Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics One of Kerala’s Pioneers in Professional Diagnostics - Interview

Interview Ameer Ali

SUTHARYA HEALTHCARE AND DIAGNOSTICS, A STRONG ADVOCATE OF AGAPPE PRODUCTS E Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics headquartered at Perinthalmanna, Malappuram and spread across central Kerala with several branches emphasises on providing quality, reliable and cost effective healthcare and diagnostic service to the needy. Established in 2003 by Ameer Ali (Chairman and Managing Director, Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics), the group has now more than 25 branches in the central Kerala region. Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics aspires to be an iconic point in the field of laboratory diagnosis in a cost effective manner uncompromising on quality. True to its tagline ‘redefining your diagnostic experience’, Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics provides premium facilities and infrastructure at its laboratories. Excerpts from an interview with its Chairman:

Tech Agappe: Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics has now grown into a chain of laboratories from a single laboratory with a wide presence in central Kerala. You have now more than 15 years of experience in the diagnostic field. Now tell us, what made you enter into IVD industry?

Bibu B. Punnooran

Mr. Ameer Ali Ameer Ali: I was very much inspired by my elder brother who was a pharmacist. I made my decision to pursue my higher education in the same and thus joined for B Pharma course at Mysuru, Karnataka. In 2000, I entered the diagnostic field. Our first lab was established in a place called Pulamanthole, Malappuram district in 2003 and then later with branches at Pattambi, Palakkad. A friend of mine, Ashraf who now works abroad helped me to establish the laboratory. Among other things, what inspired me to enter the diagnostic field was the unprofessional way in which laboratories were functioning till then. The amenities of most labs then were minimal and most often it had some side business apart from the laboratory like a Photostat machine or a phone booth back in 2000. Semi Automatic machinery at labs was not even heard of. I thought why we can’t bring some professional touch to it and introduce a new model. Our laboratory was the first in the region to do purely laboratorial service without any side business and in a professional manner with sophisticated equipments. Also, I found out that in Kerala there is a dearth of genuine and authentic diagnostic centres. While we established our first laboratory in 2003, it was named as Micro Labs. We rebranded it as Sudharma Laboratories when we went on expanding branches. However Sudharma was later rebranded as Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics. From 2000 to 2010, we opened almost 7 branches

Mr. Ameer Ali receiving TechAgappe July-September edition from Majesh Mammen, Business Manager-Agappe.

in Malappuram, Palakkad and Thrissur. After 2010, we established almost 20 branches in a fast phase and took our number of total laboratories to 27. We now have total staff strength of around 250. In Malappuram and Palakkad districts, we have 12 branches each. There are two branches at Thrissur district and one at Kozhikode. None of our branches function as a mere collection centre. They are all ISO 9001:2015 certified laboratories with sophisticated equipments to do all tests other than the special tests. At our central laboratory at Perinthalmanna, we do the special tests. Besides me, there are two more partners for Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics now. Irshad Ahmad is one partner and looks after five branches of Sutharya including the Pattambi branch. Faizal is the other partner. He has the responsibility of five branches. Both are qualified lab technicians and joined hands with me to get Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics established in the

"I’m a strong advocate of Agappe products and my partners used to ask me whether I had any share in Agappe Company. Like I said, it is the sheer quality of the product and the fact that it is Indian, from Kerala is the basis of my love towards Agappe". ASSOCIATION

WITH

AGAPPE Ali: Our association with Agappe starts from 2003 onwards with Agappe’s Mispa Plus. We were the first to introduce that machine in the vicinity. We referred Mispa Plus to many laboratories and clinics.

Agappe was also very friendly in terms of business and service. Since Agappe was a company from Kerala, we had a particular interest in it. I haven’t found any company other than Ag appe which does service of the machines so p romptly. I believe it is the strength of Agappe. The executives of the company were also very encouraging and supportive. One machine which has left a lasting impression with us was Agappe’s Mispa Plus. Now we are using around s ixty more modern machines from Agappe like BC 3000 and Mispa -i2. Both are good machines and gives results matching our expectation. I’m also happy to hear about the launch of Agappe’s first indigenously developed 3-part Hematology Analyzer. The highlight is that it is an Indian product and that too from Kerala. We might be able to get good offer price for imported machines but when it comes for service or spare parts, it is very costly. Agappe will change that scenario. We announce our cordial support to it. Talking about the association with Agappe’s management, its Managing Director, Thomas John is one of my role models. He is a genius. I have heard several times how Agappe takes care of its employees like a family. We also follow same motto. I believe Agappe’s strength is its loyal employees. I’m a strong advocate of Agappe products and my partners used to ask me whether I had any share in Agappe Company. Like I said, it is the sheer quality of the product and the fact that it is Indian, from Kerala is the basis of my love towards Agappe.

Interview Ameer Ali

Malappuram, Palakkad, Kozhikode and Thrissur districts.

TA: What are the accreditations Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics possess? Ali: At present we only have ISO 9001:2015 certification for diagnosis services and medical support. We were on the verge of completing NABH (National Accreditation Board of Hospitals and Healthcare Providers) and NABL (National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) accreditation. Due to the pandemic situation, it has been got delay. If it subsides, within two months we will have those prestigious accreditations. The work for our molecular biology section is also progressing fast. We are also trying to get ICMR approval for conducting Covid 19 tests in our laboratory. TA: What are the changes you have observed in patients or customers for coming to laboratory for diagnostic service before and after Covid 19? Ali: I have observed that people are now very much frightened to come to the laboratories. It is not just the labs but also the hospitals fearing that they might get infected. Even so, I think people are not now as cautious as they used to be in the initial stage of Covid 19 or during the lock down period. There’s a sense of taking things not serious enough now.

"I’m also happy to hear about the launch of Agappe’s first indigenously developed 3-part Hematology Analyzer. The highlight is that it is an Indian product and that too from Kerala. We might be able to get good offer price for imported machines but when it comes for service or spare parts, it is very costly. Agappe will change that scenario. We announce our cordial support to it".

Considering the industry I think Covid 19 has even affected the medical field. Diagnostic industry was also severely affected. Regular checkups have reduced drastically. I’m hopeful that by year end we will be able to return to normalcy. We are also looking at Covid 19 testing facilities and approval from ICMR with the introduction of molecular biology section at our lab. TA: What are the special healthcare packages at Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics? Ali: We have three kind of check up package available for customers- General Health package, Total Health package and Master Executive package. Our departments include biochemistry, endocrinology, microbiology, serology, immunology, hematology, histopathology, ultrasound scan, ECG, X-ray and Orthopantomogram. We perform more than 3000 tests including cancer markers, cardiac marker, prenatal screens, autoimmune tests, fertility tests and so. We handle more than 1000 samples daily. Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics is equipped with advanced technologies and machineries which promises reliable results on time. There are also mobile sample collection wing to take samples from home. Patients can also download their test results online.

TA: Your family Ali: My family consists of wife, three sons and two daughters. TA: What are the future plans for Sutharya Healthcare and Diagnostics?

Ali: Due to Covid 19, we are now a little behind our plans. We are hopeful that by December 2020 things will improve. Accordingly we altered our plan and by next year we are looking forward to open more referral labs in every district of Kerala.

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