Chennai’s Lifeline

For this young surgeon, his dream project has been a truly a learning experience. He started the first Lifeline hospital with 25 beds in 1997. Today, this group has 500 beds with 1,000 employees

Dr JS Rajkumar (45) Chairman, Lifeline Group of Hospitals

Born in January 1963, he did MS, Diploma NB (Surgery), FRCS (Edinburgh, Glasgow and Ireland), FIMSA, FAIS and FRSM (London).

Why an entrepreneur?

"Initially, I just wanted to help set up a system of healthcare in which doctors and management participated equally. However, after the first flagship hospital was fully functional, the idea of expanding medical horizons and investing in new technologies became attractive. One led to another and entrepreneurship followed," he shares.

Before becoming an entrepreneur

He was worked as an Assistant Professor with Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai and as a Consultant Surgeon and Gastroenterologist with Malar Hospital, Chennai. He still spends 12-14 hours a day as a doctor and four hours a day as an entrepreneur. "Although I have tried, I am unable to be a businessman exclusively. The practice of surgery and clinical medicine fascinates me more," he exclaims.

The first move

He started his entrepreneurial journey by setting up RIGID Hospitals Private Limited at New Avadi Road in Kilpauk in 1997. The hospital was named after his physician grand father's name Rajarathinam. The hospital was started with 25 beds and gastro enterology was the only speciality dealt with in the beginning. "Due to overwhelming response, there was an urgent compulsion to expand to other specialities as well. Now, RIGID hospital is a tertiary care hospital which can handle any number of complex cases," says he. Soon, the hospital would be expanded to 150-bed hospital. Today, the hospital offers speciality services in urology, orthopaedics, ENT, psychiatry, paediatrics, oncology, dermatology and ophthalmology. The super-speciality services are offered in gastroenterology, neurology and cardiology vascular with high-end equipment and state-of-the-art technology.

Over the years

In a couple of years, Dr Rajkumar was forced to add beds, another hospital, another block, employees and managers. "Thus, in our case atleast, growth was need-driven rather than by stylish design or planning. Having evolved to a mid-sized healthcare facility, I then decided to don the cap of an entrepreneur and then pushed to graduate into a large-size healthcare facility," notifies Dr Rajkumar.

He planned to move to the South of Chennai because he anticipated Chennai to expand in that direction. "In a survey conducted by us we found that there was no hospital along the OMR stretch within reach, especially for trauma cases. We were fortunate to identify a land of the size we wanted which was ideally located. Though it is outside the city limits, today it's a hotspot because of its close proximity to Tidel Park, the hub of IT," he beams.

"We wanted a hospital group which would reflect a DNA of friendliness, flexibility and warmth," says he. He took loan from the Bank for building Lifeline Multi Speciality Hospital at Old Mahabalipuram Road. "Later, sold our estate, flats, real estate— nearly everything we had! But I would do it all over again if need be," he says confidently. Today, it has 15 Corporate Medical centres, one tertiary care hospital and three secondary care hospitals to its credit. Started with just 25 beds, the group now has more than 500 beds.

Fears and apprehensions

The fear of acceptance by the doctors as a businessman and by the business community as a doctor were his fears.

Any formal degree in management?

"No, but my wife Kala is a natural. She is a doctor and also has a management degree from IIM, Ahmedabad. We also surround ourselves by several senior management experts who guide us," he informs.

Awards

He has received award the Vaidya Ratna Award from President Abdul Kalam, Dr KS Sanjivi Award to young doctors with social commitment for outstanding health and medicare services to poor and needy, Dr V Chandrasekhar Gold Medal Endowment: IMA, Trichy, Rtn Dr NC Raghavachari Award for Exemplary Service to the Community— Health, Seva Ratna Award for recognising services to the society by PR Syndicate, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lions Club District.

Overcoming roadblocks

As for overcoming the hurdles in his successful journey, he shares that he managed to jump the roadblocks and get to the other side. "Its like the mouse that fell into a vat of milk and ran round and round, churning it into butter and climbed out," says he.

He faced a major roadblock in 2005. He commissioned the Lifeline Hospital at a time when Chennai witnessed torrential rains after many years. "However, the recent rains spoke a different story. While the entire Chennai was flooded, Old Mahabalipuram Road did not have any water logging at all," he tells.

He has faced the usual difficulties faced while starting up a new project in terms of wooing talented and dynamic individuals. "However, we concentrated on getting young, committed consultants with a sense of social commitment. Apart from such consultants, we have excellent administrative staff which go a long way in the making of a successful hospital," he opines.

Mistakes made and lessons learnt

“Some of the unkindest cuts came from within! I am still learning to be objective and clinical rather than emotional about judging managers,” he states.

Over the years

The group grew from 20 beds in 1997 to 400 in 2007. More importantly from 15 staff to about 1,000 staff as of today.

Tips for entrepreneurship

“There is no substitute for hard work. Don't lose sight of your final objective,” he suggests.

An entrepreneur that he admires in healthcare

“Undoubtedly, Dr Raghavendra Rao of Orchid Chemicals, a man who singlehandedly built an empire with focus, charm and strategic networking. He has been a terrific friend, philosopher and guide to me,” says he.

The road ahead

He is rolling out multiple projects. “We have several expansion plans in India. Several overseas projects are in the pipeline which are yet to be finalised. However, a hospital in Zambia with the assistance of the Zambian Government is expected to be commissioned by end 2009. Hospitals in Middle East and Central American countries are also in the pipeline which cannot be elaborated at this point of time,” he says.

“Locally, we intend having boutique hospitals with speciality care, both on an individual basis individual as well as joint ventures. We also are looking at outreach clinics for emergency care which should be finalised and commissioned in 2009,” he adds on his company’s way forward.