Page 60 - The 20 Most Promising CEOs in Business Industry 2019
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‘kytos’, which means cell. The hospital represents
care at the cellular level. “
Cytecare is also doing its bit to help
‘Governance of care’ expand awareness among the people
The second aspect, according to Suresh Ramu, is the about the various aspects of cancer and
”
‘governance of care’. “I don’t put (just) one person its early detection
to treat that (one) patient. I put a team. We have
the medical oncologist, the radiation oncologist, For instance, if certain biomarkers were used at the
the surgical oncologist and the pathologist, among beginning of the treatment process than later, it could
others, to work together for that one patient (through not only cut costs but also increase survival, Suresh
the multi-disciplinary tumour board). So, you are Ramu says.
sure that not only are you putting in all the expertise,
but you are also governing the level of care. And since Cytecare follows such ‘governance’ rules,
Because, in India we need two things – expertise, Suresh Ramu feels “We will be able to demonstrate
and to make sure that we are doing the right thing. that even as a private hospital, our costs of treatment
There’s definitely a trust deficit in healthcare, and by and overall survival are significantly superior to what
the governance process we feel we can address that exists in the market. This will take time, but this is our
trust deficit and bring the best for that one patient.” approach.”
Elaborating on ‘governance’, he says that the Awareness on Cancer
outcome of cancer treatment for the same stage Cytecare is also doing its bit to help expand awareness
of cancers in India is half as in the US. Yet on the among the people about the various aspects of cancer
brighter side, published data from institutions like and its early detection. “I am very enthused by the
the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, “which I have response of children in some schools,” he says. “We
great regard for”, show that even with the kind of have seen that teenagers in the age-group of 13-18
burden that they handle, their outcomes are twice are able to communicate and influence their family
as better as that of government hospitals and even members on the awareness about cancer and the benefits
some private hospitals. of early detection, and insurance cover.”
“That is possible because of two reasons, which we Suresh Ramu sees things changing for the better in
have adopted at Cytecare. One is ‘approach’, the India. “India gets about 1.7 million reported cases of
organ site approach. And that is true for the top 150 cancer every year in a population of 1.2 bilion people.
centres of the world; and Tata Memorial Hospital is The US has almost the same number of cases detected
one of them, for sure. There are dedicated teams for every year in a population that js about one-third of
each type of cancer. And the other is ‘governance’ - India. So, one can argue that we are genetically less
the multi-disciplinary tumour board, which reviews predisposed to cancer; or that we are detecting far
each case.” less than what actually exists (more likely the latter).
Cytecare thus, is trying to do things differently to (Yet from the rising number of patients coming to the
achieve outstanding results. And the reassuring hospital, it is evident that) detection rates are improving.
smell of coffee from the cafe at the entrance is yet People (now) have access to diagnostics in semi-urban
another way of doing things “differently”. areas. Healthcare in India is improving. Awareness is
Treatment Is Expensive improving. But we have a long way to go.”
Suresh Ramu accepts that cancer treatment is Website: http://www.cytecare.com
expensive. The drugs used, and the imported Industry: Hospital & Health Care
equipment, which attract 30 per cent customs Company size: 201-500 employees
duty, add to the costs. “If the government can do
something for centres of excellence, it would help,” Headquarters: Bangalore, Karnataka
he says hopefully. Type: Privately Held
But research can help cut costs, he says. Here, Founded: 2014
certain combination of treatments can help cut costs.
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