The Renaissance Medical Man of North East

This ace neuro-surgeon started operating from a small clinic. Today, the 165-bed GNRC is the most reputed hospital of the North East

Dr Nomal Chandra Borah (58) Chairman, GNRC, Guwahati

Born in Dubia, Sonitpur district in Assam in 1950, Dr Borah did his MD in internal medicine, DM in neurology from AIIMS in 1984 and a course in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of Michigan, US.

Why an entrepreneur?

He saw tremendous opportunity in tertiary care super specialty healthcare services in early 1980's in Assam and the North East. "At the same time, I had a very strong affinity for the region and Assam in particular. Hence despite getting job offers from within and outside the country, I decided to set up my own healthcare facility. During that time, Assam was passing through a phase of tremendous social unrest, but I took it as a challenge and decided to struggle to work towards my dream," he states.

Before being an entrepreneur?

He started his career in 1977 as a demonstrator in pathology with Guwahati Medical College (GMC) for a meagre salary of Rs 500 and then shifted to internal medicine as a registrar. Like most medicos, his neurologist colleagues left for a lucrative career abroad. Even as tempting offers from overseas kept pouring in for Dr Borah, his strong roots prevented him from falling prey to the lure of the lucre. By this time, he realised that he was destined to fortify medical facilities in the North East.

In 1984, he went back to Guwahati, after completing his DM in neurology. After he resumed work at GMC, he tried convincing the Government to upgrade neurological facilities in the Government hospitals, which were devoid of any neurological diagnostic tool. "In the North East, every year around 200 patients suffer from strokes and around 80 die every year due to lack of treatment. Thus, we needed an integrated centre, specially so in view of the communication barriers, nature of diseases, time and financial constraints of the rapidly growing population of the North East," he elaborates.

The first move

He set out with only Rs 5,000 for a project whose cost was Rs 1,40,000. "I had to manage another Rs 30,000 as unsecured loans from friends, relatives and well-wishers to make it Rs 35,000. The remaining Rs 1,05,000 was given to me as a term loan by Bank of Baroda. It was a small clinic with an EEG lab and a clinical pathology lab," he says.

"In the meantime, while running this small clinic two young men died in front of me following a road traffic accident and I was not able to do much for them due to lack of facilities. I strongly felt the need of a super-speciality hospital along with necessary skilled manpower and other plants and equipment," says he.

This time, he undertook a project of Rs 140 lakh in which a hospital for neuroscience containing both indoor and outdoor facilities were all planned. "Whatever my clinic had earned in two years time made up for the promoter's contribution which substantiated by a central investment subsidy from Government of India and a SEED capital assistance from IDBI. A term loan of Rs 88 lakh was sanctioned by AIDC," says he. The new project at the present site was commissioned in 1987.

Over the years

After various expansions, today the hospital stands tall with 125 beds. The hospital that started with merely two people has 1,000 employees today working for more than half a million customers. "We have been able to maintain our numero uno position in healthcare in the North East for more than two decades. From a initial capital of Rs 5,000, now GNRC has become an enterprise of Rs 100 crore," he says with a tinge of pride.

Fears and apprehensions

All his fears and apprehensions were related to getting the necessary sanctions and licences in time from the different Government bodies.

Overcoming roadblocks

There were innumerable road-blocks in every step of the journey. From managing promoter's contribution, identifying a suitable plot of land and then procuring it within limitations, getting sanction of the term loan, getting the licences and sanctions from the various Government agencies, attracting talent and retaining them in a place which was socially volatile, setting standard and work culture and professionalism in the employees and creating quality healthcare service for the patients were all formidable challenges in every step of the entrepreneurial journey. He had to struggle to get the import licence for the CT scan from ministry of industries, Government of India. "I had probably sent about 200 communications in one and half years to the concerned ministry and finally the same was possible at the intervention of the Honourable Members of the Parliament from Assam," says he.

“But, I overcame all hurdles through perseverance, hard-work, common sense, honesty and at times shrewdness,” says he.

Awards

He has won the Certificate of Honour for service to society through individual excellence by North East Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Certificate of Honour conferred by the State Bank of India in appreciation for the services of the highest standards rendered by him in development of medical facilities and letter of appreciation for his services to the underprivileged society by Mother Theresa.

Mistakes made and lessons learnt

"Never spend more before you earn more in business, never be afraid of change, the person is not bigger than the organisation, you are what your customer makes you and never compromise on quality," he summarises about his experience.

Tips for entrepreneurship

"Always think big and believe in yourself!' says he.

An entrepreneur that he admires in healthcare

Dr Pratap Reddy for his ability to think big, Dr Devi Shetty for innovation, Dr KM Cherian and Dr Naresh Trehan for their professional excellence and passion for quality.

Way Ahead

"Through the retail venture, I would like to offer best quality essential items (medicine and groceries) at most reasonable price, thereby protecting the people from market exploitation," says he.

He is all set to enter into a strategic tie-up with the Dubai-based DM Healthcare Group, a leading healthcare provider in UAE, for realising massive expansion plans. ''We are raising more than Rs 100 crore with the deal. We have huge expansion plans of setting up a GNRC-type hospital in every district of Assam," says he.