
and latest technologies will have an edge over others. I feel
the future will be completely rewritten by digitization and
artificial intelligence, not just in healthcare but in almost
every sphere of life.”
“The focus will be on quality healthcare at affordable cost,
which will be further aided by the use of various digital
tools. We are already working towards a paperless
environment and the infrastructure of the future will gain
largely from that, helping to bring down human errors to a
large extent. If the upcoming generation of healthcare
professionals keep these things in mind, they are bound to
win”, predicts Rupak.
“The hallmark of AMRI Hospitals is a committed team of doctors and caregivers,
who take up the challenge of treating the most complicated cases”

SURESH RAMU
Recent decades have seen a rising epidemic of non-
communicable diseases across the world, including
cancer. In 2018 World Health Organisation had
sounded an alarm for cancer and declared it the second
leading cause of death globally.
In India, the cancer burden has more than doubled over the
last 26 years, and according to Cancerindia.org, 2018
witnessed 784,821 cancer-caused deaths in the country. It is
also estimated that 1.15 million new cancer cases were
registered in 2018 and currently there are 2.25 million
Indians living with the disease.
These statistics are extremely alarming, and many experts
believe that early detection can be the key in reducing the
cancer-related death rates. However, a lack of awareness
about cancer prevention, late-stage presentation,
inaccessible diagnosis and inadequate in patient care are
barriers impeding the current cancer diagnosis and
treatment. Today, the need of the hour is for the corporate
sector, academia and the government to come together to
create awareness and change the "governance of care" for
cancer patients in India.
One leader who is passionate to make a heart-warming
difference in India's fight against cancer is Suresh Ramu,
Co-founder & CEO of Cytecare Hospitals. Ramu aims to
create and nurture a healthcare delivery organization that is
committed to high-quality, standardized and patient-
oriented treatment in the true sense of the term.
An Inspirational Beginning
An alumnus from the globally renowned institutes of IIT-
Madras and IIM-Calcutta, Ramu always aspired to be an
engineer. He laid the foundation of his career as a
consultant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers where he got the
opportunity to work with a diverse range of industries.
In 1999, Ramu took the first confident steps in his
entrepreneurial journey and joined a telemedicine company
in Pune. This initial experience in healthcare enabled him to
take another step forward and move to Quintiles – a world
leading clinical trials company. As part of the leadership
team at Quintiles, Ramu was part of the leadership team
which led the growth from a handful of people to a strong
team of close to 7000 employees by 2011.
The Launch of Cytecare
In 2011, Ramu together with co-founders Dr. Ferzaan
Engineer, Himanshu Shah and Lalit Pai set up a clinical
research solution organization. The company, focussed on
clinical trial solutions, 70% of which was in research and
development.
Cytecare Hospitals was the team's dream project. Their
personal experiences with cancer treatment and the
yawning gap between what was available in India and the
rest of the world was the motivation behind the hospital.
Their India-centric research on the types and prevalence of
cancer played a pivotal role in creating this venture.
Laying the Foundation For Cytecare Hospitals
Since inception in the year 2016, Cytecare Hospital has
strived to remain at the forefront of innovative care
solutions for patients. He worked tirelessly to find the right
set of investors and a team of founding doctors, who
believed in the vision of patient-care and organ-site focused
cancer care.
The Co-Founders also believed in the importance of design
in creating a center of excellence for cancer treatment. They
Striving to Cure Cancer with A Patient-Centric Approach
16 |January 2020 |

My goal is to create
and nurture a
healthcare delivery
organization
““““
Suresh Ramu
Co-founder & CEO
17| January 2020 |
LEADER OF THE MONTH

ensured that he set up the right design team in place, both
from the aesthetic as well as engineering perspectives.
On November 2016, they announced the launch of a state-
of-the-art center, a 150-bed, nine-storied cancer hospital in
Bangalore, providing integrated treatment for patients with
cancer. The hospital boasts of a dedicated multi-disciplinary
medical team that merges evidence-based protocols with
targeted therapies and advanced technologies for greater
precision and better treatment.
The clinical team also consists of cancer specialists for
every organ. Their extensive knowledge of each organ site
combined with world class technologies and advanced
treatment options combat the disease at every stage with
accuracy and precision. Cytecare has a comprehensive
oncology unit, which not only includes the core specialities
- surgical, medical, radiation, nuclear medicine, diagnostics
- but also pain and palliation, psycho-oncology, nutrition
and navigator services, thus ensuring holistic patient care.
Milestones and Global Recognition
In short period of time the hospital achieved NABL
(National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration
Laboratories) and NABH (National Accreditation Board for
Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) accreditation. Also in,
2019, the European Society for Medical Oncology
(ESMO), the leading European professional organization
for medical oncology, presented Cytecare Hospitals with
the 2019 ESMO Designated Centers of Integrated
Oncology & Palliative Care certification. Cytecare is the
first cancer hospital in India to receive the prestigious
accreditation within 3 years of inception.
From treating Cytecare's first patient to its first international
patient and then the 10,000th patient, the dream project of
the team has become a reality that is transforming cancer
care and cancer treatment in India.
Making an Impact
Ramu believes that the Indian healthcare ecosystem is
brimming with opportunities - right from creating centres
of excellence for specialities, especially diseases like
cancer, to spreading awareness about prevention. Over the
next few years, he and his dedicated team plan to work on
cancer education, early detection programs, timely
diagnosis and the right treatment modalities to ensure a
better outcome for cancer patients.
According to Ramu, due to the lack of sufficient private or
government healthcare insurers, Indians have to spend a
large amount of their hard earned money on healthcare, but
this is not sustainable. He believes that it is essential for
greater funding to be directed toward universal health
coverage schemes in India.
With Cytecare, Ramu believes he and his team have taken
the first steps in creating a healthier India. He aims to
strengthen India’s fight against cancer by scaling the
organization to make better cancer diagnosis, treatment and
management accessible across the country.
Commenting on his views on the industry, Ramu said,
“As we step into a new decade, technology will play a
significant role in bridging the gap between cancer
diagnosis and treatment facilities. Health analytics,
algorithms and big data from genomics and proteomics are
already helping practitioners understand the different
diseases that encompass the broad cancer category. This
knowledge, coupled with state-of-the-art technologies like
nanomedicine, robotics and lasers for surgical and radiation
treatments, is revolutionizing cancer care.
Additionally, modern targeted drugs such as
immunotherapy are paving paths by attacking the immune
system directly. Together, these ever-evolving technologies
will make cancer cure accessible and affordable for all.”
Advice to The Next Generation
When asked about his advice to the next generation, Ramu
concluded the interview by saying “Diseases are constantly
evolving, as are technologies, and we need to imbibe a
culture of consistent and continuous learning , invest in
research, and assimilate knowledge to be ahead of the
curve.
My only advice to medical science enthusiasts and health-
tech entrepreneurs is to evolve with the times and rise to
challenges to make a difference. I believe that’s the most
inspiring thing about being in the healthcare space–the
ability to change lives, to save lives.”
The most inspiring thing about being in the
healthcare space is - the ability to
change lives and to save lives
““ ““
18 |January 2020 |

Before venturing into the healthcare sector, he worked for 4
years in Nestle (as Sales officer in upcountry Rajasthan) and
later worked for ITC. After spending 6 years in FMCG, he
came across an opportunity to work for ICICI Bank. He
was leading the company for almost 6 years.
Mr. Moitra actual healthcare journey began with Artemis
Hospitals where he led the International Marketing team.
And, with the support from Management, he made the
company widely known in International Markets. This all
took him on the success highway.
Fast forward, in the year 2010, Mr. Moitra began with his
entrepreneurial journey. He started a small company by the
name ‘High Beam Global’, which was later rechristened
‘HBG Medical Assistance’. With Skills acquired in FMCG,
Banking and Healthcare, this small start shaped up into
HBG Medical Assistance—India’s most popular medical
Assistance company.
Source of Motivation
Behind every extraordinary achievement there are
extraordinary efforts. With all the trusted team members
and Abhik's family, who have always have stood by his side
in all thick and thins; the/his entrepreneurial journey took
shape. “Being an entrepreneur is not easy and it has its own
ups and down. But my team and my family have never
allowed me to rest on my achievements. They have always
push me to do more and have motivated me to be limitless.”
says Mr. Moitra. Further, he also says, “My second source
of motivation is my immense trust in God.”
A Stroke of Genius
Mr. Moitra’s journey has been very appealing over the
years. He has been awarded with “Medical Facilitator of
the Year Award” by FICCI and Ministry of Commerce for
year 2017, 2018 and stood as a runners up for the year
ABHIK MOITRA
Leadership is driven by excellence. A profound
leader making sound decisions is the one who
brings the best out of people and the business.
Striving for success in all domains and ventures, a true
leader is one who supports and uplifts the subordinates in
such a way, that enhances the collective growth. This is
very important when it comes to keeping up with the
dynamics of the healthcare space in India. Making a
difference in the healthcare sector is an arduous task.
However, by virtue of his unending persistence, Mr. Abhik
Moitra has proven himself to be a major game-changer in
the healthcare paradigm of the country.
The Genesis
The professional journey of Mr. Moitra is all started in the
year 1996 and from that year everyday is just adding fuel to
the growth flames. Having vast working experience in
various companies, he currently runs his own
organization—HBG Medical Assistance.
Redefining the Healthcare Policies
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders
If we were to work
like a team, we
can change India’s
Healthcare Future.
20 |January 2020 |

2019. He has been listed in “100 most impactful healthcare
leaders’Global Listing” by World Health and Wellness
Congress.
Also, the company got an NABH accreditation. Launching
st
world’s 1 second opinion portal in association with AAR
insurance of Uganda is a big achievement off the stage. But
one thing that stands out is assisting 7000+ lives to gain
back their health. This tells its tremendous ability to choose
the right doctor for each and every patient.
TheChallenges
“The biggest challenge that we face is, our biggest
beneficiary is also our biggest competitor,” says Mr.
Moitra. Hospitals treat the patients and without them, their
services may not exist. “We as Medical Value Travel
Company act as distribution arms for these hospitals. But at
times, instead of working together, the hospitals compete
and we end up being on 2 sides,” he added further.
Making a Difference
As a responsible human, Abhik has plan to make a policy
for all private healthcare players who have more than 750
beds to have 20% of their tertiary care beds in tier 3 cities.
This will help the doctors and nurses to find employment in
those cities and reverse migrations from bigger cities. This
will also help patients from these smaller cities to get
affordable healthcare next doors. Additionally, it will free
up capacity in the bigger hospitals of major cities.
Further, to make Medical Value Travel (MVT) business as a
sizable industry in India, the MVT players need to be given
importance by the government and needs to get involved in
policy related discussions. Also, he would be working
harder for a better policy towards promoting organ
donations.
Healthcare Right Now
The current healthcare scenario in India is evolving at its
best. With the Government policies ensuring that healthcare
needs to be in reach of each and every citizen, the industry
has been forced to think differently. The hospitals will now
need to focus more on high margin businesses like Medical
Value Travel to cross subsidize for low margin verticals.
As Medical Value Travel, gives highest per bed per night
revenue, the hospitals will need to leverage the opportunity
of medical tourism. Government has been extending all
support by including Medical Tourism as one of the
champion sectors and allocating budgets to promote it.
Words of Wisdom
“Our Vedic books have some great answers to some very
complex scientific questions. You will find answers to
unsolved healthcare mysteries in Ayurveda and possibly in
Rigveda. It is also our duty towards our nation to promote
our national treasures of Ayurveda. So My advice to science
enthusiasts is study the books of Ayurveda and amalgamate
the same with modern science. Ayurveda needs you as
much as you need Ayurveda. My plea to health-tech
entrepreneur remains – don’t do things simply because you
like the idea, work on the applicability and acceptability of
the idea first.”
Mr. Abhik Moitra
President
21| January 2020 |

The Journey So Far!
He earned his Paediatric medical degree with a gold
medal from Mysore University in 1989 and started
working in Mysore Mission Hospital. After saving the
smallest baby in India that weighed only 780 grams, he
decided to specialize in neonatology (a pediatrician that
is sub-specialized in premature babies). As this area of
specialization was not available in India during those
years, Dr. Kishore went to England, where he spent four
years specializing in the field and was appointed as a
Consultant Neonatologist in Merseyside. He also
completed a Fellowship in Neonatal ICU with an
FRACP from Melbourne, Australia, clinching the
certification as one of the youngest and highest qualified
neonatologists in the world.
Dr. Kishore always had a desire to serve the motherland
and decided to come back to India after sixteen long
years. During his time abroad, he became familiar with
the brilliant standards of maternity care in the western
world, and the lack thereof in India. So, he decided to
start Cloudnine to offer similar services in India.
About Cloudnine
Cloudnine is a leading chain of maternity, childcare and
fertility hospitals. The hospital offers a comprehensive
range of services from maternity, gynaecology, fertility,
neonatal intensive care and pediatrics. Headquartered in
Bengaluru, the hospital has expanded to cities like
Chennai, Gurgaon, Pune, Mumbai, Chandigarh, and
Noida. The aim of the hospital is the pursuit of
excellence in providing the best maternal and neonatal
DR. KISHORE KUMAR
At a very young age, Dr. Kishore Kumar has
achieved a lot in the field of Neonatology. He is
a world-renowned neonatologist who has
worked across North America, the UK, Asia and
Australia. Dr. Kishore is the Founding Chairman of
Cloudnine Group of Hospitals and a senior
neonatologist at Cloudnine Hospital, Jayanagar. The
contributions that he has made to the field of
aneonatology are extraordinary.
Providing Topnotch Infant Healthcare Solutions
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders
Dr. Kishore Kumar
Founding Chairman
22 |January 2020 |

care by setting higher standards for ourselves and
striving constantly to achieve them.
Source of Motivation
People who enjoy their jobs are more likely to be
motivated and Dr. Kishore enjoys his work a lot. He also
believes that the support and encouragement from the
family keep him motivated. Apart from this, his teachers
and mentors also motivated him at the right time and that
helped him to achieve more in life.
Dr. Kishore asserts, “I don’t have the TGIF attitude, I
relax and enjoy working, but at the same time I devote
enough time with my family too, I share my thoughts with
my family so they feel part of my passion and they
become my motivation with their ideas contributing to
whatever I do”.
Achievements
According to Dr. Kishore, the most significant
achievement for him is saving babies who otherwise
would have become statistics in any other hospital in
India and the joy of the family is the most satisfying
moment.
He also says, “Seeing the happiness in my parents who
had thought I will not return to India after having spent
sixteen years abroad, and now they say in the past we
used to say he is my son, today we say I am his father or
mother, that itself is a major achievement for me/us, the
satisfaction of my parents”.
Challenges Faced
Initially, he faced some huge problems to start a hospital,
like—licensing issues, attitude of people, real estate,
quality service of the medical equipment (which are
taken for granted in the west), nursing care standards and
the challenges of standardizing the medical care with
protocols and more such issues. Moreover, it is difficult
to take care of both the hospitality industry and medical
care and that too 24/7 in a country like India. The next
big challenge was to find suitably trained staff who can
match the ethos and to retain them.
23| January 2020 |

Dr. Kishore added, “Though ‘copying or imitation is
the best form of flattery, it adds to the uncertainties
though we have had five brands being started in the last
decade on similar lines as Cloudnine we have still been
number one in this field!”
Healthcare Scenario in India
Dr. Kishore shared his views on the current scenario of
the healthcare industry. He thinks India has made huge
progress in the last decade in various forms including
immunization, maternal and neonatal care, Ayushman
Bharat etc. However, India is a huge country with a
multitude of health service providers, unlike in the west.
We have a long way to go before we can expect
“standardized care” across the country. We have pockets
of clinical excellence, but the country as a whole needs
to move forward in a big way before we can even
address data collection, data analytics and AI in health
care. With that being said, the potential is huge and
unimaginable.
Piece of Advice from Dr. Kishore
Medical science enthusiasts and healthtech
entrepreneurs need to understand that the potential in
this area is huge and unimaginable. It could be anyone’s
cup of tea, depending upon who comes up with what
and how they will revolutionize healthcare. Tomorrow
belongs to those who work with passion and not TGIF
attitude!
My team believes in breathing
magic and memories into
pregnancy and parenthood
and our world-class maternity
experiences are pointed at
giving the best start to just-
born babies and parents in
equal measure
24 |January 2020 |

The reason ranges from genetic deficiency to lifestyle.
So how do we obtain what we lack? For that, we thank
the numerous humans around us who donate blood
regularly or not-so-regularly.
This whole blood that is donated is separated into its
components i.e. blood plasma, platelets and erythrocytes.
The blood plasma is further processed through Plasma
Fractionation to manufacture Plasma Derived Medicinal
Products (PDMPs) that are used to treat various diseases
and disorders. These proteins are used for their
Therapeutic Value to treat people with life threatening
diseases. It is administered to patients who mostly have
genetic deficiencies and can not manufacture these
proteins in their bodies and need it from external sources
to keep life’s battle alive. Human blood saves many lives
but it is very vulnerable fluid, as it can also transmit
infections like HIV, Hepatitis B/C and many more. So
the manufacturing process of these proteins involves a
very high degree of precision and safety measures. At the
same time unfortunately in India, the availability of
plasma is a huge challenge due to varieties of the reasons
and therefore India still remains as the import-dependent
country for a large number of plasma proteins even as of
today.
When Dr. Ranjeet Singh Ajmani started working in this
field, there was no proper regulation, process, and less
than 10 blood banks in India used to prepare plasma
from whole blood donation. His initial years went by
spending and understanding the blood banking
DR. RANJEET SINGH
AJMANI
The bright red blood that courses through our
body makes sure that we are alive, and awesome
the way we are. That, we know. But what we
don’t know or rather aren’t concerned about is all the
hard work it takes for our blood to keep us that way.
Apart from delivering oxygen, energy and taking away
the accumulated carbon dioxide and other impurities,
blood, or rather its components are also responsible for
fighting diseases. However, not all of us are healthy
enough to wage that war inside us for a healthy living.
Dedicated to Make a Self- Sufficient India in Plasma Protein Therapy
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders
As an Indian plasma product
company, we are dedicated to
improving the health and
quality of life of patients in
India and SAARC (South Asian
Association for Regional
Cooperation) region
26 |January 2020 |

community, regulators, policymakers, politicians and
very learned clinicians. His efforts saw him work hard
and travel a lot and resulted in the Govt. of India, issuing
the permit, for the first time, of collecting the surplus
from Indian blood banks, allowing to send the plasma to
South Korea to get converted into products. These
products were then made available to Indian patients.
Personally a very full filling time for Dr. Ajmani and his
team. His stature as an expert in the matters grew, and he
soon found himself invited to advise on setting up a
plasma fractionation plant in Chennai. However, this was
also a time when he felt and saw a different view of the
company he was working with, which was completely
contrary to his experience of almost 10 years in the
organization and totally unacceptable.
The Dawn of a New Beginning
It’s said that the night is darkest before sunrise. Dr.
Ajmani was going through a similar phase in his
professional life. Although he was very happy with his
work, he couldn’t compromise on his ethics and took the
tough decision of moving on. After a short hiatus, he
took up the role of National Expert-Plasma Fractionation
as given by Govt. of India. The new role tested his skills
beyond the subject line. He recalls, “My interactions
with Govt. Machinery was eye-opening and great
learning experience. But while enjoying the spotlight
more than I probably deserved, I also created many
enemies in the system.” Once again, Dr. Ajmani listened
to his inner voice, and drawing strength from his true
calling to select a career path, which perfectly matched
his purpose of life, he set out is for his new innings at
PlasmaGen BioSciences.
A Work of Passion
PlasmaGen BioSciences is an Indian Bio-pharmaceutical
organization specializing exclusively in Plasma Protein
Therapy. Dr. Ajmani started from scratch to reach where
he and his company is today. Along with an efficient
team that feels loved, empowered and trusted by one and
all, he has been making every effort in the domain of
Plasma product Industry and has become an Imperative
one-stop destination for the medical fraternity for most
of the plasma products need. “My work involves dealing
with policymakers, regulators, blood bankers, clinicians,
patients groups etc. At times it looks very demanding and
difficult, but so is life” admits Dr. Ajmani.
Making a Mark
When Dr. Ajmani started his work, it was new, and
different and challenges were a part of the package.
Speaking about the same he says, “This is part of the
deal, how do you come over it is more of art than
science. Human sensitivities are very complex and
personal. One needs to deal with an enormous sense of
responsibility and care. I still face many challenges like
availability of safe plasma continuously, regulations,
awareness about plasma product amongst clinicians,
patients groups etc.”
Herculean tasks like these require an endless source of
motivation and Dr. Ajmani finds it within himself. He
feels that life throws many challenges on a day-to-day
basis, and one must find at least one reason to enjoy
every aspect of life. Apart from that, a supportive
environment also plays a vital role for which he thanks
Dr. Ranjeet Singh Ajmani
27| January 2020 |

his teachers/mentors and his co-workers/every member
of his team and most importantly his family. Having a
family who understands your purpose more than career
is very important. It is through their constant support
and the undying faith that he has been able to create a
niche and expertise in the cosmos of plasma product
therapies.
Today Dr. Ajmani is a renowned name in the industry
having many firsts to his credit. Apart from those
mentioned already, he developed “Fibrin Glue” a plasma
product along with TIFAC and another research
organization for the first time in India. He was also a part
of formulating plasma policy for India. He is an Expert
member of Indian Pharmacopeia Commission (IPC) on
blood plasma products, an industry representative and an
expert member of the First Committee on the
Hemovigliance Program of India. He is regularly invited
to give talks/lectures on Indian/Asian scene about plasma
products at various international forums and shared stage
with noble laureates. The fact that he could create and
nurture a team at PlasmaGen with a very strong sense of
belongings and commitment and with a Zero rate of
attrition speaks a lot about him as a leader. He is also
credited with creating awareness of Blood component
therapy and the value of plasma from the plasma product
point of view.
Views on Healthcare industry
Dr. Ajmani opines that India is a country of extreme
contrast and inequality. We are 1.3 billion people with an
extreme degree of paying capacity, education level,
social status and so on. No one system can fit the bill. We
must work towards the various systems, where we can
provide basic healthcare support to the last man in the
queue. We should develop our models, as a model
available in the west or developed world would not work
for us. We still have not resolved the basic issues like
safe drinking water, TB, Diarrhoea, and on top of it, we
have now the challenge of lifestyle diseases like cancer,
diabetes, stress. Inequality in healthcare is very shocking
and inhumane. He also feels that the biggest challenge is
Unequal healthcare system because of policies and that
we must develop Public health funding. He is still
hopeful that we would be able to grow in Gene Therapy,
Personal medicines, Biopharmaceutical field, better
diagnostic and treatment protocols for lifestyle diseases.
Follow Your Heart
Throughout his journey, Dr Ajmani has followed his
heart and that is what he suggests to others, especially
the young entrepreneurs. When you want to charter and
walk life on your belief and terms, you may not find
enough support from outer world. Society at large enjoy
status quo, as any change brings a huge sense of
discomfort, readjustment and realignment. It comes with
a price tag, be ready to pay and feel happy that you are
leading a life, which you wanted. He advises them to see
the larger purpose of their lives and select a career path,
which would not only give them money but also enrich
their life. Work is very important part of ones life but it
is not everything, hobbies / recreational activities which
allows you to explore you core play a very significant
role in long term. He adds, “Also, I am a huge believer
that any business options come with a huge risk and
challenge, so please have a very close understanding of
your own self- know your weakness very well, knowing
your weakness in advance is a real strength and be in
touch with ground reality.” Do not dream big, dream
real, and whatever you do, perfect your craft and be on
the top of your game.
“I would also like to say that Life comes before anything,
so enjoy your life to the fullest on your terms. Face every
challenge of life with a smile. Be, creative, brave and
bold,” concludes Dr. Ranjeet Ajmani.
28 |January 2020 |

Srikanth is a post graduate majored in computer science
with over 20 years of experience across industries with a
strong desire to improve the lives of people using
technology. This led him to start Contact Doctor
Healthcare. With an aim to provide medical services to
even the remotest place on the earth, he founded the
organization on 7th May 2014. He ensured that the
services should remain affordable and available with
uniform quality during a need using technology. “A
happy, satisfied, and smiling patient has always been a
constant motivation for me,” says Srikanth.
Affordable, World-Class Online Healthcare Services
At Contact Doctor Healthcare, the whole team is constantly
improving the communication and staying connected
through more convenient channels with their patients.
Contact Doctor Healthcare is a hybrid healthcare service
platform integrating the conventional physical and the
digital medical services to provide the benefit of
convenience and best-in-class services online.
Tele-consultation, Home care, Locating and Scheduling
visits to a near-by hospital/clinic, Online medical advice,
Medicines and Lab services at home, are the services which
patients can avail from contactdoctor.in
Some of the services are as explained below:
• Online Video Consultation
Consult through this platform with doctors across
specialties from the comfort of one’s own home /
location.
• Doctors/Nurses/Physios at your home
Contact Doctor Healthcare will send the
doctors/nurses/physios to attend patients / dependents at
their home who are unable to move or reach hospitals.
• Book Doctor Appointments
Search for a particular specialty/location/time-
slot/doctor and proceed to book the appointments as
comfortable to the patients. The organization will
SRIKANTH CHELLAPPA
The recent technological advancements have
brought about a massive and welcoming change in
the healthcare industry. It has made our life better
and easier than ever before. In the last few decades, the
healthcare industry has seen many positive changes and is
on the verge of witnessing more exciting developments in
the future. Rather than just being a service-oriented
stream, its impact on the quality and affordability of the
care provided has been differentiated as the time is
passing by.
With the innumerable challenges that we face today in
this fast-paced dynamic world, any leadership coach or
expert is needed with effective leadership skills. These
skills are becoming the driving force in the healthcare
industry. And collectively, those driving factors are
providing answers to all the healthcare problems.
There are few effective health care leaders who possess
rare talent combining key medical and business
competencies. One of them is Srikanth Chellappa,
Director at Contact Doctor Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. who is
taking the organization towards its goals in noteworthy
style.
Driving the Digital Healthcare Revolution
Leaders
Dominant
To Watch In
Healthcare Industry
Leaders
At ContactDoctor.in, we aim at
providing the medical services
to even the remotest place on
the earth and ensure the
services still remain a ordable
and is available during a need
using the technology
30 |January 2020 |

promptly notify the patients through SMS/eMail for any
change in the appointment status.
• Post Your Query
The organization suggests this service for second
opinions. You can upload your reports and ask your
question to the doctors. Doctors will analyze the
patient’s report with the query and respond back.
• Ambulance Services
Contact Doctor Healthcare’s ambulances (mobile
critical care units) comes equipped with special features
that facilitate faster and smoother transfer of critically
ill patients to the nearest network/non-network hospitals
and this is being provided through partners.
• Medicines delivered at your home
Upload the prescription with clearly visible details and
get your medicines delivered at your home.
• Lab Services at your home
Samples collected at home and the reports sent to the
patient’s registered email-id and also made available in
their profile for anytime access.
Presently, with the existing communication channels like
Web chat, Telephone number, Messaging platforms to
interact with ‘Agasthya—the chat-bot handle’, Contact
Doctor Healthcare has now started a direct call facility from
its website on test mode. This works on all major browsers
like Chrome, Firefox, Edge.
Further Srikanth says, “Kindly request you all to engage
now with Agasthya for your needs and as well to contribute
towards its learning. This will become an effective
communication channel during a need for care in the near
future with all your support.”
Most Significant Achievements
With all the obstacles on the path like resistance to
technology adaption with the providers/patients, ‘physical
touch’ nature of the industry, data privacy & security,
unfavorable policies. Also, from complex regulations,
unexpressed or not clearly stated needs, to patient’s lack of
trust with the current healthcare system/providers; it has
came a long way by overcoming all these challenges.
With the hard work and passion, it now has an improved
accessibility (Telemedicine) with enhanced communication
between patient and providers (Agasthya). Additionally, the
company has been empowering patients during the
communication (PatientMPower – the Healthcare ML
Models based mobile application). Contact Doctor
Healthcare believes that this is a continuous learning
process for the organization and thus it constantly keeps on
improving.
Encompassing Possibilities
Srikanth believes that the healthcare Industry will see signs
of domain expertise shifting from humans to machines. He
clarifies that it’s not that doctors will be replaced, but
patients will have more information and control over their
health and healthcare will be completely digitized. Patients
will start actively engaging and participating in their care
process and personalized care will be the future.
Further, Srikanth shares that if he had the power to change
one thing in the healthcare system, that would be the
Equality in Healthcare, ensuring transparent and uniform
quality of care to everyone irrespective of racial and
societal inequalities.
Pocket Wisdom
“Prioritize patients first. Stay innovative. Think solutions
that will empower patients and will take healthcare closer to
patients. Healthy people. Healthy Nation.” advises Srikanth
to the budding entrepreneurs.
To avail Contact Doctor Healthcare services, Click here
Srikanth Chellappa
Director
31| January 2020 |

S TO AGE HEALTHILY
Aging is a natural phenomenon that cannot be avoided. Many of us have fears regarding the
process of aging. A common misconception among people is that, looking young means
they are healthy, which is not actually true. Staying physically and mentally fit means that one is
healthy. We all know that it is not about how long we live, but it is about how healthy and
happily we live. It is our decision of how we want to ease the process of aging.
Here are some ways that can help you to age healthily.
Get Enough Sleep
In order for the body to rejuvenate, it needs
proper rest. Older adults need just as much
sleep as the younger adults – seven to nine
hours per night. Lack of proper sleep can
cause depression, frustration, stress, and
memory issues.
Tips: Insomnia can be avoided by cutting
down daytime naps. Making a proper
bedtime schedule and going to bed at the
same time everyday can be helpful.
Helpguide
Eat Healthy
Having a healthy diet is very important for a
healthy lifestyle. Every individual needs the
right amount of proteins, calories, vitamins,
etc. Eating fruits, vegetables, pulses, etc.
everyday is necessary. Eating healthy keeps
your body fresh and active. The healthier you
eat the more you can stay away from
medicines. During the old age we should try
avoiding oily, spicy, and slow digestive
foods.
Tips: Consulting a doctor for suggestions
regarding the right diet plan would be
helpful. We should keep in mind that every
person has different dietary needs.
Live An Active Life
Start an active and healthy lifestyle. Exercise
should be included in the daily routine. The
exercises could be simple like walking,
stretching, using stairs, etc. Studies say that
people who are physically fit live longer and
better. Living an active life will help you to
be independent and perform your own
activities. It also helps boost self esteem,
improve sleep patterns and give more energy.
Tips: Doing something you enjoy is the key
to stay active. Any physical activity like
walking, riding a bike, swimming, aerobics,
etc. can be incorporated in your daily
routine.
Reduce Stress
With age the types of stress and the ability to
deal with stress changes. The effects of stress
on the body are vast, from causing premature
aging to heart disease. Long term stress can
lead to brain damage, memory loss, fatigue,
etc. It is estimated that, 90% of illnesses are
caused due to stress.
Tips: The situations of stress cannot be
entirely avoided but we can cope up with it.
Accepting and adapting to things can help
reduce stress. Not always is the situation in
our hands to control. Trying some
relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation,
etc. can be beneficial.
33| January 2020 |

- Shreevarshita Gupta
Take care of Your Mental Health
It is vital that you engage your brain and
keep it active always. Research shows that
keeping the brain active may delay memory
issues and brain related problems. Staying
happy and staying away from stress helps
maintain mental health.
Tips: Keeping your mood elevated is the
best way. Spending time doing things you
love or with the dear ones of your life could
keep the mood up. Take dance lessons,
learn music, or learn to play an instrument.
Find New Hobbies
Finding new and meaningful hobbies helps
one stay busy. When you have a sense of
purpose, you tend to be happier. Evidence
shows that people who stay engaged in
hobbies or social activities experience less
depression.
Tips: Engaging in social activities or
learning something new could be useful to
stay occupied. Volunteering in NGOs can be
done too.
Cultivate Your Relationships
During old age, the best medicine is love and
care. Many older adults tend to stay alone.
Staying connected with loved ones is
important. Having a support system and a
social network helps mental health.
Loneliness can cause various health risks.
Tips: You should maintain regular
communication with family and friends.
You should attend gatherings, family
parties, etc.
Practice Prevention
We all know that 'Prevention is the best
Cure'. Many accidents, general health issues,
depression, chronic illnesses, etc. can be
prevented. If proper care is taken, you can
lead a healthy life.
Tips: Think about ways to improve your
lifestyle to a healthy one. Contact your
family doctor and consult regarding things
that can be done to stay healthy according
to your health conditions.
Give Up Smoking and Drinking
Smoking and drinking both increase the
chances of premature aging and the risk of
diseases. It is not easy to quit smoking,
however there are resources available to
help. We keep hearing how bad smoking is
for our brain and body. And after a certain
age, quitting smoking would be a good
option.
Tips: Drinking occasionally in limited
quantities can be considered. Although,
smoking should be completely avoided.
Regardless of age, the lung capacity and
energy levels will improve if you give up
smoking.
See a Doctor Regularly
Seeing a doctor regularly can help find
problems before they even start. If any health
issue is detected very late it will become
difficult to treat. In early stages it would be
less expensive and less risky to treat any
issues.
Tips: A proper schedule of monthly general
checkups with the doctor should be made. A
family doctor should also be fixed, so that
they know the health history completely.
34 |January 2020 |

Rupak Barua: Turning Around Healthcare Organizations Through Passion and Grit

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