Goa's Medical Revolutionary

He began his entrepreneurial journey by renovating an old hospital. Today, he has created a chain of hospitals in Goa

Dr Digambar Surya Naik (53) Managing Director, Vrundavan Hospital, Goa

Born on March, 1955 in a remote village, Nerul, Goa, he did MBBS from Goa Medical College, MD in General Medicine and Therapeutics from Bombay University. Subsequently, he qualified in Occupational and Industrial Health from Goa University.

Why an entrepreneur?

On the day of passing MD, a lucrative job in Gulf was offered to him while he was in Mumbai. "But I turned it down as I wanted to be in India and help people with my expertise. At this point of time, I had an extraordinary confidence in my knowledge about medicine and the ability to heal," says he.

Before being an entrepreneur

He came back to Goa and started working in Goa Medical College as lecturer in medicine. "At this stage, I was unhappy with the level of medical care we were giving in a free hospital of a medical college. I wanted to go out and give extraordinary medical services to people of my state," says he. So in September, 1985, he started his own practice in a friend's place paying Rs 200 per month as a rent. He also started practicing at some hospitals.

But he was disturbed when he observed that private hospitals where he was attached to were reluctant to take acute critical cases since they were deprived of basic infrastructure. As nobody was ready to finance his dream project, he continued practicing with the same shortcomings for the next five years.

The first move

Then the opportunity to realise his dream happened by chance in April 1990. He received a call from a gynaecologist who was leaving India. The gynaecologist was exploring the possibility of somebody else running her hospital while she was away. Dr Naik jumped at the opportunity, signed the papers of lease without even having sufficient time to inspect hospital and take any professional advice. "She left Goa and I went inside the hospital to restart the same which was non-functional for the last seven years," says he.

The hospital had no water connection. The septic tank and the bathrooms were clogged with roots of trees. "Me with my wife and her two brothers started cleaning the place and white washing it with our own hands. Since we could not afford any contractor to do this job for us, I used to practice the whole day, come back in the evening and clean and paint the place till 11 -12 in the night," he recalls.

He needed funds to make the hospital grow professionally. "A patient friend of mine came to my rescue and through a co-operative bank managed to get me a loan of Rs 50,000," says he. After the upgradation, patients started trickling in and all the 15 beds were full. "We had made arrangements for bed sheets and another material for a few patients thinking we would get one or two patients every day— giving us time to prepare other materials. At this stage, my wife went into Mapusa Market, purchased on credit all the white material that was available in the cloth shops, cut it with her own hands and gave it to the tailors sitting on footpath and kept on sending them to the hospital. This is how I began my life as an entrepreneur," says he.

The hospital kept on growing and by April, 1994, Dr Naik started with the new Vrundavan Hospital & Research Centre, Mapusa.

Fears and apprehensions

"There were no fears and apprehensions in my mind during the journey. Perhaps because I never had time to look back and think what will happen if I fail? At this time, I was ignorant of managing finance, personnel, construction, statutory requirements, the labour laws, the impact of hospital on society and vice versa and the rest of the management jargon we speak about today," says he.

Any formal degree in professional management?

"No. As we grew in years, I realised the necessity for a proper professional management. I spent time on these aspects and learnt it along with development of other branches of medicine," he agrees.

Over the years

Today, the group has a 80-bed multi specialty hospital at Mapusa, a 40-bed multi specialty hospital at Calangute, a 15-bed multi specialty at Dodamarg and Vrundavan Cosmetic Centre at Calangute. Vrundavan Hospital, Mapusa is the first multi speciality healthcare institution in Goa to be awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification.

He gave kidney dialysis in the state of Goa a boost by starting a kidney dialysis programme. "Today, we have the biggest dialysis centre running at three places namely Vrundavan Hospital & Research Centre, Mapusa, Apollo Victor Hospital, Margao and Salgaonkar Medical & Research Centre, Vasco," he informs.

Overcoming roadblocks

As the hospital grew in medical practice, the shortage of technical people and nursing personnel was posing a problem. So, Dr Naik started Vrundavan Nursing School at Porvorim, the first paramedical college and the first private nursing school for the state of Goa. "I had to face tremendous hardships in getting the necessary permissions from the Government and other regulatory bodies. They all seemed insignificant in front of the mission. Today, these institutions have a place of pride in their own way, creating a learning platform to a number of youngsters —learning with passion and dedication to generate the healthcare that our country needs," feels Dr Naik.

Mistakes made and lessons learnt

"Over the years, we have made mistakes in the every aspect of management— like finance and accounting, legal issues, marketing, purchasing and have paid a price for it. The lesson I learnt is that a hospital needs a specialist in every branch of management," he suggests.

Awards

He has been honoured with Vikas Ratna Award by India International Friendship Society, Noble Son of India award from Society for Global Unity, New Delhi, Super Chikitsak Award 2001 from AIDS Preventive Society New Delhi, Best Cardiologist and Fellowship Award from All India Medical Professional, New Delhi and Life Time Achievement award at New Delhi by World Congress on Clinical, Preventive and Geriatric Cardiology.

Tips for entrepreneurship

"Learn your subject well, understand the whole process, learn finance and accounting before you start. Learn about human relationship management and enjoy the hardships that come along. Only then future could be yours," he feels sincerely.

An entrepreneur that he admires in healthcare

At a very young age, he was inspired by the life-story of Dr TMA Pai, Founder of Manipal Group.

The road ahead

His future plans include providing kidney transplant and providing training in paramedical subjects to support clinical services that the groups offer.