Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd.

With the spike in malaria and dengue during the monsoons, clinicians are faced with the challenge of quick and accurate testing and finding new ways to reach out to the endemic areas. Since both these vector-borne diseases exhibit symptoms also evident in many other viral infections, the onus is on the laboratories to select testing methods that correctly identify the parameters specific to these two diseases. A swell in the volume of cases each year, has brought Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs ) into the limelight. RDTs offer pathologists an immediate answer to whether a person is infected or not and are an ideal choice in a resource constraint setting. Besides offering a faster response time, RDTs also offer the benefit of combination tests (NS1 Ag and differential IgG / IgM Ab in the case of dengue and differential diagnosis of falciparum and vivax infection, in the case of malaria) which is particularly advantageous when patients report on the fourth or fifth day of feve...

In the first edition of this blog, we evaluated the impact of EDL on the healthcare system. The Indian IVD manufacturers have an important role to play along with the health ministry to ensure that EDL truly benefits the patients at large. In this concluding series let us evaluate the same: In addition to the healthcare sector, an EDL will also have a significant impact on the IVD manufacturing industry: An EDL, by listing country/region specific needs, could help develop target product profiles (TPPs) . A TPP provides details on the minimum and optimal performance and operational characteristics of priority diagnostic tests. Researchers and manufacturers use TPPs to ensure that R&D activities are focused on relevant products to meet the needs of end users. Moreover, an EDL is prepared taking into consideration, target users, intended use, infrastructural requirement, sample type and volume, sample handling, performance, diagnostic testing algorithm, etc. Thus, an IVD ma...

WHO’s latest announcement on introducing an Essential Diagnostic List further emphasizes the need to widen the reach of important diagnostic tests for timely disease management. The good news is India has taken the lead to develop its own National EDL. What needs to be seen is how the government and the industry come together to integrate the EDL to further boost the efforts towards a Healthier India. The impact of global warming is not just on our melting glaciers. The rampant spread in infectious diseases, both new and old; has become a big concern for the healthcare specialists. Gone are the days when malaria was associated only with monsoons. Weather variations bring with it the unpredictable onset of host of diseases, further pushing the health machinery into action to contain the spread. The recent outbreak of Nipah virus in Kerala, once again highlights the crucial role played by diagnostic tests for the precise and early detection of emerging diseases. Clinici...

Relationship marketing encompasses strategies beyond the traditional transactional sales. It's exciting to see how businesses are now focusing on giving their customers 'more' than they have asked for! Touching consumers in a unique way and sparking emotions is more than relevant today. “Work with your head but also take your heart along”, I have come to believe in this ideology over the years. A customer will always buy from a brand that meets his expectations of ‘how’ they are treated and not by ‘what’ they are offered. This is what Relationship Marketing is all about! It starts with making your customer, your partner. Building a long-term and sustainable relationship is at the root of customer retention. And that is possible only when you are in constant touch with your customer, as it will help in identifying how he works, his needs & preferences and how you can make a difference. This will prepare you to serve customers faster and quite possibly even befo...

From me, we now move to the ‘Our factors of the spectrum. It starts with responsibility.  Employees today, are ready to take on additional responsibilities that give them an opportunity to accelerate their progress. They look for a chance to innovate and make the difference. Employers need to foster innovation through employee brainstorming sessions that allow the staff to work with new people and generate fresh ideas. Not long ago, Google announced its 20% creative time policy, which encourages employees to work on any innovative idea they have that are company-related during 20% of their work hours. When Transasia wanted to introduce its caller tune, it ran a contest for its employees to conceptualize a jingle that can be a true identity of the company. After all, who would know the company better than its employees? A company too has certain responsibilities towards its employees, providing a good health insurance is one of them. Infact, it is the most top-rated b...

While most companies aspire to be one among the ‘Greatest Places to Work’, they often misinterpret monetary benefits as the carrot to attract the best talent. Through this two series write-up let’s explore some of the other more promising aspects that make employees want to work for an organization. I have often heard employees say, “This is my dream job” or “ABC is my dream company”, making me wonder what is it that gives an employee that level of satisfaction? Is it the reputation of the company and its stakeholders or what it offers the employees? While each one might have a different reasoning, one underlying fact is that a successful business is the one which is high on the customer as well as employee satisfaction. So while organizations implement various business development strategies to win over customer loyalty, equal emphasis is laid on winning over employee  engagement. Developing an emotional connect with the employees too impacts professional relationships. ...

From offering freebies to forming an emotional connect, there are various approaches companies are adopting to woo customers. The medtech industry too is soon catching up, albeit within its own confines In the wake of the recent regulatory and tax reforms, it is interesting to see how the Indian Medical Device Industry is undergoing transformations. Factors such as focus on preventive health, government support, prevalence of diseases and emergence of new markets, have given a boost to the industry and led to stakeholders exploring new avenues in product promotion to withstand the stiff competition. As the President of Sales, Marketing and Services at India’s Leading In-vitro Diagnostic Company, I thought this is an apt time to bring forth our take on what is driving the marketing of Indian IVD Industry. Age-old methods of promotion, such as customary sales visits, exhibiting in trade shows, KOL meets and leave behind literature have been great marketing tactics that ha...