Technology to disrupt every aspect of healthcare: Narayana Health founder

Narayana Health’s acquisition of the UK-based Practice Plus Group marks a strategic shift in its global ambitions, with the company eyeing opportunities to integrate technology and operational efficiency into the country’s private healthcare ecosystem. Devi Prasad Shetty, founder and chairman of Narayana Health, in a video interaction with Aneeka Chatterjee, shared that over the next year, the hospital chain will focus on understanding the local market dynamics before charting the next phase of its international growth. Edited excerpts:

- 

What was the trigger for the acquisition?

The acquisition of Practice Plus Group Hospitals in the UK is a very strategic and natural step forward for Narayana Health. The UK presented a very strong opportunity. The healthcare system there is facing enormous pressure, and a large number of patients are waiting for surgeries. It felt like a perfect fit.

This acquisition gives us an immediate platform to enter a mature market and demonstrate that Narayana Health’s model of high-volume, affordable, technology-enabled healthcare can work globally. It also allows us to diversify geographically and build resilience into our business.

Do you have plans to expand beyond the 12 specialist surgical centres currently operating in the UK?

It will take us at least a year to really understand the landscape. We want to learn what the current challenges and opportunities are over the next six months to a year, and then we will make our plan for the next phase of growth. We believe there is great potential for private healthcare in England. Today, the National Health Service (NHS) remains the dominant provider, and with a population of over 65 million, there is a clear need for private entrepreneurs to set up hospitals that support the NHS rather than compete with it. We have no desire to compete. Our aim is to help address their waiting lists, which are quite significant. That is one of the key opportunities we see.

What synergies does Narayana Health expect to realise from the acquisition, and over what time frame?