Pink City’s Pride

He started Soni Hospital in 1986 with 20 beds. Today, the group runs two facilities in Jaipur and is planning hospitals across Rajasthan

Dr Bimal Roy Soni (53) Chairman, Soni Group of Hospitals, Jaipur

Born in 1955 in Jaipur, he has done MBBS from SMS Medical College, Jaipur.

Why an entrepreneur?

Right from his childhood days, he had a knack for business and always wanted to create something on his own. After he started practicing medicine, he wanted to build a hospital which would provide personalised care. "Though I was tempted to go the US like my other colleagues, my father, the Late SK Soni, persuaded me to fulfill my dream in India," says Dr Soni.

Before being an entrepreneur

In 1980, he started his career as a Senior MD in Ndola Central Hospital under Government of Zambia, Zambia (East Africa). He worked there for three years. Thereafter from 1984-86, he worked as CAS with the Government of Rajasthan at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital, Jaipur.

The first move

In 1985, he started construction of the 20-bed hospital on a land owned by his father. "I developed and got the plans of the hospital approved from the Government. I made a preliminary project report and planned finances accordingly. The initial seed capital came from my savings earned in Zambia along with some help from friends and family. However, the major chunk was financed by Bank of Baroda. I cut a few corners by being one of the first to do standard medical leasing of expensive equipment — a standard practice today, but unknown at the time," says Dr Soni. By November 1986, the hospital Soni Hospital was commissioned.

Fears and apprehensions

He was apprehensive about making investments into a small plot of land. "Jaipur had only two major hospitals — SMS Hospital and SDM Hospital (SDMH) and was peppered with lots of small maternity homes. For a hospital situated in the middle of SMS and SDMH to succeed, especially which was different from traditional nursing homes, was difficult, but we are a success today," says Dr Soni.

Any formal degree in management?

"No. I learnt management the old-fashioned way — by hard work and experience coupled with regular seminars and CME programmes. But hospital management today needs professional education and is a highly specialised field and I am a firm believer in good higher education," says he.

Overcoming roadblocks

He faced hurdles in form of existing Government rules and high taxation on medical equipment. "In the 1980s, the Government did not have a policy whereby plots were blocked in residential colonies for nursing homes/hospitals. This led to an initial lack of such medical infrastructure in colonies. I worked along with the Government to change their policy and now any colony in Rajasthan is planned along with a hospital and a school," he elaborates.

Additionally, as private hospitals were not accorded the institutional status by the Government then, it caused problems in those days to get funds from banks for hospitals. "All these problems were overcome by resilience and over time. The Government also made new norms to change the scenario," says Dr Soni.

Contribution to healthcare

There are many numerous contributions that Soni Group of Hospitals has brought to Jaipur. The hospital has pioneered a number of new innovations in Jaipur —the first lithotripsy machine in 1989, the first CT Scan in 1992, the first MRI in 1993 and the first medical insurance in 1993. It conducted the first phaco surgery in Rajasthan.

"At a deeper level, Soni Group transformed healthcare in Rajasthan — by the creation of the mini-hospital concept. We introduced the concept of the first corporate hospital following international standards. We emphasised on quality by getting ISO 9001 and introduced computerised billing. Incidentally, Fortis chain is the second corporate hospital to emerge in Rajasthan and they arrived 20 years after us," he informs.

Furthermore, he helped change Government policy, whereby all new colonies are planned with medical infrastructure.

Awards

He has been conferred with Rajeev Gandhi Entrepreneur Award, Jaipur City Entrepreneur Award and Jewels of Rajasthan.

Mistakes made and lessons learnt

He admits his biggest mistake has been pre-mature expansion and establishment of latest equipment which affected viability and delayed ultimate expansion due to over-investment. "All our pioneering work in the 90s failed as they were way ahead of their times and the public and other doctors did not accept them immediately. The most important lessons I learnt was to anticipate what the people want and I learnt to invest wisely," says Dr Soni.

Over the years

From 20 beds in 1986, today Soni Hospital has 100 beds. "By 1995, we had grown to have Rs 3.5 to Rs 4crore revenues and 100 beds along with CT Scan, MRI, and the first and only hospital in Jaipur to have the same over the next five years. But the technologies were pre-mature and advanced for their time. Over the next eight years, I faced problems of managing Soni Hospital's over-investment and problems at home as my father's health deteriorated rapidly," shares Dr Soni.

In 2003, he began construction of SK Soni Hospital with 120 beds which started in October 2004. SK Soni Hospital became the numero uno hospital in different super-specialties like cardiology, cancer, nephrology and neurosurgery in a mere span of three years. "By mid 2008, it had expanded to 225 beds along with MRI, CT Scan, lithotripsy, cathlab, modular OT suites, linear accelerator with IMRT. Thus total beds and revenue shot up from 100 and Rs 3.5 crore in 1995 to 220 beds and Rs 15 crore in 2006. In 2007, the revenue grew to Rs 21 crore, in 2008 to Rs 29 crore and we expect a turnover of 34 crore by end of this financial year," says Dr Soni.

Tips for entrepreneurship

"Have confidence and faith, be clear about your vision and you goals. You will have to be strong and resilient to overcome difficulties and possess a fighting spirit to get you through tough times," passionately says Dr Soni.

An entrepreneur that he admires in healthcare

Dr Prathap C Reddy.

The road ahead

The group is expanding SK Soni Hospital into SK Soni Medicity with 600 beds, a residential resort, a medical mall and international medical research centre. "This Rs-200-crore project, that will commence from 2011, will be funded through private equity, bank loans, internal cash accruals and sale of medical shops in the medical mall," says he.

Additionally, he is planning to expand into providing patient care across Rajasthan by making a chain of 10 smaller hospitals. "We shall be building 50-75 bed hospitals mostly with an investment of Rs 5 crore, excluding land and building. If the hospital goes beyond 100 beds, the cost shall be Rs 10 crore," says Dr Soni.