Startups Disrupting the Healthcare Landscape Through Innovative Solutions
By Amitoz Singh
Not too, long ago, in 2020, the Hon’ble Prime Minister marked January 16th as the National Startup Day to help percolate startup culture to the grass root level. At that time, India had around 60,000 startups with 42 unicorns.
While the startup ecosystem has always been spectacularly vibrant in the country, the last two years have been particularly phenomenal, when the pandemic induced accelerated pace of digital transformation, transformed industries and sectors in ways hitherto unimaginable. India has always been a country of innovators and creative leaders and this novelty has been steadfastly brought to light by entrepreneurs across all sectors alike.
To put things into perspective, let’s talk about the healthcare sector in particular. When the COVID 19 pandemic caught us unaware, it brought to the forefront many lags existing in the in the current healthcare ecosystem. That was the time, given the norms of social distancing and lockdown, many healthcare startups leveraged technology to streamline efficient healthcare delivery pan India.
These startups were quick to realise that the traditional healthcare delivery system in India primarily focussed towards offering treatments to patients after the onset of an ailment. Added to this was the dearth of affordable accessibility to healthcare facilities, which still remains a major roadblock in many parts of India. To mitigate these challenges, healthtech was seen as a viable option because of the efficiency, affordability, free-of-bias access to high-quality healthcare technologies that it promises. For these startups, the focus shifted from providing treatment to ailing patients to a more preventive healthcare and disease management approach.
For instance, startups like Nirvasa identified that lifestyle and weight related issues are a root cause of many chronic ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, asthma, osteoporosis, the list is endless. However, prior to the onset of such chronic ailments, early signs often include premature balding, fatigue, poor sexual health, affected mental health which many of us try to ignore, partly because we think they aren’t serious health concerns, partly because of stigma attached to them by social constructs, which refrains us from talking about these ailments openly, or seek help from professionals when needed.
For instance, over 80% of people suffering from mental health problems do not reach out for professional care and it is now among the top leading causes of health burden worldwide. Similarly, sexual health issues are far more common than we think they are and many refrain from seeking professional care in time for the same reason cited above.
Startups like Nirvasa is catering to address these challenges through a unique digital platform. Any patient, located anywhere across the country can assess Nirvasa’s healthcare assistance from the comfort of their homes, without having to stress about the hassles of joining long queues, taking leaves from workplaces or physically travelling for pharmacy visits or doctor check-ins. Nirvasa Healthcare directly connects the Patient to a healthcare professional through its no-queue digital health facility, with no waiting period involved. Moreover, to ensure confidentiality, patients can make a call to the healthcare professionals directly and get diagnosis, consultation and treatment from the comfort of their homes, without the intervention of any intermediary. The health experts ensure end to end treatment.
The platform understands that, sensitive health problems like mental health, sexual health need to be destigmatised and placed at par with other physical health problems. Also, more than medication or alternate therapies, diagnosis and treatment of such health concerns needs a holistic approach, including normalisation and taking care of such problems, backed by innovative solutions. This is where companies like Nirvasa are intervening successfully.
Currently, we are providing free health consultations to 10000+ Indians per day basis. We draw out holistic healthcare plans customised to every patient’s unique needs and requirements, guaranteeing safety and inclusion.
In 2023, the company is planning to address the ongoing epidemic of Diabetes in India, considering that India houses the second-largest number of people with diabetes globally, after China. Nirvasa Healthcare is launching a Diabetes Healthcare Action Plan, which it will operate through its digital healthcare platform. Our healthcare delivery systems are backed by robust technology and data science.
Nirvasa has been able to achieve a growth trajectory of 15% month on month and has been profitable since its inception. Nirvasa Healthcare along with its 800 plus healthcare professionals and over 400 doctors, has consulted over 8million patients in less than 4 years.
Over the next three years, the innovative bootstrap will focus towards expanding its reach and cater to every household in India, serving them as that primary healthcare platform that is aiming to address all their needs. Aligned with the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the world largest health assurance scheme, that aims to provide health cover of Rs. 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization to poor and vulnerable families, Nirvasa is looking to expand its operations, bringing under its aegis, many more tier 2, 3 cities and beyond.
(The author is Mr. Amitoz Singh, Founder & CEO, Nirvasa Healthcare (P) Ltd, and the views expressed in this article are his own)
