The mere population in India makes the healthcare scenario very demanding. This huge population with resource constraints coupled with the lack of an effective healthcare management system makes the scenario even more complicated. Lack of Infrastructure in terms of hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centers and trained healthcare professionals are further exacerbated by under utilization of resources due to a chaotic healthcare system. India still spends just about 4.2 % of its national GDP on Healthcare. The major share of the resources are allocated for curative services whilst a small chunk is being utilized for preventive services leading to lack of long term permanent solutions. The primary focus should be to better this ratio between Healthcare services and patients, i.e to reduce the number of patients and increase the healthcare services. Saarathi since its inception has been involved in finding innovative solutions to optimally utilize the existing resources for better healthcare management and treatment outcomes.
The Maestro behind ‘Saarathi Healthcare’
Saarathi Healthcare is the brainchild of Ranjeeta Vinil, CEO – who strongly felt the need to change the healthcare deliverables in India. During her pharma career, Ranjeeta had the unique opportunity to head the patient relationship management division of an MNC. An experience that brought her closer to the reality of patient needs and the yawning gaps that required to be met. At the peak of Ranjeeta’s corporate career, she was detected with breast cancer, fortunately in an early stage, which she fought through bravely, and survived with resolve. Her personal experience through the journey to recovery brought her even closer to the plight of the patients and that was the turning point that gave rise to Saarathi Healthcare, in 2008.
Saarathi started its journey from a small, 150 square foot shanty, in South Mumbai by one woman – Ranjeeta Vinil. It was an extremely challenging journey for her. With the sole aim of helping patients, Ranjeeta single-handedly conceptualised a patient centric healthcare delivery model and approached the Pharma companies with her service. The service was just a concept and it was in complete variance to the existing practices in the Pharma industry. In the absence of any proven results, the pharmaceutical companies were not comfortable with their previous set of practices which were in vogue for decades. There was vehement opposition from the sales teams to shift from a doctor centric model to a patient centric model. The top management who saw sense in the concept were apprehensive in adopting the model amidst strong opposition from the sales department. It was her strong commitment to the cause that helped her continue in spite of the odds.
On a Mission towards Building a Healthy Community
At the time of Saarathi Healthcare’s inception, Ranjeeta faced numerous challenges, but these didn’t let her down and due to her consistent perseverance, few forward-thinking companies/management agreed to adopt her concept on a trial basis. Saarthi’s first client was Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, which was soon followed by UCB and Novartis. Each project had its unique challenges and needed a specific tailor made programs and had to be monitored very closely to ensure success. Finally, it was the positive feedbacks from patients that proved the success of the programs. It increased Ranjeeta’s own resolve, instilled confidence in the clients in the concept of patient centric healthcare models and Sarathi’s capability to deliver.
A True Entrpruenal Effort for Better Healthcare Management
Ranjeeta feels that the inception of Saarathi in itself was an innovative approach to Healthcare delivery. She strongly believes that healthcare is not just about treating the sick, but also about keeping people healthy. She feels that the system should focus on performance rather than service. Today, they have an episodic care based health system primarily funded by the private sector, which is focussed on health care services and not performance. A system where most of the stakeholders are beneficiaries of sickness and not health.
Awards and Accolades
- “50 outstanding women in Healthcare – Global Listing – The World health & Wellness Congress and Awards -2017
- Women healthcare Leader of the year 2016 – Pharma Leaders Awards
- National Award for Healthcare and Social Care Support 2015.
- Awarded for the best Agency servicing healthcare industry – ABP Healthcare leadership Awards 2015
- Women Leadership Award in Healthcare – National awards for excellence in Healthcare 2015.
- Ranked as 10th company in Innovative Healthcare Delivery Model and 7th in Healthcare Entrepreneurship – India Health and Wellness Summit and Awards 2015.
- Emerging Entrepreneur [India] Award: UBM Pharma Awards – 2014.
- FOGSI Best Women Achiever-2014
- “OPPI Marketing Excellence Award – 2014” in Existing product Category and “Stars of the Industry Award in early 2014”. For “Sambhav” a programme that has helped the patients of Hepatitis –C, since the past 4 years.
- Rajeev Gandhi Shiromani Award Nomination-2013
Creating Milestones while Marching ahead towards Success
Established in a tiny facility near Mumbai, run by one woman, today Saarathi has emerged into one of the largest PRM company in India with over 300 educators (as Ranjeeta refers her employees). With a vision of Democratizing Healthcare Worldwide Ranjeeta has already commenced her Global operation with footprints in Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia.
Saarathi today partners with more than 50% of the pharma companies in the country, making Saarathi a leading company for the space they work in. Saarathi is also the largest player in the patent space with more than 500,000 patients, working with all leading Indian and foreign pharma companies, running around 30 programs, with more than 300 trained people, and robust CRM system to track KPIs / results.
Saarathi today has evolved into a fully integrated healthcare company with professionals from the field of pharmaceuticals, healthcare, technology, advertisement and communication to deliver customized and innovative solutions for better healthcare management and treatment outcomes.
To Ranjeeta, the success in her own Entrepreneurial idea bearing fruit and impacting the society in a positive manner is most satisfying and worth all the effort and sacrifices.
Source :- Inspiring Stories of Indian Women Leaders in Business
