DECEMBER 2021, VOLUME 5 ISSUE 12 `200 INDIA MED TODAY
Ushering in 2022
Charting A Successful Growth Story Amidst Pandemic FEATURED EXPERTS IN THE ISSUE Dinesh Chauhan, CORE Diagnostics Ishiqa Multani, Sagar Group of Hospitals Dr Tausif Ahmed Thangalvadi, NURA Dr BS Ajaikumar, HealthCare Global Enterprises Sriram Natarajan, CEO, Molbio Diagnostics Jatin Mahajan, J Mitra & Co Dr Vivek Sahi, U4RAD Technologies Karthik Rajagopal, Manipal Hospitals Narendra Varde, Roche Diagnostics India Vinay K Mayer, Asia Research Partners Dr Sudhir Prem Srivastava, SS Innovations
DECEMBER 2021
Edit Note
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Setting up of priorities
December 2021 EDITORIAL Editor Neelam Kachhap Sub-Editor Abishek Raj editorial@ indiamedtoday.com
BOARD OF ADVISORS Dr Alexander Thomas Dr Girdhar Gyani
2021 was a challenging year for the healthcare industry amidst
Dr Prem Kumar Nair
the second wave of COVID-19 and still, we are grappling with the
Dr Bhabatosh Biswas
new variants, the latest being Omicron. Facing
challenges in 2021, the healthcare industry has gone the extra mile augmenting its infrastructure to handle any pandemic in a better way.
Dr Alok Roy Ramesh Kannan
CONSULTING EDITOR Dr Libert Anil Gomes Dr Salil Choudhary
The December issue focuses on various outlooks as projected by
Venkatesh Ganesh
healthcare stakeholders and experts.
ART & PRODUCTION
Technological trends to look out for in 2022, scientific breakthroughs
ScreeTract | Shylesh
in the diagnostic sector, resilient leadership, government regulations,
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collaborations are some of the topics which we are discussing to give an overall outlook to our readers.
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December 2021
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CONTENTS
18
43
41
IMPACT
FEATURE
PULSE
Predictions in Healthcare Technology for 2022
How Philips Failed to Adequately Address User Complaints About Breathing Assistance Devices
Outsourcing – The Future in Healthcare
22 COVER STORY
Ushering in 2022 Charting a successful growth story amidst pandemic 4
December 2021
UPFRONT
03 Editorial 06 Letters 07 News Roundup www.indiamedtoday.com
CHECKIT OUT ONLINE
Letters
T
he confirmation of Omicron Variant of Concern today by India, the first two cases in WHO South-East Asia Region, was not unexpected in view of the interconnected world that we live in. This emphasises on the need for all countries to step up surveillance, to be on alert and rapidly detect any importation and take measures to curtail further spread of the virus. The response measures for all variants, including Omicron, is the same as that for SARs CoV2.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia Region
At Neuberg, our strategic decisions are governed by our commitment to making state-of-the-art technology and new generation diagnostics accessible and affordable to all sections of the society. With our most recent expansion, we are one step closer to achieving our mission of universal access. Dr GSK Velu, Chairman and Managing Director, Neuberg Diagnostics The Case Against IMA book is a befitting response to the police complaint filed by Indian Medical Association (IMA) against me for carrying out naturopathy based non- invasive treatments of ailments. I have posed many challenges to the IMA through the book. IMA should work as an organisation to serve the people and not to serve the parochial interests of pharmaceutical companies, and gangs of doctors. Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, internationally-acclaimed Medical Nutritionist
India has done a fabulous job in reaching the right people with HIV services over the last many decades and as a result, 76 per cent of the PLHIV are aware of their status due to rigorous testing strategies (Sankalak 2020). We have many traditional ways of testing for HIV. One can go to a facility called Integrated Counselling and Testing Center to get tested, counselled, and linked for further follow ups. However, due to systemic barriers, uptake of traditional testing gets impacted by the distance that one must travel to the facility, the money that one must spend and lose because of time devoted to testing and most importantly, the fear of losing confidentiality and stigma of going to designated HIV testing facilities. Dr Jalpa Thakker, Director - Programs, Accelerate, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
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6
December 2021
News Roundup partnered to showcase the power of 5G to revolutionise the healthcare sector in India by showing how 5G connectivity can enable access to healthcare in remote parts of the country. The 5G trial network set up by Vi on Govt allocated 3.5 GHz, mid-band and 26 GHz mmWave band in Pune, deploys Ericsson Radios and Ericsson Dual Mode Core based on cloudnative technology consisting of 5G SA, 5G NSA & LTE packet core functions. Based on the high data speed, low latency and reliability of 5G, a doctor located in an urban centre can carry out an ultrasound scan on a patient who is in a remote rural location. This is being trialled by Vi using
Launch of mentorship programme
Ericsson’s 5G infrastructure to showcase
Dr Jitendra Singh launches mentorship prog for Young Innovators with DBT
is the first and only six-lead personal ECG cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Union Minister of State (Independent
Govt of Meghalaya ties up with World Bank
Charge) Science & Technology; Minister
The Government of Meghalaya and the
of
Earth
World Bank signed a $40 million health
Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public
project for the state of Meghalaya. The
Grievances,
Energy
project will improve the quality of health
and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh launched
services and strengthen the state’s capacity
the first-ever mentorship programme for
to
Young Innovators. Dr Singh said that the
including
pan India Scheme envisages Star College
Meghalaya Health Systems Strengthening
in every district of the country supported
Project will enhance the management
State
(Independent Pensions,
Charge) Atomic
by the Department of Biotechnology. The DBT-Star College Mentorship Programme will
help
towards
the
concept
of
networking, hand-holding and outreach. The plan envisages organising workshops, meetings per month; handhold at colleges particularly in the rural areas or lesser endowed areas and conducting outreach activities with government schools.
handle
future the
health
COVID-19
emergencies, pandemic.The
and governance capabilities of the state and
its
health
facilities;
expand
the
design and coverage of the state’s health insurance program; improve the quality
Solve.Care has partnered with AliveCor to
and better human resource systems, and enable efficient access to medicines and diagnostics. All 11 districts of the state will health sector staff at the primary and secondary levels by strengthening their planning and management capabilities and building their clinical skills. The project will
enable users of AliveCor’s KardiaMobile
enable women to better utilize healthcare
devices and services to easily book
services at the community level.
teleconsultations
with
physicians
on
the Global Telehealth Exchange (GTHE) network.
Through
this
partnership,
physicians on the network will be able to seamlessly access users’ KardiaMobile electrocardiogram (ECG) readings, upon their consent. The KardiaMobile 6L device
remote parts of the country.
ATD Group, SRAM & MRAM Group installs oxygen plant SRAM & MRAM Group has successfully installed 47 oxygen plants all across the state of Rajasthan. The installation drive was a part under 'fast-track mode' to assist hospitals facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen given surging cases of coronavirus. The move came as the state was scrambling to shore up supplies of medical oxygen to hospitals in multiple places. The foundation stone-laying ceremony of NICU/PICU and inauguration of ICU/NICU/PICU, Oxygen Generation plants, LMO in the Hospitals was done by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
of health services through certification
benefit from the project. It will also benefit
Solve.Care partners with AliveCor
the power of 5G to reach healthcare to
Vi, Ericsson partnership on 5G to transform healthcare in India As part of the ongoing 5G trials in India, Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL) and Ericsson have
Wadia Hospital introduces gold standard sweat chloride testing for CF patients Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for Children has introduced gold standard sweat chloride testing for children, adolescents, and young adults to confirm or rule out the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF). It is a progressive, genetic disease leading to persistent lung infections and breathing problems.This is a gold standard test, no further testing for confirmation of diagnosis would be required. Once the diagnosis is confirmed then appropriate treatment will be suggested to the patient based on the symptoms.
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7
News Roundup Sapio Analytics, Quantum CorpHealth to launch primary healthcare guidance centres
Real-Time Health Monitoring System
Honeywell launches RTHMS
MaxiVision forms JV with Aswini Netralayam
Honeywell announced the launch of its Real-Time Health Monitoring System (RTHMS), a smart edge-to-cloud communication platform for remote and real-time monitoring of patients that acts as a bridge between caregiver and patient. The offering integrates hardware and software to improve care delivery, enhance healthcare worker productivity, and enable process efficiency. By digitising and automating critical tasks, RTHMS can reduce hospital administrative tasks by 35 per cent. RTHMS uses advanced sensing technology to capture the vital parameters of patients in real-time and transmit them to a comprehensive health analytics dashboard.
Hyderabad-based MaxiVision Super Specialty eye hospitals and Narasaraopet (Guntur District)-based Aswini Netralayam, of Dr AAV Ramalinga Reddy, have entered into a Joint Venture to create a super speciality eye care chain in various towns, in coastal Andhra Pradesh, with state-ofthe-art technology in eye care affordable to all economic segments.The new JV merged with Maxivision Super Specialty Eye Hospitals, will be known as Maxivision Dr Ramalinga Reddy Eye Hospitals. The hospital of Dr Ramalinga Reddy will now expand with joint venture brand, to Macherla and Guntur from December 2021, and other potential towns of Prakasam districts post-April 2022.
Government advisory firm Sapio Analytics and corporate healthcare leader Quantum CorpHealth have entered a joint venture to serve the citizens of India, through a combination of physical healthcare centres and artificial intelligence supported virtual guidance.The venture shall create India’s largest chain of branded primary healthcare guidance centres in every village of India, starting with 1500 centres in phases. The centres shall create digital access for the citizens of the region to well-qualified doctors, diagnostic centres, pharmacy facilities, ambulance facilities and all other healthcare needs. The venture shall operate through a network of over 3000 diagnostics/medical centres, 500 plus hospitals, with 10,000 plus medical professionals (doctors and paramedics) onboarded. Led by Dr Narendra Vankar and Dr Bhavya Vankar, Quantum has set up infrastructure across India.
Suburban Diagnostics launches CoE in haematology Suburban Diagnostics has launched its Centre of Excellence (COE) in haematology through a webinar on hemoglobinopathies. The COE is a shared facility that provides
RSNA Board announces two new directors RSNA has announced that Jinel A. Scott, MD, and Richard E. Heller III, MD, are candidates to serve as at-large directors on the RSNA Board of Directors. In May 2021, RSNA members approved proposed amendments to the RSNA bylaws to modify the size of the board from eight to a range of seven to 11 members. Under the bylaws change, the president, chair and five additional members now serve as standing directors and maintain the succession of board leadership. Up to four additional members may serve as atlarge directors. At-large directors will be appointed for three-year terms.
The JV between MaxiVision and Aswini Netralayam
8
December 2021
leadership,
best
practices,
research
support and training in the diagnosis of
several
common
haematological
and
disorders.
uncommon The
CoE
in
haematology offers a wide range of more than 200 tests in general haematology, immunohematology,
anaemia,
coagulation disorders, acute leukaemia, immunodeficiency,
myelodysplastic
syndromes, myeloproliferative neoplasms, chronic lymphoproliferative disorders and multiple myeloma, to name a few.
Neuberg Diagnostics opens centre in Kochi Neuberg Diagnostics has launched a new state-of-the-art pathology lab in Kochi, Kerala.
Kerala
Day
celebratory
cycle
rally was organised in Kaloor by Neuberg Diagnostics to bring about awareness on the importance of health and wellness among the people. As a part of its FY22 expansion plan, Neuberg will be launching 30 new labs and more than 500 collection centres in domestic and international markets. It will also be establishing technology incubation centres in the US and Europe to access the latest technologies and make developing countries ready for precision diagnostics in the evolving personalised medicine arena.
GE to spin-off healthcare biz in 2023 GE announced plans to form three industry-leading, investment-grade global public companies. The company wants to pursue a tax-free spin-off of GE Healthcare, creating a pure-play company at the centre of precision health in early 2023, in which GE expects to retain a stake of 19.9 per cent. H Lawrence Culp, Jr, Chairman and CEO, GE said, “At GE we have always taken immense pride in our purpose of building a world that works. The world demands— and deserves—we bring our best to solve the biggest challenges in flight, healthcare, and energy. By creating three industryleading, global public companies, each can benefit from greater focus, tailored capital allocation, and strategic flexibility to drive long-term growth and value for customers, investors, and employees. We are putting our technology expertise, leadership, and global reach to work to better serve our customers.”
Oasis Fertility unveils centre in Guntur, AP Oasis Fertility has opened a new state-ofthe-art full-fledged IVF centre in Guntur. This is the third clinic in the region after Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam. The company plans to open centres in Ongole, Eluru, Kurnool and Tirupati by December
2021.The centre was inaugurated by Dr Durga G Rao – Co-Founder and Medical Director, Oasis Fertility and Dr Krishna Chaitanya – Scientific Head and Clinical Embryologist, Oasis Fertility along with Dr Sujatha Vellanki and Dr Ramya Vicharapu – Clinical Heads at Vijayawada and Guntur respectively. Dr N Prabhavathi, MD, DGO -Medical Superintendent of Guntur GGH and G Raja Kumari, IAS -Joint Collector of Guntur graced the occasion as the Chief Guest of Honour.
Jubilant Biosys announces research centre in Greater Noida Jubilant Biosys announced the expansion of its facilities to support its discovery chemistry and in-vitro ADME Service offerings.
Jubilant
Biosys
provides
services for Turning Point Therapeutics for multiple small molecule oncology research programmes. Turning Point is a precision oncology
company
developing
next-
generation therapies that target genetic drivers of cancer. Services for Turning Point Therapeutics will be conducted out of Jubilant Biosys’ newly built state-of-theart Chemistry Innovation Research Center (CIRC) in Greater Noida. The Chemistry Innovation Research Center has an initial capacity of 500 FTEs enabling higher operational performance for discovery chemistry services and also rapid turnaround of in-vitro ADME data for client projects.
API Holdings files for Rs 6,250-cr IPO Digital healthcare company API Holdings has filed preliminary papers with capital markets regulator Sebi to raise Rs 6250 crore through an initial share sale. The issue will only be a primary share sale of shares and the entire proceeds will go to the company. There will not be any offer for sale by existing investors in the IPO, showing a great deal of commitment and belief by existing shareholders, draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) filed with SEBI. Additionally, the company, in consultation with the bankers to the issue may consider a private placement aggregating up to Rs 1250 crore. If such placement is completed, Inauguration of pathology lab in Kochi
the fresh issue size will be reduced.
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9
News Roundup Biocon Biologics, Viatris launch Interchangeable SEMGLEE, Insulin Glargine injection Biocon Biologics, a subsidiary of Biocon, and Viatris announced the US launch of interchangeable
biosimilars
SEMGLEE
(insulin glargine-yfgn) injection, a branded product,
and
Insulin
Glargine
(insulin
glargine-yfgn) injection, an unbranded product, to help control high blood sugar in adult and paediatric patients with type 1 diabetes and adults with type 2 diabetes. Officials from VS Hospitals and Karkinos Healthcare during the tie up
Both biosimilar products are available in
VS Hospitals ties up with Karkinos Healthcare
Cancer Centre at Hubli, and the acquisition
the vial and prefilled pen presentations
is expected to create synergetic benefits
and are interchangeable for the reference
and market leadership in the geography.
brand, LANTUS (insulin glargine), allowing
Chennai-based VS Hospitals has joined hands
with
Karkinos
Healthcare,
an
emerging healthcare technology platform, to strengthen the fight against breast cancer. This coalition will focus on efforts to help early detection of cancer cases and timely intervention and treatment. An
exclusive
comprehensive
cancer
helpline number +91 9021 123 000 was launched by the Minister of Health Education
and
Family
Welfare
MA
Subramanian in the presence of PK Sekar Babu, Minister of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments. Also present were
for substitution at the pharmacy counter.
PCHFL partners with API Holdings Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Limited (PCHFL),
the
wholly-owned
subsidiary
of Piramal Enterprises, announced its strategic partnership with API Holdings through its digital platform Retailio – India’s
largest
platform.
digital
The
synergising
B2B
partnership
respective
healthcare aims
at
capabilities
to
provide efficient and seamless financing solutions
to
consumers,
retailers
and
merchants in the API Holdings’ healthcare
Gagandeep Singh Bedu, IAS, Commissioner
ecosystem.Under this partnership, PCHFL
– Greater Chennai Corporation etc.
Finance has earmarked an initial amount
Global
Enterprises
2022, which will get upsized basis initial market response.
(HCG)
announced the acquisition of an additional 60.9 per cent in Suchirayu Healthcare Solutions,
Hubli,
thereby
becoming
a
majority stake owner from its existing 17.7 per cent to 78.6 per cent.Suchirayu owns a
Medicover Home Healthcare launches Privilege card MEDCLUB Medicover
Home
Healthcare,
powered
by Medicover Hospitals, catering to the
state-of-the-art multi-speciality hospital
healthcare
in Hubli with an operational capacity
launched MEDCLUB Privilege card. The
of 110 beds and a potential to scale
card will provide added benefits to the
up to 250 beds. HCG has operated and
patients like discounted rates on all the
maintained the said entity’s hospital since
services, free physiotherapy sessions and
August 2017 and had the right to increase
dietician consultation, priority services
its stake up to 80 per cent in July 2022.
and reward points on availing any service
HCG also owns and operates a standalone
from Medicover Home Healthcare.
10
December 2021
Vital Strategies, a leading global health organisation that partners with governments to design solutions to some of the world’s most challenging health problems, has appointed LM Singh as Managing Director, India and Global Head, Partnerships and Innovative Finance. Singh will work to bring together public and private sectors to collaborate and develop novel models of financing mechanisms to support solutions to address key public health challenges.
of Rs 100 crore for disbursement by March
HCG acquires majority stake in Suchirayu HealthCare Solutions HealthCare
Vital Strategies India appoints LM Singh as MD, India
needs
in
Hyderabad,
has
LM Singh
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College- Aligarh Muslim University, in association with the Association of Surgeons of Aligarh (ASA).
Kerala-based start-up wins two awards
(L-R) Pramila Gaje Kablana, Sr. Deputy Mayor, Gurugram and Manish Gupta Hospital Director, Manipal Hospitals, Gurugram
Manipal Hospitals, Columbia Asia complete brand integration After the recent acquisition by Manipal Hospitals Group, Columbia Asia Hospitals has now been rebranded to Manipal Hospitals. The rebranding emphasises Manipal’s modern appearance while also highlighting the high quality, professional services that patients can expect.With the rebranding and new logo launch, all 27 units of Manipal Hospitals including Columbia Hospitals and Vikram Hospital will be brought under one umbrella. The Columbia Asia Hospitals and Vikram Hospital across the country will be rebranded as ‘Manipal Hospital’. This rebranding will be a change in the identity but the focus on providing quality healthcare will remain the same.
Intuitive India, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU conduct workshop on RAS
A Kerala-based medical technology start-up has been adjudged the winner of Startup India Grand Challenge 2021 in the medical device category of the Government of India. Sascan Meditech, the start-up incubated at the SCTIMST-TIMed the Technology Business Incubator of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for MedicalSciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), received a cash grant of Rs 15,00,000 at the Grand Challenge organised by Department of Pharmaceuticals, Govt of India along with Startup India and Investindia.org. The award was announced by Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Ayog, after a rigorous evaluation process, and ‘Sascan’ was selected from among 310 start-ups that took part in the grand challenge.
Intuitive India, the India arm of Intuitive Surgical
has
joined
hands
with
the
Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, AMU, to familiarise and build awareness about robotic-assisted
surgery
among
the
surgical fraternity. As a part of Intuitive’s
Smile Train launches surgical and diagnostic facilities
JNMC’s
Smile Train has amplified its partnership
annual conference, a four-day hands-on
with Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Hospital by
workshop was conducted for surgeons
investing in a state-of-the-art operation
and medical students in Aligarh. More than
theatre (OT) and 3D cone beam computed
100 students and surgeons from JNMC,
tomography (CBCT) equipment with an
Aligarh, and other medical colleges in
aim to support safe and best in class cleft
the state were a part of this programme
treatment for underprivileged patients.
organised by the department of surgery,
The purpose of the initiative is to build
roving
robot
programme
and
JNCASR researchers develop therapeutics to treat ASD A
group
of
Indian
researchers
have
developed a compound called ‘6BIO’ that can provide a better method to treat Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They have determined the potency of the compound in a pre-clinical mice model. This is the first compound that has been proved in pre-clinical evaluation to have the potential for improving daily activities like learning and recollecting new tasks in patients with ASD/ Intellectual disability (ID).
Workshop on RAS
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11
News Roundup unlimited diagnostics and consultations, and hospitalisation costs up to Rs 50 lakh through monthly subscriptions.
Abbott releases global market research from its Beyond Intervention initiative
The launch of surgical and diagnostic facilities equity in cleft care and strengthen surgical systems. Using CBCT technology to plan surgical outcomes is the first of its kind cutting edge technology that can completely change the cleft care scenario in India. The tools will make it possible for surgeons to receive an individualised record sheet for each patient, detailing the outcome of surgery including post-surgical shape and symmetry.
colonoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound are some of the procedures that will be offered through this initiative for the next two years.
Even partners with Fortis, Narayana and Aster Hospitals in Bengaluru Even
–
a
healthtech
company
and
Zen Multispecialty Hospital ties up with ICICI Foundation
healthcare
Mumbai-based Zen Multispecialty Hospital in association with ICICI Foundation will help needy people to undergo advanced endoscopic tests at discounted rates. O e s o p h a g u s - g a s t r o - d u o d e n o s c o p y,
partnerships with leading hospital chains
provider
that
partners
directly with the top hospitals in the country to provide quality and affordable healthcare to its members – announced its in Bengaluru that includes Fortis Hospitals, Narayana Health and Aster DM Healthcare. This is the first-ever partnership of its kind where Even will offer its members
Abbott released new global market research from its Beyond Intervention Initiative, the company’s multi-year global research programme designed to examine the vascular patient experience from the perspectives of patients, physicians and healthcare leaders. The latest research focuses on challenges that arise for physicians and patients during the earliest stages of the patient journey, uncovering new opportunities for health systems and hospitals to leverage technology, break down existing barriers and improve patient care.
IIT Mandi researchers show possible role of signal peptide aggregation on AD A research team from the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi led by Dr Rajanish Giri, Associate Professor, School of Basic Sciences, IIT Mandi, have discovered an important biomolecular mechanism for the formation of protein clusters/aggregates that are often seen in Alzheimer’s disease. They have shown that the signal peptide of the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) can co-aggregate with Amyloid beta peptide (Aβ42). This Aβ42, known for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease, is a most common form of dementia that slowly destroys memory and other important mental functions.
SPARSH Group of Hospitals opens hospital in Bengaluru SPARSH Group of Hospitals announced the launch of its exclusive women and child care area, uniquely positioning it as a first of its kind super speciality hospital in Bengaluru to offer multi-modal care for women and children. Located right next to its flagship Superspecialty Hospital Dr Roy Patankar, Director, Zen Multispecialty during the launch of the CSR initiative
12
December 2021
at Infantry Road, the unit is equipped to
Little Lives Matter’ initiative. The yearlong initiative is aimed at supporting the medical treatment of disadvantaged children, where the initial aim is to help treat at least 100 children below the age of 12 years by providing free paediatric surgeries. The initiative extends help to deserving children who are being treated across Aster Hospitals based in five States in India.
NOTTO honours Dr KM Cherian for organ transplant initiatives (Notto) Dr KM Cherian, Chairman and CEO, Frontier Launch of superspeciality hospital for women and children in Bengaluru handle medical complexities seamlessly with the support and availability of multidisciplinary specialists all on the same campus.The new 50-bed facility will provide 360-degree treatment across the spectrum of healthcare for women and children.
AMPATH to open pathology lab in Mumbai American Institute of Pathology & Laboratory Sciences (AMPATH) will launch its pathology lab in Mumbai. The stateof-the-art facilities will offer patients advanced, accurate and reliable services. AMPATH offers a wide range of bestin-class diagnostic services with over 2450 tests from clinical biochemistry, haematology, clinical pathology, microbiology, immuno phenotyping, serology, immunology, histopathology, cytology, immunohistochemistry, molecular diagnosis, NGS, cytogenesis and much more.
in India, for an additional indication to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death plus hospitalisation for heart failure in adults with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
Aster Hospitals launches ‘Second Life’ initiative (Aster)
Lifeline Hospital and Dr KM Cherian Heart Foundation was honoured by NOTTO for the work done in the field of cardiac care and organ transplantation in the country. Dr Cherian was honoured by Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Minister of State for Health during the function held at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi organised by NOTTO as part of ’12th Indian Organ Donation Day’ celebrations. The minister
Aster Hospitals in India, as a part of
also honoured the donor’s families and the
Aster Volunteers Global CSR initiative
paramedical staff involved in the cadaver
has launched the ‘Second Life- Because
transplant programme.
Boehringer Ingelheim launches Jardiance to treat heart failure Boehringer an
Ingelheim
additional
heart
has
launched
failure
indication
for Jardiance (empagliflozin) in India. The company received approval from the
Central
Organisation
Drugs (CDSCO)
Standard to
Control
market
its
innovator drug Jardiance (empagliflozin)
Launch of global CSR initiative by Aster Hospitals
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13
News Roundup
Spirofy, India’s first pneumotach-based portable, wireless spirometer
Anti-epileptic Vigabatrin powder oral solution
Cipla launches pneumotach-based portable, wireless spirometer
MSN Labs launches anti-epileptic Vigabatrin powder oral solution
Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and West Bengal.
MSN Labs has announced the launch of
Yashoda Hospitals Hyderabad opens clinic in Durgapur, WB
Cipla has launched Spirofy, India’s first pneumotach-based
portable,
wireless
spirometer, on World COPD Day. With the
launch,
the
company
intends
to
anti-epileptic and India’s first generic Vigabatrin Powder for Oral Solution under the brand name VIGANEXT.Vigabatrin is recommended as the first-line therapy for Infantile Spasm, a form of epilepsy that
Yashoda
affects 1 in 2,000 children. Previously,
(OAD) diagnosis, in line with its ambition
launched a clinic at City Center, Durgapur,
the availability of Vigabatrin was wholly
to strengthen its position as the lung
West
dependent on grey market imports which
leader in India. This is a part of the
Durgapur, Anindita Mukherjee, formally
were
company’s #LungAttack campaign that
COVID-19 lockdowns impacting thousands
inaugurated the newly established clinic,
endeavors to drive awareness about COPD
of patients. Appreciating the scarcity of the
and encourage early diagnosis.
medicine, MSN Labs reached out to DCGI
revolutionise Obstructive Airway Disease
severely
disrupted
during
the
for necessary approval to serve epilepsy
RenalSense raises $14 M Series A funding RenalSense, a leader in real-time renal diagnostics, has secured $14 M to bolster the global commercialisation of its current product, the Clarity RMS, expand clinical validation to additional clinical settings, and advance the release of its nextgeneration products based on its sensor platform. The Series A round was led by BlueRed Partners Fund (Singapore) and includes several large healthcare-
patients in India with an uninterrupted supply of affordable Vigabatrin.
India, ADB sign $300 M loan to improve primary healthcare in India The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $300 million loan to strengthen and
Hospitals
Bengal.
The
Hyderabad Deputy
Mayor
has of
in the presence of Karthihaivelan Ganesan, Unit head of Yashoda Hospitals. Yashoda Hospitals launched the clinic in association with Royys Health Hub, a prominent Diagnostic Care Centre in Durgapur. The newly established clinic will focus on a range of super-specialities including gastro, neurology, orthopaedics, urology, oncology, nephrology, pulmonology and cardiology. Apart from these services, the clinic will guide in terms of telemedicine services
for
all
super-specialities.
The service includes second opinions,
improve access to comprehensive primary
treatment estimates, pre-bookings and
healthcare in urban areas of 13 states
end-to-end assistance for patients who
that will benefit over 256 million urban
are planning to seek treatment at Yashoda
dwellers including 51 million from slum
Hospitals
focused family offices as well as existing
areas.The programme will be implemented
provide the latest and most comprehensive
shareholders.
in urban areas across 13 states: Andhra
medical suggestions.
14
December 2021
Hyderabad.
This
clinic
will
Institute of Information Technology Delhi (IIITD), signed an MoU to set up India’s first Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) at IIITDelhi.The ceremony was held in the august presence of Prof Ashutosh Sharma, former DST Secretary as the Chief Guest and Dr KR Murali Mohan, Mission Director of NM-ICPS, DST. Medical Cobotics Centre (MCC) will be a technology-enabled medical simulation and training facility for the young resident doctors besides acting as a validation centre for the research outcomes in the area of healthcare robotics and digital health. The centre would facilitate the training of other healthcare professionals, paramedical staff, technicians, engineers, and researchers.
Encube Ethicals to acquire Soframycin for India and Sri Lankan markets from Sanofi
Webpage on men’s health ailments
Practo unveils webpage on men’s health ailments
English are every day.
Practo has launched a webpage with a section devoted to major men’s health ailments. The platform will also be home to a ‘guidebook’ that would act as a guide for men to become more cognizant of their health. Instructions on self-examination for various ailments such as testicular cancer would be a part of the playbook. The downloadable version of the section would be made available by the end of November 2021.
Technology Innovation Hubs of IIT Delhi, IIIT Delhi sign MoU
and its affiliates, including Sanofi India for
I-Hub Foundation for Cobotics (IHFC), the
a leading manufacturer of Rx and OTC
Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) of Indian
skincare products globally, will take the
Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)
first step towards addressing the Indian
and iHub Anubhuti, the TIH of Indraprastha
market with its own labelled products.
available
round-the-clock
Encube Ethicals has agreed to enter into definitive agreements with Sanofi group acquiring some of its brands – Soframycin, along with other legacy associated brands Sofradex,
Sofracort,
Soframycin-Tulle
for India and Sri Lanka markets.Encube,
vHealth launches 24×7 doctor consultation services vHealth by Aetna will provide 24/7 teleconsultations through vHealth India mobile app or by visiting the website. Members can book vHealth doctor consultations in eight regional languages between 8 am and 8 pm, every day except Sunday and national holidays. vHealth Members can choose to avail teleconsultation with general physicians in eight regional languages – Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Bengali, Oriya, Marathi and Telugu as well as Hindi and English. Teleconsultations in Hindi and
The MoU signing ceremony between tech innovation hubs of IIT Delhi and IIIT Delhi
www.indiamedtoday.com
15
News Roundup Sakra World Hospital, Rotary International, First Meridian initiate epilepsy prog Sakra
World
Hospital
announced
the
initialisation of Phase-2 of the EPIC (Epilepsy Prevention & Integrated Care) Programme. This programme is initiated in association with Rotary International and First Meridian. This year-long programme aimed to provide quality treatment and education about Epilepsy for PWE (People with Epilepsy) for free.
Launch of the epilepsy programme
BimaKavach partners with MediBuddy
said, “Along with other business insurances, the last couple of years have made it imperative for
BimaKavach has partnered with digital healthcare platform MediBuddy to provide compre-hensive healthcare benefits. Through this partnership, MediBuddy will be providing doctor consultations, health check-ups, lab tests, medicine delivery, and many more services available on their platform to over 200 startups and SME’s that BimaKavach caters to. Recipients will be able to access healthcare benefits seamlessly anytime and anywhere without any hassle, company officials said.
companies of all scales to focus on preventive care and group health insurance for their employees and families. We have always believed in the ideology of keeping our client’s well-being first. We are excited to have partnered with MediBuddy to create a 360-degree solution with preventive care and health insurance. Having personally been on the
Tejas Jain, Co-founder & CEO, BimaKavach
MediBuddy platform I can vouch for the care that an individual gets anytime anywhere.” Satish Kannan, Co-founder & CEO, MediBuddy said “At MediBuddy it has always been our constant endeavor to stimulate the growth of telemedicine and make it more accessi-ble for individuals. We hope to continually provide quality healthcare services and reach out to maximum people.”
AkosMD Healthcare acquires majority stake in mChemist AkosMD
Healthcare
has
acquired
a
72 per cent stake in mChemist Global for
an
undisclosed
amount.
AkosMD
Healthcare is a pioneering telemedicine and care management platform, offering comprehensive and modernistic medical aid to healthcare providers, individuals and corporates. “We
16
December 2021
are
excited
to
collaborate
with
mChemist. The partnership aims to offer a game-changing healthcare service to individuals by empowering them with expert remote health care services at competitive prices, thereby giving them a sense of self-sufficiency and accountability for their well-being,” said Kishlay Anand, Founder & CEO, AkosMD Healthcare. Moreover, the collaboration of AkosMD Healthcare and mChemist Global will enable in significantly lowering the cost of primary care which accounts for 70 per cent of total healthcare cost. The union will enable access to healthcare anytime, anywhere through chat, app, smart clinics, and care navigator. It’s a comprehensive care plan for all healthrelated requirements in one place, added Rajeev Ranjan.
Spantech Engineers, DRDO install PSA oxygen generator plants in Kargil, Ladakh Spantech Engineers has worked with DRDO to install a 250 LPM oxygen generator plant in Chiktan Community health centre, Kargil recently. The plant is capable of supporting up to 50 patients in serious conditions. The capacity of this plant will make these 30-bedded medical facilities completely self-reliant when it comes to their oxygen needs. Spantech Engineers has also installed another 250 LPM oxygen plant in CHC District Nubra block medical centre. Spantech Engineers was commissioned by Defense Bio-Engineering
PickLocum provides an exclusive platform for the healthcare industry - for hospitals to post jobs and for the healthcare workers to search and find their desired jobs. Nitthin Chandran, Co-founder and CEO, MedPiper Technologies said, “PickLocum is an important platform in the MedPiper ecosystem which is solving the trust and verification issues in the global healthcare ecosystem, one country, one medical establishment, and one healthcare practitioner at a time. We believe that healthcare practitioners and connecting them seamlessly to the rest of the ecosystem are very important.” Nurses, lab technicians and other medical workers
can
log
picklocum.com/
on
and
to use
https://www. MedPiper’s
resume builder to build and showcase their profiles and connect with hospitals, telemedicine platforms in real-time for job
Spantech
vacancies and other engagements such and Electrometrical Generator Laboratory (DEBEL), the life sciences wing of DRDO, to install 2 PSA plants to provide the muchneeded medical oxygen supply at high altitude areas of Nubra valley and Chiktan village in Kargil district and Ladakh. Raj Mohan NC, MD, Spantech Engineers said, “We are honoured to be involved in this incredible initiative by DRDO under the PM CARES programme and we will continue to assist in ensuring availability of pure medical oxygen across the country.”
MedPiper launches PickLocum
as CME opportunities, pharma research,
MedPiper, the one-stop health tech destination for doctors, now extends its services to nurses, and medical technicians through its new platform, PickLocum. PickLocum is one of the fastest-growing, curated job boards built especially for doctors, nurses, and medical technicians in the healthcare industry.
verify practitioners before moving forward
fellowships, and clinical trials. PickLocum also helps healthcare service providers with the hiring process. MedPiper
is
also
currently
building
MConnekt, an exclusive career platform for doctors. The health tech company previously also launched MScribe, a digital prescription tool for doctors.
Chiktan is a small border village located about 90 km away from Kargil town with a population of just under 1300 people. This village is situated at an altitude of 10,500 ft. above sea level making it one of the most inaccessible areas in the country. Nubra valley is a popular tourist destination in Kargil. Although more populated than Chiktan, Nubra valley is located at an altitude of 10500 which made the logistics quite difficult. The Spantech oxygen generators have majorly reduced the dependency of these hospitals now on oxygen cylinders which are difficult to supply to such remote areas, especially in times of shortage. Spantech Engineers, who are pioneers in PSA oxygen generation technology, have also installed such plants in remote and border regions of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Nitthin Chandran, Co-founder and CEO, MedPiper Technologies
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17
Impact
Predictions in Healthcare Technology for 2022 In the wake of a pandemic, shifting care delivery models, and a surge of clinical content, Wolters Kluwer healthcare experts have identified seven healthcare technology trends for 2022 Source: Wolters Kluwer
While
coronavirus
the
in
2020
according
is practised in the US and around the
Healthcare Provider Segment of Clinical
world, 2021 has had its own unique
Effectiveness.
challenges — namely, divergent views on
reflects
vaccines, powerful COVID-19 variants,
and supports clinicians in providing
and hospitals bursting at the seams as
clear, accurate, and accessible health
they balance caring for patients with
information will be a key to building
and without the virus.
trust with patients in an information-
Technology
has
proven
crucial
to
Jason
Burum,
Having
patients’
content
lived
GM, that
experiences
saturated climate. According to Burum, this is a key strategic
in the face of so many challenges.
component currently missing from the
Simultaneously,
widespread
digital health space, which has mostly
adoption of virtual care delivery along
focussed on technology innovation and
with the rapid pace of vaccine creation
workflow
and distribution have provided hope for
engaging digital health requires more
many as the world adjusted to “the new
than the right technology,” he says, “but
normal."
a full-fledged experience that informs
the
and
improvements.
motivates
“Effective,
consumers
towards
evidence-based action.”
Wolters Kluwer healthcare experts have identified seven healthcare technology trends for 2022 that they anticipate
Telemedicine becomes a fixture of the healthcare landscape
will empower healthcare professionals
As social distancing and stay-at-home
to continue pushing towards delivering
orders
upended
quality care for all.
model,
many
Building trust in an age of digital information overload With the COVID-19 pandemic
came
the
information
the
care
clinicians
and
delivery health
systems rapidly adopted telehealth and virtual care models – and have seen the benefits it can bring to patient care.
epidemic, or 'infodemic,' so named by
As a result, telemedicine will likely
the World Health Organization for the
prove resilient well past the pandemic
influx of false or misleading information
and will establish itself as a permanent
throughout social, digital, and physical
and prominent fixture in the healthcare
environments across healthcare.
ecosystem, according to Vikram Savkar,
In 2022, providers will need to focus on increasing access to trustworthy, 'high-quality,
December 2021
to
keeping the healthcare industry resilient
So, what’s in store for 2022?
18
content' for themselves and patients,
dramatically altered the way healthcare
evidence-based
health
VP and GM, Medicine Segment of Health Learning, Research & Practice. Looking to 2022, he expects healthcare
providers themselves will be among the first to strengthen and formalise training to research and promote telehealth best practices to their clinical teams. He also expects specialities like mental health and urgent care to make a permanent shift to a predominantly virtual model. “Ultimately, I believe that the rise of telehealth will drive more dialogue around modes of access as an issue not only of tech but also of equity in the years to come. This, in turn, will have big impacts in the future of the medical practice.” Resilience is key to retaining the nursing workforce Resilience has been one of the biggest challenges in nursing since COVID-19 first appeared. Many nurses were already stressed and burnt out before the pandemic; COVID-19 brought that to the forefront and magnified it. Healthcare organisations will need to proactively foster resiliency and workforce wellbeing to combat the nursing shortage and lack of nursing faculty. According to Anne Dabrow Woods, Chief Nurse, “2022 will focus on restoring a safe work environment with adequate personal protective equipment, and staffing models that are based on the acuity of the patients and competencies of the workforce.” A McKinsey survey from May 2021 found that 22 per cent of nurses indicated they may leave their current position providing direct patient care within the next year. That rate was 15.9 per cent in 2019. At a time when nurses are needed more than ever, health systems are actively designing and deploying virtual technologies into nursing workflows to reduce burnout and build resilience. They are likely to find an enthusiastic reception. The McKinsey survey also found that more than 40 per cent of frontline nurses have delivered care virtually within the last year, and roughly two-thirds of frontline nurses
are interested in providing virtual care in the future. Unstructured health data helps researchers build health equity The pandemic put a spotlight on health disparities in the US Even with alarming racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 infection, many states were not reporting COVID-19 mortality by race and ethnicity. This greater awareness coupled with new federal reporting mandates will improve data capture in the long term. But Karen Kobelski, Vice President and General Manager of Clinical Surveillance Compliance and Data Solutions, believes that, in the short term, the focus should be on unlocking the 80 per cent of existing healthcare data that remains unstructured. This will be key to making it more actionable for stakeholders across care settings and it is crucial to gaining big-picture insights into our healthcare disparity problem. Machine learning tools such as natural language processing and text mining can help health systems reveal valuable health equity insights hidden in unstructured clinical data that is difficult to store, search, analyse, and share across health systems. “2022 will be a pivotal year for making healthcare data help and not hinder the bigger goal of delivering the best care everywhere,”
says Kobelski. AI reduces healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) In 2022, hospitals will be looking more closely than ever at the effectiveness of the infection prevention and control (IP&C) programmes powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to better monitor patients in real-time with quick infection risk identification and early clinical intervention. According to Mackenzie Weise, Infection Prevention Clinical Program Manager for Clinical Surveillance & Compliance, “Data show that while hospitals have allocated more resources to infection prevention and control efforts to contain COVID-19, it has largely come at the expense of controlling other, far too common, healthcare-associated infections (HAIs),” says Weise. To gauge the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on HAI rates in the US, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) compared 2020 HAI data to that of 2019 which showed significant increases in bacteremia such as MRSA. The CDC concluded these increases were not due to a larger volume of sicker patients but were a result of insufficient surge capacity and other operational challenges. In response, the agency is investing $2.1 billion to improve IP&C activities
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19
Impact
across the public health and healthcare sectors. This infusion will help hospitals leverage AI, identify at-risk patients sooner, and allow clinicians to apply evidence-based prevention strategies. Quality improvement accelerates evidence to implementation In the wake of the pandemic exposing the weaknesses and limitations of medical research’s current delivery system, Vikram Savkar anticipates growing interest for tools and solutions specifically designed to shorten the cycle between identification of clinical problems and the implementation of clinical solutions based on evidence. “Quality improvement research initiatives are key to better patient outcomes and financial performance,” he says, “but these are time-intensive programs and it can be difficult to efficiently surface and implement new evidence against the backdrop of a continually evolving clinical practice.” On average, it takes 17 years for newly published research to gain widespread adoption and usage. To accelerate implementation closer to real-time, healthcare organisations will have to find new solutions to translate evidence-based improvements quickly into clinical practice. Virtual simulation and technology transform nursing education In 2022, virtual simulation and online learning will become more commonplace in nursing education as classrooms weigh the benefits seen during the pandemic. According to Julie Stegman, Vice President, Nursing Segment of Health Learning, Research & Practice, with critical nursing shortages, “the technology can eliminate traditional roadblocks such as a lack of physical training sites as well as staffing challenges by offering flexible solutions for faculty and students”. Virtual simulation has benefits such as knowledge retention and improved clinical reasoning, as well as allowing
20
December 2021
students to use their sense of touch when practising physical assessments and hands-on skills such as immunisation. For
Stegman,
these
technologies
can
strengthen
NCLEX
and
clinical
judgement preparation, helping nurses enter the workforce better prepared for clinical decision-making and a diverse patient population. Looking towards a healthier, more equitable 2022 These predictions look to a world where patients and healthcare workers are benefitting data;
from
flexible
smart,
work
actionable
schedules
and
locations; new ways to collaborate and study together; equitable access to evidence-based information; and a new understanding of how innovation, collaboration improve
and
automation
healthcare
everyone, everywhere.
delivery
can to
TM
Safety Needle with Sharps Injury Prevention SIP SHIELD
Safety from Accidental Needle Injuries
taking care of those who take care of us Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices Ltd.
Website: www.hmdhealthcare.com, E-mail: info@hmdhealthcare.com
Cover Story
Ushering in 2022 Charting A Successful Growth Story Amidst Pandemic
2
021 was no cakewalk for the healthcare industry as covid made things more challenging unlike 2020. Chalking down the
projections for the healthcare industry in 2022, leaders talk about the ongoing challenges,
the
power
of
resilient
thinking, collaborations and thinking out of the box to set the priorities for 2022.
We Need to Stand Together in The Face of Adversity There is an immediate need for life science organisations to continue working with the diagnostic sector for faster and quicker scientific breakthroughs
Dinesh Chauhan, CEO, CORE Diagnostics
COVID-19 taught many organisations to step up to the challenges brought by the pandemic and taught leaders lessons, on how to adapt businesses for protecting employees and continuing services to customers and the community. Business leaders worldwide worked towards maintaining an equilibrium, tolerating ambiguity and uncertainty, and adapting readily to new situations. COVID-19 helped us in handling mistakes or setbacks and putting stressful experiences into perspective and not dwelling on them. When we specifically talk about the diagnostics industry, we notice how we used to follow a
strict routine earlier. But through these difficult times, the industry constantly worked towards evolving an emerging range of new testing methods, products, and capabilities. The pre-covid system for the industry was mostly reactive where a patient would visit a healthcare provider due to symptoms, and after receiving the diagnosis, they would be treated. Historically, consumer familiarity with the diagnostics industry has always been rather insignificant but the pandemic altered this to a new phase altogether. The healthcare sector, primarily the diagnostics industry, will now shift its focus towards homebased services out of the sheer need and demand of it. Patients who are now sounder about the industry and its workings will be active participants in their own healthcare. This includes taking control of important decisions impacting personal health. What is most essential for business leaders to understand now is the relevance of faster access to services and more reliable tests and treatments. The transition towards digital technologies like, IoT, machine learning, AI etc. is a massive step towards changes in the future of the industry. It is also essential for laboratories to continuously upgrade via infrastructure and continue the focus on the highest standard of quality through reports that we pride ourselves in. Now is the time to understand that in case of such crises in the future, we need to stand together
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23
Cover Story
in the face of adversity and hopefully use all these lessons learned to build a solid foundation for a united front that is driven to serve society.
Collaborations to play a key role In the era of precision medicine, getting the right match between the patient and the targeted therapy requires the diagnostic industry and the pharmaceutical industry to collaborate with each other and support the entire process instead of competing against each other. A well-defined strategy that provides the diagnostic companies with a route to differentiate and accelerate the resultant therapies rather than slow down the growth is essential. During COVID-19 the diagnostic industry along with the pharma industry came together to bring easily accessible solutions for customers throughout the country. The pandemic demonstrated the ability of the life sciences and the healthcare industry to respond to unexpected needs emerging from such global scale pandemics. The period saw a multitude of new players and innovations as well as new ways of thinking about healthcare, both at a large scale for the development of a better and more informed system focusing on the population health and at an ultra-targeted level through treatment for individual diseases. There is an immediate need for life science organisations to continue working with the diagnostic sector for faster and quicker scientific breakthroughs to be achieved at the pace seen during the pandemic.
Priorities for 2022 CORE is now going through a 360-degree growth trajectory, with new launches, partnerships and investments. As part of our expansion plans, we have set up new branches in Delhi and Bengaluru recently. We are looking for expansion opportunities that get us closer to the patients and clinicians so that we can continue to offer them high-quality
24
December 2021
diagnostic reports at the fastest turnaround time. Although our deep expertise in oncology has always been a constant, we also have expanded our diagnostics offerings to other segments, such as nephrology, gastroenterology, reproductive, and neurology. We will continue to bring advanced testing solutions to the country and maintain the spirit of innovation across the business. For the next year, we are now also looking to set up an R&D facility which will not only help us in bringing inhouse testing kits but will also help in research focused on the scientific community. On the research front, we have been investing in structuring our data and integrating our processes to enable our scientific team to use the data for research purposes. New innovative technologies and tests are also being added to the high-end space. Our team is focussed on some high impact projects in this area over the next few years.
Resilience – Leading and Finding The Way in Times of Crisis Leaders in health must be ambidextrous, balancing present opportunities and shortterm priorities with the exploring of future opportunities
Ishiqa Multani, President, Sagar Group of Hospitals
2022 is nearly upon us and the COVID-19 pandemic is still not over. The US finds itself in a fifth wave in spite of having a more than adequate stockpile of vaccines. Europe heads into a difficult winter with many EU nations finding peaks in COVID-19 cases and the German health minister making a bleak declaration that by the end of winter, Germans “will either be vaccinated, recovered, or dead.” Austria has entered a lockdown for the unvaccinated. India too faces a similar situation with caseloads getting distributed across geographies and state regions in contrast to a nationwide surge from earlier this year. While this means that the COVID-19 pandemic may end up being endemic in our country depending on various factors, the risk of a third wave looms, still. Once the festive season in India ends around December, healthcare providers must prepare themselves for increasing caseloads across the country, with the population having spent the last few months mingling with family and friends more freely with mask and sanitary discipline has taken a backseat. Though healthcare leaders are no strangers to volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), seldom have they found themselves confronted with the level of uncertainty they’re facing with COVID-19. The
challenges we face in healthcare are manifold: staff burnout among healthcare providers in a long-drawn emergency environment, competing priorities of managing and keeping operations functional and competent, an uncertain economic landscape, as well as supply-chain disruptions of mission-critical supplies. How does the healthcare industry find its way through these times of adversity? How do healthcare leaders steward their organisations through this crisis into 2022? The answer lies in resilient leadership. Resilience in thought and actions embody many qualities and aspects of leadership that healthcare leaders must harness to not just survive but come out stronger of these war-like circumstances. These challenges of the pandemic require a closer look at adapting the leadership narrative towards resilience.
Empathy and compassion Patients, healthcare workers, and the broader ecosystem have taken a hit. The world as we know it seems to not exist anymore. Our doctors and nurses have been overworked, the mental stress of never-ending and ever-changing battles in the ICUs have taken a heavy toll, and many have fallen in the line of
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25
Cover Story
duty. Jobs are disappearing and there is uncertainty even in service as critical as healthcare. Our will and spirit are being tested, and, more than ever, now is the time for healthcare leaders to show compassion. Compassionate leaders are not only more competent and stronger but are able to create stronger connections in their organisations and among their people also. Empathy enhances trust, collaboration, and loyalty. As the hardships of the pandemic unfolded and companies still feel the aftershocks of the second wave, industry leaders have awakened to the greater value of participating in their workforce’s wellbeing. However, compassion alone is not enough. For resilient leadership, empathy must be combined with wisdom. This wisdom stands for the kind of leadership that is cognizant of what motivates people and gets them to deliver on priorities in a human way while also staying effective. In order to be effective, it requires giving tough feedback, making difficult choices that may disappoint people, driving an agenda, and even laying people off – to ensure that productivity and financial performance are not compromised. Empathy in leadership cannot come at the expense of efficacy and pragmatism. Wise and compassionate leaders balance their human capital’s well-being while moving their organisations onward in a productive manner.
Mission-driven, rallying around a purpose One of the biggest challenges of a healthcare leader in everyday organisational life is driving engagement and inspiring more energy towards the goals of the institution. Leaders who can focus the efforts and attention of their workforce on a clear mission of solving the crisis will often experience a wave of confidence and new ideas in the workplace. This ability of a leader to bring the organisation together and focus it on a common goal transforms
26
December 2021
insights from being individualistic to thought processes that serve the team as a whole. A crisis is also the time when leaders need to separate the wheat from the chaff. The management must decide which services should be de-prioritised, discontinued, or be managed by partner organisations. They must prioritise ruthlessly and focus their time and energy on the most important of issues. One of such important agendas in the post-COVID reality is collaboration. Leaders must find opportunities in these difficult times and align with the wider ecosystem. My conversations with other healthcare leaders have revealed the importance of internal alliances and those with the overall external ecosystem – that we’re in this together. Healthcare leaders must collaborate with the government, vendor partners, customers, competitors, NGOs, and any other relevant organisation to transition into the next year with greater surety and operational balance.
Being ambidextrous and taking decisive action in challenging times Amidst high uncertainty and constrained resources, it has never been more important for leaders to take corrective actions in time and be decisive. Healthcare institutions know that they must emerge from the crisis with new care delivery systems, stronger integration with digital infrastructure, new pricing models, and do all this without impacting the financial bottom line. Disruptions are occurring in the global supply chain and health organizations may no longer be able to procure supplies with pre-pandemic reliability. Going into 2022, leaders need to understand and act on any potential vulnerabilities, up and down the supply chain. Leaders in health must be ambidextrous, balancing present opportunities and short-term priorities with the exploring
of future opportunities. They cannot afford to focus exclusively on fire fighting the crisis in the present. Preparing for the future and the coming years is crucial for improving organisational adaptability, futureproofing, and, ultimately, timely decision making.
Transparency
rumours
about
the
workplace
are
clarified with the official position, and patently false information broadcast on social media and instant messaging ecosystems be debunked.
Reimagining strategy and business models Throughout
the
disruptions
of
the
Public trust in healthcare needs to be earned and reinforced with an effective communications strategy. While it is imperative that the community be reassured regarding the capabilities of the health system and how it has and will continue to rise to the challenges of the pandemic, building trust may mean also sharing sensitive or detailed information with the community. Healthcare leaders should create environments where constructive feedback is welcome, acknowledge their mistakes, be forthcoming about what went wrong and what were the lessons learned in the process, and finally, inform the public about the process improvements being made to avoid such circumstances.
COVID-19 pandemic, the primary goal
These discussions present unique opportunities to engage with the wider public for a deeper dialogue about service improvements and provide better access to medical experts and specialists with digital and traditional face-to-face interactions.
long-term goals.
The need to cultivate trust is nowhere more important than in the institution itself. It is essential that healthcare leaders engage in regular, unambiguous, and candid communication with their medical and non-medical staff and stakeholders. All personnel must be given the belief that management decisions are being made with the best evidence and keeping their health and wellbeing at the forefront.
and other medical organisations to
This messaging, however, must be anchored in reality and truth. It is important that transparency be the norm when there is less clarity about certain situations, unsubstantiated
commitment of the workforce. This is
and focus of the health profession have remained the same – meeting the challenge head-on and providing the
support
that
our
communities
need. During these turbulent times, new
regulations
are
emerging
and
patient behaviour is evolving rapidly. Patients are embracing technology in healthcare and medical professionals are increasingly using digital solutions to deliver good outcomes for their patients.
Such
accelerating
dynamic
leaders
forces
in
are
health
to
reimagine and rethink their business models and invest in planning that encompasses short-term, mid-term, and
One way for healthcare leaders to make progress toward long-term goals is to encourage the medical personnel to reskill and upskill. The crisis has provided the need and opportunity for hospitals make continuous learning a reality for the entire workforce. Going into the new year with the lessons of battling COVID-19, this is the time to identify and develop skills in various roles to stay relevant and ahead of the curve. Finally,
leaders
need
to
highlight
and reward achievements to unify the organisation and strengthen the needed to inspire hope and confidence in their people and the community that we will ultimately be successful in emerging from the crisis.
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Cover Story
The Forecast for 2022 Will be to Improve Services for Customer By adaptation of new technologies and mediums, companies will be able to deliver services on a regular basis The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the leaders to think out of the box and to ensure that the employees do not lose focus on the quality of deliverables. Organisations have adopted a hybrid model of work from home and office and organised vaccination drives for employees and their families for their Dr Tausif Ahmed Thangalvadi, Medical Director, NURA
safety. Leaders will be focused to ensure profitable business model sustenance through continuous positive cash flow. By adaptation of new technologies and mediums, companies will be able to deliver their services on regular basis and ensure clear communication with customers through collaborations with partners to increase the depth of services.
Overcoming challenges Companies have taken various steps like preparing a Roster system for employees
and sharing responsibilities with the employees across the departments to guarantee smooth business operations. Many organisations have started renting out service apartments for selfisolation, to ensure employee safety. Collaboration with partners to provide infrastructure for WFH make employees equipped for WFH (hotels, hardware, partners, resorts). Mental health plays a very key role so arranging counselling sessions for mental well-being for employees and engaging with them and ensuring the corporation’s customercentric approach doesn’t get hampered during the pandemic
Priorities for 2022 The forecast for 2022 will be to improve services for the customer, to convert services into business/revenue, look at newer models for cost optimisation for delivering services, to improve effective utilisation through new mediums of communication and lowering of attrition rate due to transition of work from home to work from the office. Adoption of new technologies like AI chat bot for more effective customer engagement by exploring new mediums/ channels for acquiring new customers, to understand customer expectation by doing modifications in current product/ services to match the existing ones and tying up with partners for expanding service bandwidth and reach.
28
December 2021
Mission 2022 and Beyond: Revitalising Healthcare in the Aftermath of the Pandemic Policymakers should collaborate with visionary health practitioners to institutionalise a prudent system to ensure that the affluent pay for value-added care through telemedicine and virtual consultations. The virus has singularly urged healthcare and pharma companies to keep pace with the industry in terms of technological adoption encompassing AI, robotics, digital therapies, IoTs, ultrafast scanners, wearable devices, big data, blockchain and nano health. Dr BS Ajaikumar, Executive Chairman, HealthCare Global Enterprises The pandemic left the Indian healthcare sector bruised and battered through the collateral damage of low patient footfalls and operational stress. In the absence of systemic support, the private sector was forced to innovate on its feet and enforce cost-cutting measures for sheer survival, thereby sustaining negative EBITDA and cash flows. To its credit, the industry has shown exceptional resilience in rising to the occasion in a quick time.
Across the globe, collaboration and consolidation hold the key for healthcare innovation. This is the time to demonstrate entrepreneurial leadership rooted in the agility and ability to foresee and adapt to seismic shifts – by reinventing systems, reengineering processes, redesigning continuity plans, and reshuffling teams. Last but not the least, the industry needs to proactively adopt the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, given that the world now consciously monitors and measures how corporates serve the larger cause of communities and environments.
Having said that, healthcare stakeholders must collectively strive to move up the value chain of disruptive innovation to lock horns with future health challenges. The resilience of business models has now become more critical than ever before, and the digital route is being seen as the most feasible way to expedite healthcare, essentially
Talking of the broader healthcare system, policymakers should collaborate with visionary health practitioners to institutionalise a prudent system to ensure that the affluent pay for valueadded care, while the poor avail of free or subsidised rates whereby price tags vary, not the quality. In parallel, our government should proactively help
private hospitals with liquidity and fresh capital. It should also increase GDP allocation to healthcare, as also provide tangible relief to healthcare providers in the form of GST write-offs, tax incentives, and a moratorium on payments. The COVID-19 pandemic, amid the havoc it caused across the globe, has underlined the need to make health our number priority. It has highlighted what was obvious all along, and yet stayed largely overlooked: the interconnectedness of every form of health – whether physical, psychological, economic, or social health. Amid the ominous threat of the third wave, we now need to rescue Indian healthcare from the eddy of systemic deprivation. Our policymakers need to put together a visionary team to anticipate the evolving needs of tomorrow amid the perpetual uncertainty over the new variants and their transmissibility. India urgently needs a value-based healthcare model to democratize health care delivery, led by improved accessibility and affordability with no compromise whatsoever on the quality front. For Indian healthcare to move up the value chain of activism and accountability, it is imperative that cost-consciousness and quality consciousness are not opposed to each other.
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Molecular Testing is Expected to Become More of A Routine Clinical Diagnostics Primary healthcare needs to be strengthened and upgraded substantially to ensure early and timely interventions
neglect of other diseases during this time is already showing by way of a steep increase in their prevalence such as TB, Hepatitis, H1N1, dengue and now Zika. In the case of TB there has been a significant erosion of the gains made during the past years. The need for accurate diagnosis at the first point of patient contact, initiation of early and appropriate treatment and effective monitoring of disease burden to cut transmission and curtail spread are the lessons learnt.
Sriram Natarajan, CEO, Founder and Director, Molbio Diagnostics
The years
2020
extraordinary
and
and
2021
were
unprecedented
and exposed our vulnerability and unpreparedness
in
dealing
with
pandemics of this scale, highlighted the cost of callousness in health practices and compliance and emphasised the importance and need for high-quality universal
healthcare.
The
COVID-19
pandemic has shown that in a large country like India, primary healthcare needs to be strengthened and upgraded substantially to ensure early and timely interventions. At the same time, healthcare services in these two years were completely skewed towards managing and fire fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The 30
December 2021
Molecular diagnostics which was an underserved segment in the Indian Diagnostics scenario for a very long time despite being the gold standard became the mainstay and the huge demand has led to substantial capacity building of RTPCR testing in the country. The increasing prevalence of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, coupled with tests for sexually transmitted diseases/ infections like HIV and HPV will propel the segment’s growth. Molecular testing is expected to become more of a routine clinical diagnostics tool not only for covid but for a wide range of infectious diseases in 2022. While various public and private organisations are investing funds to accelerate R&D in the field of molecular
diagnostics, the priority clearly is to bring all the stakeholders under one umbrella to focus on the gaps in the health system, identify the needs, create a road map for delivery and ensure quality and universal access. Molbio has pioneered point of care molecular testing through its novel Truenat Real-Time PCR platform with the prime objective of decentralising and democratising access to this gold standard technology and enabling early and high-quality testing at the point of first patient contact. Looking at the growing global demand for point of care molecular testing, Molbio Diagnostics launched a new manufacturing facility in Goa in June 2021. The manufacturing capacity has been increased 5-fold, from the existing 70,000 tests per day to over 3.5 Lakh tests per day that will ensure the uninterrupted availability of Truenat test kits both in the domestic and global markets for Covid and multiple diseases. Truenat is already being viewed as a multi-disease platform and in 2022, in addition to the TB program, we expect collaborations with other programmes such as the Viral Hepatitis program, NACO and National Vector Borne Diseases Control programme to add to the wider deployment and usage of the technology at the grass root level.
Healthcare & Diagnostics: Game Plan 2022 The coming year is going to herald a boom for the Indian healthcare industry
Healthcare is the largest service sector of the Indian economy, providing access to quality healthcare for the 1.3 billionplus population. The Indian healthcare industry was growing at a CAGR of approximately 23 per cent and expected to reach a figure of $372 billion (roughly Jatin Mahajan MD, J Mitra & Co
Rs 27,90,000 crore) by 2022. Various reports by the Niti Aayog, Invest India, and IBEF point towards a very robust growth for the industry, especially in the post-pandemic scenario. There is a growing distrust towards China as a global supplier of reliable healthcare products. As a result, the focus is shifting towards India as the most viable alternative. The fact that
we are producers of two global covid vaccines is a key influencing factor. The pandemic has brought an altogether renewed focus on health and preventive healthcare. The postpandemic healthcare environment will be very different from the prepandemic environment because of changing priorities, mindsets, and behaviours. The understanding of the current healthcare scenario has highlighted the critical thrust areas and the resultant growth drivers. Various promising investment opportunities exist in segments such as hospitals, medical devices and equipment, health insurance, clinical trials, telemedicine, and medical tourism. The healthcare sector is growing incredibly due to its increasing coverage, increased spending by public and private players, and quality services. The Indian Government has increased its healthcare allocation from 1.2 per cent to 1.8 per cent of the GDP in the last budget. As a result, there is a growing demand for implementing public-private partnership models in India's healthcare sector. Driven by Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives, Niti Aayog and Invest India are two key Government organisations that are aggressively focussing on driving investment for the Indian healthcare industry. The hospital industry accounts for 80 per cent of the Indian healthcare market. It is witnessing a considerable investor demand from both global and domestic investors. As a result,
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31
Cover Story
the hospital industry will reach $132 billion by 2023 from $61.8 billion in 2017, growing at 16-17 per cent CAGR. Various hospital projects are coming up in tier-II and tier-III cities and include renowned organisations like Apollo Hospitals, Columbia Asia, Manipal Hospitals, Max Healthcare, Medanta, and Narayana Health. There is growing investor interest in healthcare post the pandemic, and leading hospital chains Cloud Nine Hospitals, Medanta and Park Group — are seeking up to Rs 6,300 crore through the IPO route. Shares of Max Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals have gained 40-50 per cent in the last 3-4 months. The medical devices market in India stood at Rs 77,539 crore in 2020. It is likely to grow at 35 per cent CAGR from 2020 to 2025 (IBEF report). The government has taken steps for the growth and proliferation of the sector in the country. It recognised the medical devices segment as a sunrise sector under the Make in India campaign in 2014. Accordingly, India has initiated schemes to strengthen the segment – which includes boosting research and development and augmenting manufacturing through the 100 per cent FDI route. India holds tremendous potential in the IVD segment and a significant sway in the global diagnostics industry. India is the international centre for frugal medical devices engineering, and India is also among the leading exporters of IVD solutions across the world. The opportunities, therefore, in this segment are tremendous. The Indian IVD market is likely to reach $2 billion in 2026, from $1.3 billion currently. The focus of the Indian IVD companies is on creating an innovation-driven ecosystem for resource-poor settings, addressing the need for precision and reliability, domestic production (selfreliant), affordability, and reaching closer to point-of-care. Another growth area within IVD is molecular diagnostics, e.g., RT PCR Test for covid. In addition, 32
December 2021
bacterial and viral epidemics, demand for POCD, and evolving technology are driving the growth of this segment. India's relative cost competitiveness and availability of skilled labour are also making it an increasingly favoured destination for medical tourism. The Indian medical tourism market is likely to grow from its current size of $3 billion to $7-8 billion by 2020. Health insurance accounts for 20 per cent of the non-life insurance business, making it the 2nd most extensive portfolio. The premium income has been growing at over 16 per cent. Medical devices and equipment manufacturing, expansion of diagnostic and pathology centres, and miniaturised diagnostics have high growth potential. In addition, tech advancements such as AI, wearables, and other mobile technologies, along with the Internet of Things, also offer numerous avenues for investment. The coming year seems to herald a boom for the Indian healthcare industry and is likely to result in a win-win situation for the country, including healthcare providers and healthcare-seekers.
Healthcare Priorities for 2022… A physical and mental healthcare worker well-being plan needs to be developed and implemented – at a national level
Dr Vivek Sahi, MD, U4RAD Technologies
The last two years have been very
Collaborate
difficult, not just for healthcare but for
Competition is the norm in the private
human beings in general, humans are
sector, one would have thought that
naturally resistant to change, yet have
during an event like the pandemic,
always had to learn to adapt to survive
private
when there is no choice and that`s what
have pooled their resources together
they have had to endure, in the same
and collaborated however that was not
vein, healthcare and healthcare delivery
the case. Demand outstripped supply
too has had to adapt, it didn`t have any
and was being provided to the highest
choice as it was at the epicentre of the
bidder. Supplies were being redirected
pandemic..
to larger healthcare providers, and
Harsh lessons were learnt, that have doubled up as opportunities for humans to assess, and implement to ensure that healthcare is better prepared for any
rather
healthcare
than
compete:
providers
would
smaller ones were losing out. Vendors and some providers alike were 'Making hay while the sun shone,' The losers being the patients.
and every such scenario that occurs
Effective
going forward….and according to me
have
the following should be priorities for
management,
healthcare providers going into the
resources, which could have aided in
future…..
better delivery of healthcare, desired
bought
collaboration about and
more better
would effective use
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of
33
Cover Story
clinical outcomes, and fewer deaths. Supply-chain
One
management:
Digitisation of healthcare provision: of
Healthcare
providers
have
always
the largest gaping holes during the
resisted and lagged behind the rest
pandemic was the chronic shortage
of the world where technology is
of oxygen - the biggest gap identified
concerned.
being poor supply chain management.
the problem- resistance to change is.
Bringing all stakeholders together to
However, due to the nature of the virus,
create a robust supply chain strategy, ensuring
there
is
a
proper
and
transparent supply chain process, that can be tracked at each point - from
Technology
was
never
Healthcare providers were forced to start using technology – more so in the area of telehealth. Online consultations
production to point of delivery to the
and prescribing have become the norm,
patient - needs to be implemented, to
and although a great start has been
ensure continuous and seamless supply.
made there is still much more to do.
It is not just oxygen, but supplies of
Healthcare providers need to seize the
consumables,
opportunity to create hybrid online and
essentials
medication
for
frontline
and
even
healthcare
workers would greatly benefit.
offline
healthcare
provision
models
that are patient-centric and safe, as
The well-being of healthcare workers:
well as ensure the best possible clinical
The well-being of healthcare workers
outcomes for patients, this could be in
stuck out like a sore thumb – Whether it was physical attacks on doctors and nurses or the mental strain and
the form of patients getting healthcare services at their homes to managing
premature burnout that was bought
their healthcare remotely themselves.
about with endless hours of taking care
However digitisation doesn`t just apply
of very sick patients leading to PTSD, this, in my opinion, is a critical priority. A
physical
and
mental
healthcare
worker well-being plan needs to be
to clinical aspects, it equally applies to paraclinical services management, eg – Physiotherapy, and occupational
developed and implemented – at a
therapy, as well as non-clinical areas
national level. This would ensure that
such as supply chain management, CSSD
constant mental and physical problems
& hospitality services, administrative &
being faced by healthcare provider
HR functions and patient education.
workers, frontline- and behind the
34
December 2021
lines- alike are adequately addressed
We have been allowed to write the
and managed – A healthy workforce is
“New Normal” let us not waste that by
a productive workforce!
not improving!
Need to Focus on Addressing Future Pandemics Collaborations play a key role in the growing network of associates who could always come in handy during dire situations
Karthik Rajagopal, COO, Manipal Hospitals
The priority would be to return to pre-pandemic
levels
in
terms
of
operations and business. During the second wave, almost 80 to 90 per cent of our total occupancy was COVID related. With a dip in COVID cases, the goal for operations is to return to pre-pandemic functioning, where the majority of our revenue would come from the out-patient department and elective surgeries. While it is essential to return to pre-pandemic levels in operations and financials, it is also important to prepare for the future. The COVID pandemic truly challenged the healthcare system. Going forward, we need to focus on addressing
future
pandemics
with
digital technology, crisis management, infrastructure
growth,
supply
chain
management, investing in technology, AI & VR in medical science, research and treatment offerings, and medical
research and development to be ready for any health crisis. In recent years, businesses, including medical institutions have resorted to either new builds or acquiring existing ones as their growth strategies. While acquiring provides an opportunity for quick entry into new markets, new builds allow for the development of new facilities from the ground up providing the option to customise and expand in the future when needed. In between the two, is where collaborations come in. In terms of medical expertise, inter-professional collaboration not only prevents medication errors but also improves patient experience, saves time, avoids duplicity, makes research and development, and improves working relationships, all while delivering better patient outcomes and reducing overall medical costs. As for medical
infrastructure, collaborations play a crucial role in reducing costs. Both, new builds and strategic acquisition growth strategies involve big money spending, and also would take a considerable amount of time. In comparison, collaborations help save costs and can prove to be a quicker alternative, provided the right match is found. Collaborations play a key role in the growing network of associates who could always come in handy during dire situations. The pandemic created panic, especially in the healthcare industry, and this is when collaborations came into use. Collaboration with other private and public institutions can also play a crucial role in developing the overall healthcare system, and helping build a better perception towards the brand which will go a long way towards achieving success in the future.
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Cover Story
How Will Leaders Face Any Upcoming Covid Challenges? Resilient thinking, innovative outlook and meaningful collaboration are keys to overcoming future challenges there are aspects that one can control
across the globe to be part of healthcare
and there are aspects where one can
decision-making by leveraging digital
only contain. Business leaders will
tools to manage chronic diseases like
have to be adaptive to those disruptive
diabetes. We expedited innovations
changes and resilient to take decisive
around solutions that enabled faster-
action, confidently based on the fastchanging information. Fast decisionmaking amid uncertain times will be Narendra Varde, MD, Roche Diagnostics India
To overcome the colossal challenges
Roche Diagnostics teams developed a
posed by the pandemic, leaders need
reliable test to detect whether a person
to collaborate with their internal and
has COVID-19 in just 38 days. The test
external stakeholders. To lead through
was authorised for emergency use
a crisis, leaders need to stay connected
making headlines globally. During the devastating 2nd wave of the pandemic, COVID-19
pandemic
has
compounded the challenges business leaders
are
facing
today.
While
addressing the existing business risks, leaders now have to navigate the risks brought to the fore by the pandemic. However, along with the challenges it has also opened up new opportunities for us. For the healthcare sector, the pandemic has created opportunities to shape the way healthcare will be delivered in the future. As Roche, we
better outcomes.
critical. As the pandemic was unfolding,
in the US within weeks of the virus
The
personalised disease management for
we expedited the supply of 2 lakh tests to the ICMR.
and learn from the multiple stakeholders within their ecosystem. At the height of the pandemic, we were approached by the PMO and ICMR to support the test, trace and isolate strategy.
To overcome the challenges posed by a persistent problem like the COVID-19
Leaders also need to identify and
pandemic, leaders will need to be
acknowledge the gap they have in their
persistent
decision-making.
business model and collaborate with
For instance, even after launching the
partners who can fill them. For this
PCR test to detect SARS-CoV-2, and an
reason, we are investing in partnerships
antibody test, we have been working
with high-tech start-ups to improve
to bring more reliable immunoassay
access and care for patients.
in
their
solutions to the market. As part of our One Roche solutions, Ronapreve
Overall, the recovery and fast business
has been widely studied and used
turnaround of a company will depend
as a medicine for COVID-19. Leaders
as much on the evolving pandemic
will have to innovate and anticipate
situation as on the way its leadership
changes and spot trends early on in
will
their market that are likely to emerge.
thinking, an innovative outlook toward
We recognised the profound awareness
problem-solving, and a collaborative
One of the many challenges of the
the
evolving
of
diagnostics and its role in the early
approach will be the differentiators
certainty. With the Omicron variant
detection and management of diseases.
being the latest in the list of mutations,
At a global level, we decided to use this
I think it's important to realise that
as an opportunity to empower patients
looked at the crisis as an opportunity to expedite innovations. I truly believe leaders across sectors will have to look at the challenges in the same spirit to overcome them and bring meaningful positive changes.
36
pandemic
December 2021
is
the
lack
pandemic
has
created
around
steer
the
business.
Resilient
between the leaders who sailed the storm successfully. Views expressed are personal.
Technology-A Game Changer for Healthcare Industry There is still a certain degree of apprehension about adopting new technologies
Vinay K Mayer, Director - Marketing Research & Consulting, Asia Research Partners
The healthcare industry has seen a lot
in place that will be able to withstand
of changes in the last decade. While the
any
growing population and technology are
event. Technology plays a huge role
two things that are constantly changing,
in
the way people interact with the industry
by providing resilient solutions like
is evolving as well. The relationship
immunisation programmes and virtual
between
is
on-demand services which help people
changing, as well. People are looking
protect their health in more ways than
for less invasive treatments and better
one. Hopefully, this solution attracts
quality of life. People are also looking
many new customers as the world
for more personalised healthcare that
adjusts to 'The New Normal.'
health
and
medicine
is more affordable than ever before. This is driving the need for more healthcare services and more accessible healthcare options. Companies within the healthcare industry are constantly striving to improve their services and make them more accessible for those who need them the most.
sort our
of
disaster/catastrophic
current
healthcare
industry
Telehealth - A growing market segment with big possibilities One
of
the
biggest
challenges
to
the healthcare system is the lack of communication
between
healthcare
providers and patients. The average patient has to visit at least five healthcare
the
providers before getting a diagnosis and
dynamics of healthcare have changed
treatment. Moreover, many patients
tremendously. It’s now more important
still don’t know what treatment options
than ever to have a strong health system
are available to them. This makes
After
the
covid
outbreak,
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37
Cover Story
every hospital stay inconvenient and expensive for both patients and care providers. However, the future is bright for telehealth. Telehealth is the delivery of healthcare services and real-time clinical data remotely using electronic communication devices and information technology. Telehealth is a great tool for improved patient care and better management of chronic conditions. The shift from hospital-to-home care shook up the existing care delivery model, prompting many clinicians and health systems to adopt telehealth and virtual care models. They have experienced tremendous benefits from these changes. In near future, we can also expect that medical providers will be among the first to enhance and formalise training programmes to research and promote telehealth best practices to their clinical teams.
Telemedicine: Bridging the Gap of Doctor-Patient Ratio Telemedicine has made great strides in the healthcare industry. India has over 1.39 billion citizens, but it lacks sufficient healthcare practitioners and hospitals to meet their needs. Telemedicine can effectively mitigate this issue by enabling patients to consult doctors from the comfort of their own homes via the internet in such cases. Data capturing in healthcare The recent drive to digitise medical records has made access to personal health information much easier; however, it has also created a flood of new data for hospitals. Unfortunately, during the recent pandemic, hospitals struggled to manage the number of patients they had to treat while also managing a flood of information. One way that hospitals can make managing all of this data easier is by setting up a centralised process for keeping organised and by making sure that specific departments communicate with one another effectively. An example would be to set up procedures 38
December 2021
for how patients should be fully documented so as not to cause any redundancies in terms of record-keeping with the key areas being inventory management, patient management, and asset management. Global Healthcare Automatic Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) market size is estimated to reach $25.31 billion by 2028. However, while the adoption of (AIDC)-enabled devices has increased, there is still a certain degree of apprehension about adopting new technologies. Combined with the high costs of some AIDC devices, this hinders the growth of the automatic identification and data capture market in healthcare.
Embracing AI Thanks to AI-powered technology, healthcare is changing for the better. We have everything from virtual health assistants and chatbots, which can now be used to detect rare diseases to applications that can predict a patient's condition and needs to be based on their symptoms and history. Chatbots are computer programmes designed to automate conversations between patients and doctors through instant messaging (IM) software. These AIdriven programmes are not only less expensive than traditional healthcare systems but also eliminate the need for paperwork and make it unnecessary for patients to visit medical facilities as frequently. Hospitals will also rely more than ever on artificial intelligence powered infection prevention and control (IP&C) programmes to better monitor patients in real-time and identify signs of infection early so that early clinical intervention can be administered.
Virtual simulation and online education In 2022, a new and innovative approach to learning in the nursing field will be popular. The implementation of virtual simulations and online learning has
allowed schools to cut costs in areas such as training sites again because they can remove traditional roadblocks such as a lack of physical space for handson training. Through this technology's flexible solutions for both students and faculty members, schools are more than willing to adopt this technology for their classes. In summary, healthcare holds promise for patients, caregivers, and medical providers alike. Technology continues to expand its importance in the medical world. We can use technology to better ourselves as people; we have access to data that allows us to learn more about our health; has led professionals and clinical staff alike to demand flexibility when it comes to scheduling and location; enables caregivers from all over the world can collaborate on a singular platform; grants new ways of accessing reliable information on mechanisms behind illnesses/diseases along with other research; and helps us develop a holistic approach which involves interacting with medical testing equipment to perform diagnostics tests more easily.
Vast Opportunities in Robotic Surgery Improvements in technology, previously observed limitations and the cost to the patient have all been factors serving as catalysts for the growth of the global robotic surgical marketplace
Dr Sudhir Prem Srivastava, Chairman, Founder and MD, SS Innovations
Since its introduction to India in 2002, robotic surgery has experienced limited growth for India’s size and population. Until date there are less than 100 robotic surgical systems for a country of
over
1.3
billion
people
having
approximately 70,000 hospitals. The majority of robotic assisted procedures being performed are within the field of
Abdomino-Pelvic
includes
urology,
surgery
which
gynaecology
and
general surgery. As you may already know, India has the largest number of laparoscopic surgeons in the world who are highly proficient in their respective fields.
The
introduction
of
robotic
surgery to India gave them a wonderful opportunity to further expand their medical practice to be able to do more complex surgical procedures beyond the
laparoscopic
approaches.
The
reason one can do even more complex procedures
robotically,
that
would
otherwise traditionally be done in an open surgical setting, is the presence of two very important distinguishing factors, 3D vision and the utilisation of wristed instruments. Given the fact that robotic surgeries are done in a completely endoscopic manner, it is of critical importance that one have depth perception which can only be achieved through the utilisation of a 3D camera system. Additionally, given the complexity of procedures done with robotic assisted surgery, wristed instruments, which mimic the natural motions of the human wrist, are used to better accomplish the surgical tasks at hand. Although robotic surgery is now commonly offered in many Tier-1 cities in India, its adoption rate has remained relatively low due to limited access to this technology which inevitably comes down to the cost of the system as well as ongoing high costs tied to consumable instrumentation and maintenance contracts.
Growth opportunities The opportunities for the growth of robotic surgery in India are vast. Presently, India has the largest number of medical colleges in the world. As many doctors undergo post graduate laparoscopic training and come out as trained laparoscopic surgeons, similarly, if robotic assisted technologies were offered during the training of young surgeons, they would also undergo the training necessary to be proficient at
robotic assisted surgery. Keeping this in mind, I must point out the following. To become a good robotic surgeon, one must first and foremost be an excellent surgeon in the conventional open procedures. In the case of the Abdomino-Pelvic specialties mentioned previously, the natural evolution occurs from open surgery to laparoscopic surgery and finally robotic surgery. In my field of cardiac surgery, we never had a laparoscopic option for coronary bypass procedures as well as valve repair/replacement surgeries. As I was one of the first cardiac surgeons approached for the initial clinical trials during the early 2000s, we had to create our procedural steps utilising, at that time, the newly introduced robotic technology. I feel that there is a great hunger amongst our young surgeons in India to have access to the latest technologies to deliver the best standard of care for our patients. In this day and age, there is no reason to undergo conventional surgeries that are associated with longer recovery times, increased risk for would infection and blood loss and an increased burden to patients, families and society as a whole. With robotic surgery I have personally witnessed a faster functional recovery thereby improving the quality of life not only for my patients but for their families as well. When patients recover quickly there is a huge benefit
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Cover Story
to society as a whole, families do not need to take time off to travel to larger cities for these procedures, the patient can return to work faster and the same hospital bed which would ordinarily be occupied longer can be given to another patient as well. With regards to other opportunities for growth, I would also like to discuss the emergence of other robotic surgical companies concerning the global landscape. The DaVinci surgical system is the most widely used robotic system in the world today. However, today we see that many other robotic surgical companies are beginning to share the global stage.
Improvements
in
technology,
previously observed limitations and the cost to the patient have all been factors serving as catalysts for the growth of the global robotic surgical marketplace. I truly believe that we must always keep advancing the evolution of science to find ways to streamline procedures, increase access and availability of these systems and ultimately lower the cost to make these gold standard procedures available for the masses. Gold standard medical care should be a basic right for all, not just for those who are wealthy.
impediments for the growth Having trained over 350 robotic surgical teams
globally,
as
well
as
having
practiced cardiac surgery both in the US and in India, I feel that the largest impediment for the growth of robotic surgery in India is cost. From a training and proficiency point of view the cost of the system is directly related. If one cannot afford the system, then access to this technology does not occur. Without access one cannot train on the system to further develop the skill set required for the hand-eye coordination required to successfully carry out surgical tasks in an endoscopic manner. India is an extremely price sensitive market and even with hospital programmes who can afford the system, the overall burden of cost falls on the patients. An expensive system, instruments and maintenance contracts all translate into the cost of 40
December 2021
each procedure which is inevitably borne by the patients. I have seen this in my practice, a patient would be a perfect candidate for robotic assisted heart surgery but due to the cost, would not elect to undergo these types of procedures. Rather, they would undergo the traditional splitting of the sternum and have to experience longer recovery times. Keeping this in mind, I made it my mission to lead the development of a cost-effective system with reduced costs across the board with regards to instrumentation and maintenance. My goal is to make this technology available so that more and more surgeons can begin their training and become good at robotic surgery. India truly has an opportunity to serve as a progressive model for so many other nations around the world and just like them, all we need is the opportunity to access these technological advancements.
Robotic surgery in 2022 The forecast for robotic surgery in 2022 looks ever promising. Multiple companies are emerging that offer robotic assisted surgeries. I hope that as the adoption rate increases amongst the doctors and awareness is brought to the masses of the benefits of robotic surgery, the patients will begin to demand these procedures as they are the ultimate beneficiaries of
this chosen method of surgery. In many price sensitive nations, the companies will have to lower their prices to meet the demand. At SS Innovations, we are on the brink of launching our Mantra Surgical Robotic System, first in India then globally in the coming year. Our system will be the most affordable system on the market that utilises the latest technologies. Additionally, in addition to being able to be used for urology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, head and neck surgery and gynaecology, our system will be the only system on the market that will be able to be utilised to perform robotic cardiac surgery and more specifically robotic bypass surgery. I hope that not only countries like India will benefit but many nations globally that have been underrepresented
in
accessing
this
wonderful technology. After launching our system, we have every intention to remain a science-based company and will continue to pursue other avenues of robotic assisted technologies, i.e., specialty
specific
robotics,
single
arm applications for diagnostic and target
therapies,
pediatric
robotic
systems and a vast array of enabling technologies across the spectrum of surgical specialties. We are very excited about the future of robotics in India and welcome this future with open arms.
Feature
How Philips Failed to Adequately Address User Complaints About Breathing Assistance Devices FDA inspection revealed that Philips had ignored previous warnings regarding the degradation of foam components in its breathing devices Tracy S
According to the US Food and Drug
failure mode effect analysis to support
Administration (FDA), Philips has failed
your firm’s rationale for which polyester
to adequately address hundreds of
polyurethane foam-containing products
thousands of user complaints about
were affected, included, or not included
their
in your firm’s ongoing recalls.”
Philips
Respironics
breathing
assistance devices.
The inspection also revealed that Philips
A recently released inspection report
had ignored previous warnings that
and an accompanying statement from
foam was breaking down and entering
the FDA brings to light details about
the breathing tube of their products.
what Philips knew and how the MNC failed to correct the known problems regarding the degradation of foam components in its breathing devices.
According to FDA investigator Katelyn Staub-Zamperini,
executive-level
managers at Philips have been aware of “potential foam degradation issues
This more recent report comes on the
concerning CPAPs, BiPAPs and Trilogy
heels of a June Class I recall of certain
ventilators since at least 1/31/2020.”
Philips
ventilators
and
continuous
bilevel positive airway pressure (CPAP
And this isn’t a new problem at Philips;
and
were
field reports and complaints resulted in
concerns that sound abatement foam
the testing of the foam components in
in these particular devices could break
2016, and an April 2016 field sample
down, thus increasing risks of harm,
indicated “base polymer cleavage and
including increased risk of the patients
embrittlement of the returned foam
developing cancer.
material” in the samples.
Failure to address complaints?
Under the scanner
The FDA inspected the Murrayville,
The
Pennsylvania Philips Respironics plant
although there were at least 14 tests,
in response to a recall that started in
assessments,
August and ended on November 9.
between 2016 and present that brought
The FDA’s Form 483 related to that
the problems to the attention of Philips
inspection was released on November
executive-level managers, no field or
12 and stated, “There is no documented
corrective actions were taken regarding
investigation, risk analysis, or design
the foam degradation and concerns
BiPAP)
machines.
There
recent
inspection or
showed
reported
that,
incidents
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41
Feature
about volatile organic compound (VOC)
why harm is not likely to occur again,
emissions.
as required by your Health Hazard
Form 483 mentions all 14 known incidents. Furthermore, other models of Philips breathing equipment with silicone foam that were unaffected by the ongoing Class I recalls due to polyurethane foam degradation, still failed VOC testing, as noted by Katelyn Staub-Zamperini. The FDA also queried Philips Respironics consumer complaints about relevant keywords from 2008 to the present. When using words such as “contaminants,” “particles,” “foam,” “black,” and others, the agency uncovered more than 222,000 complaints, with over 20,000 of those involving the recalled Trilogy devices. Despite the FDA’s findings, a Health Hazard Evaluation conducted by Philips, in response to reports of foam degradation, somehow concluded that the chances of harm were unlikely, falling into the “possible but improbable” harm score category. Citing the huge number of foam degradation instances that had been evaluated by Philips or other entities, Staub-Zamperini observed that, “Therefore, potential foam degradation in Trilogy ventilator devices is not an isolated incident, and you also have not documented a detailed rationale for 42
December 2021
Evaluation’s instructions.” The FDA investigator found that Philips failed to establish adequate procedures for corrective and protective action (CAPA), in addition to their inadequate risk analysis procedures. A CAPA was initiated in 2018, two years after the 2016 field sample findings, but was
never
actually
formalised
or
implemented. Additionally,
that
CAPA
was
only
focussed on two types of ventilators, without examining related products that relied on similar air path assemblies and components. The FDA’s inspection also delved into email correspondence, going back to 2015, between Philips Respironics and the raw foam supplier, which, based on a customer inquiry, asked about the potential for foam degradation. The foam supplier responded in a way that, “implied that degradation of polyester polyurethane foam is likely and could occur in as little as [redacted].” According
to
the
FDA’s
statement,
patients are advised to ask their health care providers if they should continue using their Respironics devices while awaiting repair or replacement.
Pulse
Outsourcing – The Future in Healthcare The high attrition and the need for continuous training have forced hospitals to look for manpower from the outsourced agency
A small virus changed the whole world and every single human being has been affected in some way or the other in this pandemic. Healthcare services were overwhelmed with unknown challenges and suffered extensively. Most of the hospitals found themselves helpless and inadequately prepared. The war was fought with an invisible enemy and Dr Naresh Shetty, President – Healthcare Vertical, Quess Corp
with inadequate knowledge. The only positive part of the pandemic was the acceptance of technology in healthcare which expanded and supported the clinicians in their work. Another area that grew rapidly in the last few years and more so, during the pandemic was the outsourcing of some of the hospital activities. It allowed the hospitals to focus on critical areas and allowed the hospital administrator to focus on patient care and disease outcomes. The burden of managing non-core areas was left to the reputed agencies who could train and deploy manpower as well as services. Healthcare services require a huge talent pool of manpower and today employs one of the largest workforces across the industry in the world. The need for this workforce is continuously growing but there is a severe shortage
of skilled manpower, which is so critical in the hospital industry. The high attrition and the need for continuous training have forced the hospital to look for manpower from the outsourced agency. Despite the shortage of talent, the hospital lagged behind most others in its adoption of outsourcing. As the industry becomes more competitive, health organisations must learn to deliver excellent patient care without increasing costs. Unfortunately, providing excellent care requires substantial manpower and resources. The only way out is that they outsource skilled manpower to overcome a few challenges.
Why outsource? The critical part of any hospital is maximising staff efficiency and improving patient care outcomes. To achieve this goal, outsourcing non-core functions can be a blessing. It helps hospitals in focusing on their core operations and services like clinical diagnosis, medical care and nursing support.
The challenges for outsourcing: ·
The
financial
and
operational
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43
Pulse
implications because of outsourcing · Areas and tasks to be outsourced · Seamless transitions from internal to outsource model · Retaining of good manpower
Services for outsourcing Today’s healthcare outsourcing sector handles a variety of functions ranging from data entry to medical claims processing to medical billing. However broadly, it could be clinical and non-clinical: · Clinical services could be diagnostics/ rehabilitation or support services like pharmacy or home care. · Non-clinical services could be IT related/Billing/Insurance /Facility management / Security & patient Transport
Advantages of outsourcing Cost reduction – Outsourcing certain activities in the hospitals can save significant costs and improve margins dramatically. Access to skilled Manpower – Availability of trained or skilled manpower will 44
December 2021
improve the process besides reducing costs. More importantly, it will improve patient satisfaction level, a benefit that is so valuable and intangible.
affordable,
however,
healthcare
has
Improved focus on patient care – Medical professionals can focus on the core patient areas and allow noncore areas to be taken care of by an outsourced agency
surveys have predicted that the average
Reduction in hiring and training costs – This will decrease the new hiring, training and retention of skilled manpower by the hospitals.
skilled manpower and that outsourcing
Improved patient experience: since noncore areas will be manned by trained manpower it will improve efficiency and patient experience.
increased productivity, greater worker’s
Decrease in administrative costs– A significant amount of administration cost can be brought down and the savings could be reinvested for improving or adding new services.
Conclusion Some of the most critical areas in hospitals that require serious review are high attrition rates, limited skilled or talent pool and the need to make healthcare competitive. There is also a need for hospitals to make healthcare
the
risen
cost
of
prohibitively
across the world and the income flow has decreased over some time. Some hospital will need to reduce costs by 15 to 20 per cent just to survive the crisis. Other major issues are finding highly can help to bridge that gap. It helps the hospital to focus on making patient care better. The flipside would be it helps in satisfaction, decrease in training costs and,
ultimately
reduce
the
overall
costs. It is time that hospitals look at outsourcing as a necessary evil for the greater good as seen in other service industries. The increasing need for minimising critical mistakes, reducing operating costs and delivering better services will drive market growth. Now is the time for hospital administrators to think and act before it is too late. However, it needs to be well thought of the response and not a knee jerk reaction.
The Evolving Cybersecurity Landscape Remote working has increased cyberthreats. But even after the global pandemic is over, it’s going to be important to take actionable steps to combat the sizable security risks.
Customized MVISION Device-to-Cloud Suites MVISION Advanced
|
MVISION Premium
|
MVISION Complete
We Recommend:
Implement a cloud-based secure web gateway
1 2 3 4 5 6
Require multi-factor authentication to reduce risks of credential theft
Set policy in the cloud for routine device checks
https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/assets/reports/restricted/rp-carr-wfh.pdf https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/assets/reports/restricted/rp-carr-wfh.pd Source: https://www.darkreading.com/cloud/as-cloud-adoption-grows-dlp-remains-key-challenge/d/d-id/1335000 https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-07-29-IBM-Report-Compromised-Employee-Accounts-Led-to-Most-Expensive-Data-Breaches-Over-Past-Year https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/is-the-cloud-secure/ https://media.nominet.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/12130924/Nominet-Cyber_CISO-report_FINAL-130219.pdf
8 https://www.mcafee.com/enterprise/en-us/assets/reports/rp-cloud-adoption-and-risk-report-work-from-home-edition.pdf McAfee and the McAfee logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of McAfee, LLC or its subsidiaries in the US and other countries. Other marks and brands may be claimed as the property of others. Copyright © 2020 McAfee, LLC. 4619_0920 SEPTEMBER 2020
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