India is making significant strides in healthcare and medical technology, with Apollo Hospitals playing a pivotal role in this transformation. In an interview, Apollo’s leadership, including joint managing director Sangita Reddy, managing director Suneeta Reddy, and executive vice chairperson Preetha Reddy, discussed India’s progress in medical equipment manufacturing, the “Heal in India” initiative, and Apollo’s vision for the future.
According to Preetha Reddy, India is making progress in medical equipment manufacturing, with companies like one in Gujarat producing robotic solutions for knee surgeries and other procedures, which are comparable to high-end Da Vinci surgical robots. However, 80% of India’s medical equipment is still imported, and the goal is to reverse this trend, with 20% of equipment being made in India and 80% imported.
Suneeta Reddy highlighted Apollo’s late founder, Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, who foresaw India’s role in global healthcare 20 years ago. The “Heal in India” initiative is built around three key dimensions: ensuring patients can come to India for allopathic and alternative medicine, using connectivity and bandwidth to enable Indian doctors to monitor patients remotely, and promoting medical travel. Apollo’s financial strength and plans for the future include growing revenue significantly, with a target of 50,000 crores in the next three years, and expanding the company’s reach to serve patients in neighboring countries.
Preetha Reddy emphasized the importance of expanding Apollo’s reach and the need for more trained professionals, highlighting the company’s goal to double the number of available personnel in the system. With a strong cash flow, balance sheet, and potential for investment in specific ventures, Apollo is poised for continued growth and expansion in the Indian healthcare industry.