2nd Healthcare Investment Forum, IVCJ, Mumbai

11 March, 2008

The second Healthcare Investment Forum, organised by Private Equity Journal of India, (IVCJ) delivered yet another knowledge-packed symposium on healthcare. The event attempted to unearth emerging opportunities ahead of times. The enormous unmet demand within the healthcare industry has ensured a business opportunity for everyone. However, it is the well-guided investors who are yet perplexed and at a vantage point in turning prospects into profitable business. The six sessions highlighted every aspect with respect to investment opportunities and challenges in the growth of healthcare industry.

Session one started off with the central theme—'Opportunities in Healthcare Hospital Services, Diagnostics and Clinical Trials.' Dr Ashwin Naik, Founder, Vaatslaya Healthcare highlighted the opportunities and challenges that lie for organised healthcare beyond the metros. Vaatsalya is a venture-funded company focused on creating India's first network of hospitals in semi-urban and rural India. The next session covered the opportunities in health insurance, retail pharmacy and medical equipment.

Nimish Parekh, Founder and President, Wellinformed, gave an overview of the state of insurance sector in India and stressed on the importance of upgrading the information infrastructure in India. "Managed care management is not necessarily a preferred model. Some players in the market, however, still believe managed care is a good model. I think it is a matter of time that insurance sector would rise in a big way," he said.

In all, the conference served the ultimate purpose of enlightening eager private players about the intricacies of investing in this space. Covering diverse topics such as Healthcare Insurance; Benefits of IT usage; New Models of Delivery Systems, coupled with an overview of Government policies, the event was nothing short of a comprehensive information disseminating experience.

EH News Bureau