With just a handful of large chains, diagnostics is still a much fragmented play. What is holding this sector back? What are the unique business models in this category? What are the opportunities in cord blood stem cell banking and the home healthcare services? Given the attractive Indian consumption story, beauty & wellness businesses are expected to witness immense growth and scale. What are the investible opportunities in this space? What are the challenges engrained this segment and how can they be addressed?

Those where the questions addressed during the panel at the VCCircle Summit on 28.09.2011 in Delhi. The panel headed by Sameer Mehta (Director, Mehta Hospitals) discussed the different challenges the industry is facing. The quest for talent stood at the top of the list. Also the nonexistence of any regulation was addressed, stating that this leaves the unorganized players in the market to operate without ensuring quality results to the patient.

Frank Goller, CEO of India Home Health Care (IHHC), focused on the quality available in India. “The opportunities lie in the ability to provide services above the current quality standard. Also setting standards is not possible overnight, in the long run, the organized play will be benefitting. The run on the NABH accreditation by all major hospitals shows the demand for defined guidelines and service standards. At IHHC we focus on quality. If the patient requires a nurse we differentiate between our different levels of Staff: the Registered Nurse, Associate Nurse and the Personal Care Taker. This is most direct differentiator to our unorganized competitors.”

Frank Goller joined the panel with Ameera Shah (CEO & MD, Metropolis Healthcare Ltd.), Mayur Abhaya Srisrimal (Executive Director, LifeCell International), Sanjeev K Chaudhry (CEO, Super Religare Laboratories) and Anil Maini (Executive Director, Batra Hospital & Research Centre).