Lab tests and diagnostic tests have always been an important aspect of people’s lives. With a reliable diagnostic center, that provides accurate results of your tests, patients can get further treatment with that much accuracy and thus lead to healthier lives.
Featuring for the Cover Story of The Business Fame’s this issue of Best of 5 India’s Promising Diagnostic Centre & Pathology Lab: 2022 is Premier Health Center, a company providing an entire spectrum of lab services under one roof.
The Company-
Established in 1980, Premier Health Center (PHC) was the first diagnostic facility providing an entire spectrum of imaging and lab services under one roof that year. Starting with one center, today PHC has 60 plus centers across the state with two processing centers in Chennai & one in Kanchipuram. Well equipped with the latest technology of testing machines with experienced professionals in the field. Today PHC is recognized by 100 plus hospitals across the state for Hospital Lab Management, 250 plus clinics for clinical lab management, and 2000 plus referral doctors.
Never comprised in the quality of results and customer service management which has made the company one of the leading diagnostic services companies in the state. Establishment of many brands under one roof with the help and support of doctors, employees, customers, associates, stakeholders, well-wishers, and others. They have also been recognized by the government (NABH – National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers & NABL – National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories) and various hospitals for successful ventures and diagnostic services for over a decade.
“We are ICMR – Indian Council of Medical Research approved COVID testing center for Chennai and Kanchipuram.”
Premier Health Center started out as the finest diagnostic facility over 40 years ago to become the largest private Diagnostic Center. PHC provides Pathology & Radiology to all private medical facilities, public hospitals and community centers and also operates a series of stand-alone Hospitals across Chennai. The entire team is expertise and attracts the finest healthcare professionals.
“Our expanding team of skilled professionals aim to provide access to high quality, cost effective, best practice diagnostics 24/7, 365 days of the year.”
The company has a full compliment of Radiologists, Pathologists, Medical Imaging Technologists, Lab Tech, Clinical Assistants and Support Staff.
Four decades of diagnostic excellence
Premier Health Center, one of the pioneering diagnostic centers in Chennai offers diagnostic services with a brand new, cutting edge technology providing results of uncompromising quality in a transparent and customer-focused manner. Premier is regarded as one of the finest diagnostic centers, it has been recognized by the government and various hospitals for successful ventures and diagnostic services for over a decade. What were never compromised in all these achievements over the 40 years are the ethics and the original vision of providing the best in diagnostics at affordable price.
The company’s Head Processing Center is spread through 8,000sqft in area with two floors, Separate lounge dedicated for corporate and association clients. The lab is conveniently located in the heart of the city- Poonamallee High Road, Egmore well connected with the other 60 centers around the town through online reporting and is run by an efficient team of 350 technicians. The company’s uncompromising service spectrum includes:
- Pathology
- Radiology
- Medical Imaging
- Digital X-rays
- PCR based Tests
- CR – Digitizer
- Cutting Edge Lab Tech
- Clinical Assistance
- Providing Support Staff
The company is recognized by the Government of Tamil Nadu and various hospitals for precision diagnostics.
PHC’s Customer-Focused Business Practices
“We started with a mission to become most trusted & reliable healthcare service provider in Chennai.”
This today is reflected by the number of more than 2000+ footfalls that PHC has on a daily basis. “Our vision for the future is a disease-free Society through better diagnosis for the cure and timely prevention through health screening”. The PHC team is constantly looking for new ways to transform the lives of others using high-end technology.
They are constantly looking for new ways to transform the lives of others using high end technology. Chennai’s First State-of- the- Art Premier-Select at Anna Nagar-Shanthi Colony is our latest accomplishment. PHC is bringing in advanced facilities in ‘Select’ to serve their customers better.
“I take this opportunity to thank all our doctors who placed absolute trust on us. I also thank all our employees, customers, associates, stakeholders, well-wishers and others, without their unstinted support, we wouldn’t have achieved what we are today.”
How Has Technology Changed PHC’s Offerings-
“We adapted to the latest technology with the advancement, where results of a test taken by a patient can receive via API integrated WhatsApp Reports.”
Today as per the current record they have successfully overcome where more than 3000 plus doctors trust PHC’s brand. At PHC staff training goes hand-in-hand with technology implementation. Significant investment in staff education is a core value within the practice. The company regularly reviews the equipment portfolio and discovers the latest equipment to maintain a competitive edge.
Future planning includes assessing and expanding service locations to meet the needs of any expected population growth. Some of the advanced equipment that PHC has is ADVIA CENTAUR XP & ADVIA CENTAUR CP, D-10 HEMOGLOBIN TESTING SYSTEM, DIASYS 200 ,DIASYS 400, DIMENSION EXL 200 INTEGRATED CHEMISTRY SYSTEM, MINI VIDAS, ALFA SWELAB, VITEK 2 COMPACT, and YUMIZEN H500. BIO RAD CFX 96,BIO RAD OPUS 384,ZIP 96 V , ZYBIO EXM 3000 , ZYBIO ALLSHENG.
Milestones in the Company’s Journey-
According to Martin Gaynor, an economics professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Said “Health care spending is high, and it is ultimately unsustainable.” Rigid industry competition over the years with Harnessing Advanced Health Technology day by day. Other major challenges are External Market Disruption, Healthcare Regulatory Changes, and Rising Healthcare Costs. Healthcare Staffing Shortages is also one part of it. As the company adapted to the latest technology with the advancement, where results of a test taken by a patient can receive via API integrated WhatsApp Reports. Today as per the current record they have successfully overcome where more than 3000 plus doctors’ trust PHC’s brand.
Hospital Lab Management – Outsourcing the entire lab from 30 bedded hospitals to 300 bedded hospitals, where they took over the entire lab from the hospital to run on behalf of them. This will be managed on a revenue-sharing model. This was entirely new in the industry where at present they are partnered with 100 plus hospitals in the city.
Pathology Services to home at NO COST– Pathology services have been done via home sample collection with the company’s trained phlebotomist, where they do not charge anything extra apart from their MRP cost. This company is the only diagnostic service company following it where their vision is to provide healthcare services at an affordable price.
“Today we cater for around 200 home collections per day in and around the state.”
The Road Ahead-
“We plan for an expansion of 100 branches by 2024 across Tamil Nadu and 200 branches by 2027 across South India.”
Gearing up to become future-readiness. PHC is widening its capabilities to perform over 2500 + varieties of investigations to enable early diagnosis and prevention of health issues.
According to recent study the market is expected to grow 21% in the coming five years.
The size of the diagnostic industry is around ₹7500 crore, it is further divided into two sectors – private and government. There will be around 1.1 lakh+ diagnostic centers in India. Out of 1 lakh, pathology lab represents 70%. Radiology and imaging such as CT scan, X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound labs represent 30%.
The key pointsPHC is considering when opening a new center are-
- Market Analysis
- Competitor Analysis
- Future Growth
- Infrastructure
- Geographic Location
- Staffing
- Equipment
- Marketing
Pradeep Chakravarthy J- An Ambitious Leader
Managing Director
Pradeep Chakravarthy J is the Managing Director at PHC; in the year 2000, when his father handed over the administration where Premier Health Center had only 5 centers in Chennai. On a humble beginning, his determination and futuristic approach enabled the common man to access a quality diagnosis, which was once unaffordable for people of all classes. With tireless work which established the tie-ups with several medical establishments, Premier Health Center now stands as one of the finest diagnostic facilities catering to over 60 locations across the State.
Amidst the rigid industry competition, the company has managed to position PHC on the healthcare map by providing quality medical technology. All of Pradeep’s corporate ventures are aligned with one goal – improving access and affordability of healthcare. In recognition of his outstanding leadership qualities, he was adjudged as the “Pioneering Med-Tech Savant” by Silicon India.
Pradeep’s Advice to the Budding Entrepreneurs-
“In the year 1980 my parents started Premier Health Center with a small space of 250 sqft. At that time there was a lot of criticism about their capability. But my parent’s hard work broke the barriers which made quality diagnostics at an affordable price to common people. From a single center to five centers before being taken over by me in the year 2000. My parents made a strong team technically which has got a tremendous output, even today it has been maintained on same pace. My parents were my role models, on their foundation I am laying the path.
According to Booker T. Washington “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”Talent Acquisition – Hiring the right talent, building the right culture that focuses on the patient experience, quality of results and enjoying work, and finally setting the right goals. Implementing collaboratively working process (ie) Teamwork.
Lastly “Never be afraid of failure and take risks”
