Father’s tears, a child’s eye loss: How one experience ignited a healthcare movement

VaidyaRx is making healthcare seamless and empowering for everyone. Patients are finally understanding their prescriptions, doctors are seeing streamlined workflows, and pharmacists are seeing better revenues. This win-win model is revolutionizing healthcare in India, and the man behind it, Tarun Gupta, is determined to make it even better. He shares his vision and insights in an exclusive interview with Bizz Buzz

What inspired you to found VaidyaRx and foray into healthtech?

I come from a doctors' family so I know the lurking loopholes. But nothing had prepared me for the scene I witnessed outside AIIMS Delhi. A father, tears streaming down his face, stood there holding his sobbing 8-year-old son. The boy had lost an eye due to a misunderstood prescription. Though educated, the father couldn't decipher the medical jargon and relied on a pharmacist for clarification. Sadly, this wasn't an isolated case. I realized patients often feel abandoned after visiting doctors, struggling with prescriptions and lacking support. Studies show 40 per cent of patients face similar struggles, often putting their health at risk. Witnessing another woman mistakenly consume a topical gel orally solidified my resolve. The absolute absurdity of it all inspired and strengthened my vision for VaidyaRx: a tech platform specifically designed to empower patients with clear information and seamless access to medication. Our aim is to reach 10 million users and bridge the critical healthcare accessibility gap.

What makes VaidyaRx uniquely positioned to empower patients?

Doctors' illegible handwriting and patients struggling to decipher prescriptions were just the tip of the iceberg. Imagine a worried parent in Hauz Khas, clutching a doctor's scribble, only to discover in Rohini that the pharmacy doesn't have the right medication. This frustrating uncertainty that comes after doctor visits fueled our mission to empower patients. We are uniquely positioned to do this because unlike other platforms, we cater to the holistic journey to ensure a patient navigates health care with confidence. Through our platform, doctors can generate clear, digital prescriptions within minutes, ensuring patients understand and receive the intended medication. Instant prescription alerts are sent to nearby pharmacies (within 1-2 km), so that patients save precious time (like 40 minutes at AIIMS!). Beyond prescriptions, we offer second opinions from retired doctors and "She Support," a safe space for women to consult female doctors, addressing cultural sensitivities and fostering comfort. With over 200+ doctors and 2000 pharmacies, we have already impacted 45,000 lives. We believe every patient deserves to be the hero of their health journey. Everyone deserves clarity, access, and comfort.

Who are VaidyaRx's key competitors, and how does it differentiate in terms of technology, service, or target audience?

VaidyaRx steps in where other platforms leave off. Unlike initial consultation or medicine delivery services, we empower patients once they have visited the doctor. Worried about a complex prescription? We offer clear explanations. Unsure about your diagnosis? Get a second opinion from our network of retired doctors, right within the hospital. This is possible thanks to our unique partnerships with institutions like AIIMS. We approach our target segment differently by collaborating with hospitals, seamlessly integrating our service into the hospital environment. With a zero-cost acquisition model, our primary entry point is through the hospital experience. This zero-cost model reduces patient anxiety and fosters trust. In the past year, we've provided 10,000 second opinions and connected 25,000 patients to pharmacists, resulting in 80 per cent increase in patient satisfaction at AIIMS. Unlike other platforms, our second opinions offer the additional benefit of hospital context and access to relevant medical records.

Which hospitals is VaidyaRx currently affiliated with?

We have forged partnerships with AIIMS Bhopal and SRM group of hospitals, and are actively pursuing two other collaborations.

How does VaidyaRx complement the existing healthcare infrastructure in India?

VaidyaRx seamlessly integrates into the existing infrastructure (both government and private) by addressing a critical challenge: long-term medical record storage. Our OPD MRD (Out Patient Department Medical Record Data) system has been adopted by many hospitals, allowing doctors to access patient records for up to 10 years, significantly improving follow-up consultations. Imagine a patient unsure about a past medication; now, their doctor can easily review their history. This innovation aligns with NMC guidelines and frees up doctor time, as patients can now consult our qualified PharmDs for prescription-related questions. For example, a diabetic patient received clarity on their medication dosage thanks to our PharmD support. We're committed to further complementing the infrastructure. Looking ahead, we plan to expand our network of partner hospitals, ensuring seamless and informed healthcare for all.

Which technologies is VaidyaRx employing for healthtech solutions?

VaidyaRx leverages a cutting-edge tech stack to ensure a seamless healthcare experience for all stakeholders. Our native app integrates with over 500 APIs for secure data management, payments, and even video consultations. We utilize various AI techniques, including a custom-built natural language processing layer that currently assists with manual prescription understanding. Looking ahead, we're integrating Deep Learning and Machine Learning to fully automate prescription analysis and generation, ensuring patients receive the right medication quickly and accurately. This will significantly reduce medication errors and improve patient safety. Additionally, we're working on integrating voice recognition to make the platform even more accessible. Beyond technical prowess, we prioritize user privacy and data security, complying with all relevant regulations.

How do you ensure accessibility for individuals with limited digital literacy, and are there plans for partnerships to reach those without reliable internet access or smartphones?

Our services are designed for anyone with access to WhatsApp or a smartphone, and that covers a significant portion of the population. For those without smartphones, caregivers or family members assist. Surprisingly, 65-70 per cent of individuals we engaged with had smartphones and readily downloaded our app due to its user-friendly interface. We've made our services free for patients at every hospital, with notable success in Bhopal, Chennai, and other locations. We also offer language customization for seamless communication between patients and doctors.

Are your healthtech solutions designed to be affordable and inclusive for diverse sections of the population?

VaidyaRx prioritizes affordability and inclusivity. While our platform is entirely free for patients, we understand diverse hospitals have varying budgets. Our SaaS solution offers flexible pricing tiers tailored to the size and needs of each hospital, ensuring affordability across clinics, pharmacy shops, and larger institutions. We're committed to reaching underserved populations, and in Madhya Pradesh, our solution will be accessible to all patients free of charge, impacting 30 million individuals. This aligns with our ongoing collaboration with the Madhya Pradesh government, reflected in a signed contract worth 6 crores for the deployment of our solution across all state medical hospitals, and the Health Minister's LOI praising our impact.

How do you plan to drive user adoption and scale up your platform?

Driving user adoption and scaling our platform is multifaceted. First, we educate doctors directly. We've conducted 100 workshops reaching 2000 doctors, demonstrating how our platform streamlines their workload by 50 per cent and facilitates efficient Know Your Patient (KYP) processes. Secondly, we collaborate with pharmacists, offering a win-win scenario. Our streamlined process reduces patient waiting times by an average of 30 minutes, leading to a 50 per cent increase in order fulfillment and revenue for pharmacists. The digital record-keeping feature ensures compliance and shields pharmacists from potential issues with inspectors or drug regulatory authorities in case of any untoward incidents. So all these incentives are a big motivation.

What are the key milestones achieved and growth targets for the foreseeable future?

Our journey has been marked by several milestones, including recognition as the Most Innovative Startup by Business World and the Most Promising Startup by ICICI. Collaborating with AIIMS and securing funding from the Mazumdar Shaw Medical Foundation were crucial achievements. Then, we recently partnered with India's leading travel company, EaseMyTrip, seamlessly integrating travel convenience with medical care. This collaboration enhances patient experience with reduced stress and convenient transport options. Hospitals gain increased patient attraction, an enhanced brand image, and a competitive edge, while pharmacists benefit from improved patient relations and wider reach. It is a win-win for all stakeholders. Currently we are operational in three hospitals, and our goal is to expand to 100 hospitals within the next two years, engaging a minimum of 1 million patients regularly.

How do you view your company's performance in addressing current challenges in healthcare access, affordability, or quality?

We take care of financial constraints of patients, data security, and quality service. Our model proposes hospitals pay a monthly fee, covering costs for patients and making healthcare accessible without direct financial burden on them. We have already catered to close to 45,000 patients directly and indirectly.

What are the key metrics you track to measure progress and attract future investment?

We track the number of actively engaged patients using our application for prescription understanding, the average time saved per patient in obtaining medicines (with a 20-25 minute reduction), and the satisfaction level of doctors utilizing our platform for record-keeping, which actually supports them with their research and publications.

What funding plans and strategies are in place for sustainable growth?

Currently bootstrapped, we have received soft commitments from a few individuals. The ultimate goal is to become self-sustainable, and if the current plan proves successful, external funding may not be necessary. The revenue model involves hospitals paying for our services, ensuring a gradual and organic growth trajectory.

What have been your biggest challenges so far?

We have seen many challenges related to prioritizing patient privacy and security, ensuring patient convenience and comfort, and guaranteeing hospitals derive benefits. Maintaining high-quality and well-trained manpower is crucial. Overcoming initial inertia from doctors, fostering team loyalty, and addressing execution failures are ongoing considerations. Delays or hesitancy in adoption, initial skepticism from patients, and potential tech or product malfunctions are all part and parcel of the startup landscape. One has to be calm and resilient and eventually everything works out fine.

If you could change one thing about the healthcare industry, what would it be?

Shifting the focus to patient-centric approaches is crucial, even within premium institutes. By placing the patient's satisfaction or experience at the core, we anticipate a cascade of improvements across different dimensions of our service delivery.

What keeps you excited about the future of VaidyaRx and healthtech in India?

I envision India's healthcare to be accessible, efficient, and patient-centric. That's the dream driving VaidyaRx. For healthtech entrepreneurs, I say thus: prioritize patient experience and impact lives.