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Expansion
Carestream Health India Unveils Aggressive Growth Plans
Former Kodak Division to increase push with digital products
Dr Mohan Nadkarni |
Carestream Health India, a subsidiary of Carestream Health,
Inc, which began operating as an independent company just three months ago,
recently unveiled aggressive plans to grow in the Indian market with a push
for digital transformation in the medical imaging segment of the country.
The company—which has more than 8,100 employees serving tens of thousands
of customers in 150 countries—originated as a business unit within Eastman
Kodak Company. Dr Mohan Nadkarni, Director and Country Business Unit Manager,
Carestream Health India Pvt Ltd said, “Carestream Health brings from its
former owner a proud history of innovation, more than 110 years' experience
in health imaging, and over 1,000 patents in digital and film imaging and information
technology. As a result of its innovative product portfolio and broad global
sales, service and distribution capabilities, products from Carestream Health
can be found in approximately 90 per cent of hospitals and dental practices
around the world.” In addition, more than 75 per cent of the company's
revenue comes from products that enjoy a number numero uno market position,
he added.
Speaking of the growth in medical imaging facilities across the country, Dr
Nadkarni said, "The Indian health imaging market is growing steadily at
a healthy rate, and a substantial portion of this growth is coming from imaging
facilities increasingly turning to digital radiography and healthcare IT solutions.
This represents a major opportunity for us. We are building on the best from
our heritage, the high-quality products and services customers have come to
expect from us and on our stated vision for future: 'to change the landscape
of healthcare by providing solutions that dramatically improve the quality and
cost of care'." Dr Nadkarni noted that Carestream Health's digital portfolio
now constitutes more than 50 per cent of the company's business and is growing
steadily.
In India, Carestream Health commenced operations in early 90s, as the erstwhile
health group of Kodak India. Since then, the business has grown to about Rs
175 crore in 2006. Carestream Health India has a comprehensive portfolio of
image information products, services, applications and integrated systems, as
well as the latest in X-ray films, laser films, computed radiography (CR) systems
and medical laser. The Company also offers training and development initiatives
for radiology professionals in the country, including orientation programmes,
student workshops, patient awareness campaigns such as for breast cancer awareness,
and publishes a journal—The Radiograph.
"Our immediate focus in the first 90 days was on continuity of business.
We have since expanded the team, bringing in support functions for which we
had relied on Kodak previously," said Dr Nadkarni. Since it began independent
operations three months ago, Carestream Health has introduced two new world-class
products in India—KODAK Point-of-Care CR 260 system and Kodak Dryview 6800
laser imaging system—to enhance its digital portfolio. “The Company
is investing in attracting digital talent and in educating radiologists and
radiographers about digital technology through various workshops and seminars
conducted by in-house training personnel and by industry experts,” said
Dr Nadkarni
EH News Bureau
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