Clearmedi Healthcare: Our focus is to work more closely in identifing the gaps and addressing the same envisaging the benefit of larger masses

Can you describe a specific healthcare challenge or problem that you identified and addressed with your innovation or approach?

Vission of democratising healthcare is the biggest challenge amongst many other. Universal accesibility of healthcare as we say is largely concentrated only to tier 1 cities and there too patients are graded as per their paying class i.e. cash and scheme, this quite well summaries the larger problem. However, in Narayana Health, we have had hospitals taking healthcare to deeper roots of difficult geographies and at Clearmedi Healthcare our vission speaks loud about taking healthcare facilities to the remote locations like one in Kailash Hospital near Baroda, Gujrat which in itself is around 200kms away from main city. The breakthrough to reach deeper parts of the country is through digitalisation and investing into healthcare technology

What was the initial spark or idea that led to your groundbreaking healthcare innovation?

Despite many policy level decisions being made in favour of improving the healthcare needs it is somewhere or the other focuses on business matrices and I wanted to get into breaking the type cast. Making healthcare accessible to the non-metro cities became my mantra. As you go deeper in to the remote areas you shall realise the burden of both communicable and non communicable diseases is exponentially high in these areas where care is not even near. Though healthcare institutions like AIIMS have reached many remote locations however due to the high disease burden and population density, the waiting time for treatement remains quite long. With the same vission in mind was Clearmedi founded by Dr Shashi Baliyan, ie. to go into deeper roots of difficult geographies of our country

How did you overcome obstacles and resistance within the healthcare industry when introducing your innovative solutions?

Healthcare industry is a tough game because of the CAPEX involevement and a lot needs to be done on this side to reduce burden on promtoters of healthcare. Low pricing and delayed payments from government schemes again puts a lot of weight and inturn leads to compromise in operational efficiencies. To overcome these challenges from a healthcare provider prespective we bridged in the gaps with government panels by better liasoning. Another challenge that needs adderasal is the reluctance in adoption of digital technolgy, the healthcare providers and the recieveres need to instill trust to build transparency with the optimal use of technology to overcome accessibility related challenges by many folds.

Can you share a success story or case study demonstrating your work's real-world impact on patients or healthcare systems?

During my tenure in NH, we had commissioned and operationalised a hospital in Katra, that is in the remote area of Jammu & Kashmir, which was thought to be very sensitive geography and people were devoid of healthcare facilities. As the hospital ramped up its operations, people from remotest of areas of J&K started visiting the hospital to access the care. Now, in Clearmedi founded by Dr Shahi Baliyan where I have joined as CEO, also works on the model of providing care in tier 2 and tier 3 cities with focus on oncology like in cities like Mysore where we operate two 100 bedded hospitals and Nanded which is itself 300 kms from Hyderabad main city.

What ethical considerations have guided your work in healthcare innovation, particularly in areas like data privacy and patient consent?

I come from a rich 24 years background of serving in Indian Navy, where ethics and integrity are paramount. NDA like great institutions of India guide you bear the torch of commitment and integrity. Compliance to policies and normas has always been on the top for me and same I make sure to instill in my team members.

How has your innovation or approach improved patient outcomes, reduced healthcare costs, or enhanced the overall quality of care?

Adoption and appropriate placement of digital technology has played a pivitol role in turning around how healthcare functions in India. With technology not only do patients get benefitted but also the healthcare providers get a platform to get in touch with the all the stakeholders, the turn around time for reports is reduced, access to second opinions on reports is quicker, patients now do not have to wait in long queues.

Have you encountered any unexpected challenges or setbacks in your journey as a game changer in healthcare, and how did you address them?

I consider COVID-19 to be a black swan event in the history of healthcare where we turned it to our exponential advancements in terms of efficiencies and upgradations. It showed us the path of innovation and commitment as we served largest number of patients than healthcare would have ever imagined.

How do you see the future of healthcare evolving, and what role do you believe innovative technologies and approaches will play in shaping that future?

The future of healthcare is expected to undergo significant transformations, driven by innovative technologies and approaches. These advancements have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, making it more efficient, accessible, and personalized. At Clearmedi, our focus is to work more closely in identifing the gaps and addressing the same envisaging the benefit of larger masses.

Are there any specific healthcare disparities or global health issues that you are particularly passionate about addressing through your work?

Currenlty the healthcare delivery has huge disparity in terms of haves and have nots. The "misery of the middle class" has become an issue of concern all together. Out of pocket expenditure has gone up exponentially. We have to come out with means to reduce burden on a particular section of the society alongside making healthcare delivery accessible and afforadbale for all.

What advice would you give to aspiring healthcare innovators who aim to make a meaningful impact on the industry?

To the young minds, believe you me this is the beast era for innvovators because acceptance of technology is in an accelerated mode. It will gradually become a norm in all healthcare systems with introduction of NDHM scheme. But take my advice of innovation should be towards the patient and not the other way rounds. Bottoms up approach to be adopted where focus is on where the focus is placed on empowering local communities and individuals to actively participate in their own health and well-being.

How do you collaborate with other stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem, such as healthcare providers, regulators, and patients, to ensure the successful adoption of your innovations?

During COVID it was realised that healthcare is not one person's job and cannot be delivered singularly. Collaborations with national authorities is another area of focus to have our mission realised. I would want to mention it here that I also hold the position of Co-chairman, ASSOCHAM; National treaurer, AHPI alongside being involved in regular cadence with NHA, health secretaries. Another important aspect of getting new prespectives into the healthcare scenarios is by regularly meeting and talking to freshers out of college, bright ideas come up which give you material to develop upon.