Medall – Advancing the Diagnostics
Innovation’s part in healthcare has extended a lot in the recent 20 years. Our capacity to analyze, store, and share data related to patients’ health is straightforwardly attached to improved innovation. The utilization of innovation builds supplier capacities and patient access while improving personal satisfaction for certain patients and saving the lives of others. We’re moving into a time where doctors can see patients distantly and precisely analyze patients’ issues, even in the most rustic regions, through telemedicine.
The role of good diagnostics in time plays a vital role in the initial step in any kind of treatment. The global pandemic has highlighted the need for full-powered diagnosis solution providers that helps to get appropriate data on patients’ health as well as helps to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
In the same context, Medall, South India’s largest integrated diagnostic services provider is accelerating the transformation in the healthcare sector with its cutting-edge and advanced offerings.
In a conversation with Mr. Arjun Ananth, Director, and CEO at Medall, he shared his views on the current industry scenario and Medall is empowering the change.
What inspired you to Medall? Please brief us about Medall?
I have always cherished the opportunity to improve the quality of people’s lives. Medall is South India’s largest integrated diagnostic services provider and is a wonderful platform to make a meaningful impact on the prevention of diseases and improvement in the wellness quotient of the public at large.
What were the initial challenges you faced?
I was already familiar with Medall as I represented the owner fund on the Board of Medall for 4 years before coming on as a full-time CEO. Medall had all the building blocks in place. The biggest challenge was timing. Just as we made the best-laid plans, Covid stuck, postponing our implementation.
Which was the point that triggered the growth of Medall?
It was the opportunity to serve people at or below the poverty line through the partnership with the Government of Andhra Pradesh. More recently, it was the opportunity to facilitate the testing of the population for COVID. Medall was the largest tester for COVID in the south.
How has the business graphs changed since the foundation? Can you share a few statistics?
Medall has been the quickest to gain scale in its industry.
What is the reason behind your centers’ long-standing success?
It is the customers. We value patronage. Many of our customers come back to us. It is this loyalty we consider to be the bedrock of our business. At Medall, we believe that our interactions need to be engaging and not transactional.
What are the services Medall focuses on? How are your services different from those in the market?
We focus on diagnostic services – blood tests, scans like MRI, CT, USG, X-rays, etc. We offer a one-stop shop for all diagnostic needs, be it blood tests or scans. We also now offer the opportunity to reverse metabolic disorders like diabetes etc. based on blood tests. All this is delivered to the customer via a class-leading app.
How do you decide to take the business a step further in terms of your services?
We will continue to expand into technology as we seek to reposition Medall as a health tech company.
Is there any new addition to the list of products/services? Anything exciting you would like to share?
We just launched Medall Blume, a holistic and science-based subscription program to reverse chronic lifestyle diseases like diabetes, PCOD, fatigue, obesity, etc. We are excited by this product as it seeks to combine the best of science and technology, with continuous monitoring via a state-of-the-art app, our expertise with nutritionists, pathologists, doctors, psychiatrists, and the rooting in tradition.
Can you please brief us about your professional experience?
I am an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business and a top 10 ranks holding chartered accountant from India. I started my career in investment banking and then went on to be one of the early members of Nike’s founding team in India. Later on, I was the CEO of a large industrial company and also donned various leadership roles in finance for large publicly listed firms.
How do you look after your employees? What makes your team unique?
We believe in caring for our employees. We give roles that are challenging, encourage employees to push the limits, reward, and recognize them when they do so. We promote a very entrepreneurial culture; we encourage our employees to take on more. We have a flexible work culture and we do have a well-defined work from home policy. We identify high potential employees for special training. Most importantly we are highly informal and anyone can walk into my office for a discussion.
Kindly brief us about your views on the current healthcare industry scenario.
The industry is gradually recovering post-COVID. The last few months have been focused on COVID management and testing. The awareness about one’s health and comorbidities has increased many folds during this period. Also the emergence of telemedicine. Going forward, I believe, many will look for a self-care option with guidance from experts.
We just launched Medall Blume, a holistic and science-based subscription program to reverse chronic lifestyle diseases like diabetes, PCOD, fatigue, obesity, etc.
Whose business story do you find the most inspiring?
It has to be Apple and Nike. Both companies are at the forefront of customer delight and technology. They define what the customer needs. Steve Jobs and Phil Knight have to be admired for the way they did this.
Which is the most inspiring quote you have read?
“You can’t connect the dots going forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever”.
Constant vigilance- a need or a strategy? Please share your views.
It is a need. One has to be vigilant about his or her health, one needs to be vigilant of the surroundings and one needs to be connected. However, vigilance should be related to awareness and not paranoia.
It’s a rat race out there. How do you cope with that?
One must enjoy the adrenaline. Life is an adventure sport. You learn to enjoy it. If everything stayed the same, where is the excitement? That would be boring.
