‘Affordable healthcare needs to be accesible also’

Dr S Gurushankar is a ‘poster boy’ but of a different kind. He dares to dream big as advocated by his role-model, the former President late APJ Abdul Kalam and making moves in the world of healthcare that sets him apart. “On our first day, when we (a batch of fresh medical graduates) were taken to do human dissection, our professor asked each of us to share our aspirations. While others expressed their interest to take up specialties and super-specialties in line with their interest, I said I will take up hospital administration, when it was my turn. All of them laughed but the head professor quickly said it was indeed a novel area to pursue,” says Dr Gurushankar.

But what happens if medicos — as the growing trend seemingly indicates — who, instead of donning the white coat, end up making Power Point presentations or throwing up business jargons such as return of investment, topline, bottomline and strategise boardroom plans? He quips, “It is far more productive and beneficial to the healthcare sector. Having practical medical knowledge makes it easy to understand the needs and challenges that healthcare enterprises face. For instance, if there is equipment which has to be purchased, it becomes far easier to understand the urgency and relevance of the request. So, having this blend of medical and administrative experience, all the stakeholders are benefited.” 

Dr Gurushankar took the reins of MMHRC from his father, an acclaimed urologist Dr Sethuraman, with whom he discusses emerging trends in healthcare and even challenges him when it comes to leadership or political perspectives.

Noble intentions of making societal contributions do not swerve him from being focused on cost-control measures or efficient use of resources, when it comes to MMHRC. Innovative models, attention to detail and the ability to keep learning newer aspects of administration have helped Dr Gurushankar in many ways. “Affordable healthcare is as important as access to it is. Annually, 15,000 people suffer from renal failure and calls for transplant or dialysis treatment. But in the existing healthcare infrastructure, on an average only 200 benefit. That is the reason behind us setting up the first 250-bed private hospital in Thanjavur. In fact, when we requested to be included in the state-sponsored insurance scheme, as it would enable access to modern facilities at affordable cost (Rs 500 is the per session cost of dialysis compared to exorbitant charges that prevail in cities) the late CM Jayalalithaa swiftly implemented as she was able to understand the need for such inclusive measures,” he said. 

Dr Gurushankar believes collaborative partnerships between the government and private players will make healthcare comprehensive and available to all. “The government infrastructure is lying idle in many places. If we reach an agreement of allowing private players to provide 70 per cent free treatment or consider some fixed retainer fees, then it will be worthwhile. Innovative models of co-payment options have to come so that the burden on the patient and hospitals or the insurance companies will be evenly distributed and thereby reducing the cost of healthcare,” he added. 

A doctor with MMHRC, who chronicles the stories of his patients as part of his efforts to nurture his passion of writing, has provided Dr Gurushankar another unique way of spreading the message of the range of healthcare services offered by his concern. Five of the thousands of real-life experiences have been converted into documentaries based on the chronicles made available by the MMHRC doctor. Perhaps, this is the fundamental premise for branding himself as a social healthcare entrepreneur, who works to find out newer ways of branding healthcare specialties that MMHRC offers.