After having served in multiple capacities across continents over the years, how do you look back on this journey of yours?
The main realisation I gained is that we never stop learning, however old we are, whatever we are doing, and wherever we are doing it. Sometimes, people look back at their stint in a particular organisation or region with regret, but for MIOT, it has always been a time of great learning. We harness it going forward, when we tackle challenges by implementing what we learn. It also forms an experience database for us to draw upon, when we decide what we will embark on in the future.
MIOT Hospitals stands as a pioneer in providing world-class healthcare services to patients from far and wide. Can you highlight some of the major facilities for international patients, offered by MIOT?
Any healthcare provider can create facilities for patients by investing in medical technology.
In the past, it was difficult to access advanced equipment and there were minimal upgrades. Today, technology is evolving fast and the industry is able to reach out to patients directly, bypassing doctors, through the internet. Patients demand the latest technology, for they believe it is life-saving or it can completely transform their health.
MIOT was initially established with a mission to bring exceptional healthcare to Indians, so that they need not travel overseas for advanced treatment. Over the years, our global outlook began to draw patients from across the world to MIOT, where they experience international standards of care with a comfort akin to being in their own country. We provide completely personalised treatment from the start by looking into their medical records and choosing the right doctor for them and go beyond to eliminate the communication barrier through language translators. We offer them the cuisine of their land, tailored to their taste. This customized and personalized care is what makes MIOT Hospitals unique, even today.
MIOT Hospitals is celebrating 25 years of integrity in healthcare. How do you see this decades-worth of public services offered by MIOT Hospitals to people across the globe?
The biggest problem in the medical profession is that people are not experiencing the same degree of trust that was taken for granted 30 years ago. The number one goal, year on year for MIOT is to weed out any possibility of commercialisation in the practice of medicine. We want decisions to be made purely on the basis of what will be better for the patient as a whole and not what will be better in terms of financial returns or the profit margin on treatment. This reflects MIOT’s 25 years of integrity in healthcare.
What we imply by integrity is that MIOT is financially viable but there is no question of the pressure of finance influencing a scientific decision at any stage. Whether a patient visits us for a consultation, a telemedicine appointment, a master health check or a procedure, there is no commercialisation of healthcare, by principle.
MIOT Hospitals has been at the forefront of offering world-class and affordable medicare to the people of Seychelles. Can you discuss the relations between MIOT International and the Government of Seychelles?
Whichever government has been in power in Seychelles has found MIOT to be completely approachable, very proactive, and transparent. We shared with the Government of Seychelles what we intended to do at an early stage, being upfront about what we could commit to. We also meet many key officials in person, very frequently, to make sure that there is no lack of service and no gap (on either side) in fulfilling the healthcare needs of every patient. To go a step further, we are the first and only international entity with an independent presence in Seychelles, offering end-to-end healthcare in particular specialities. We have accomplished this without any hand-holding or special treatment by the government.
MIOT International’s healthcare partnership with Seychelles goes back to a rock-solid 20 years of experience. How do you plan to build on this experience to further serve the people of Seychelles?
The uniqueness of MIOT is healthcare without prejudice. The facilities and care we provide at Seychelles are on par with the exceptional standards of care at MIOT International, India. Achieving this in a country of 1,00,000 people with challenging medical supply chains and after-sales annual maintenance contracts for sophisticated equipment is definitely a tall order. We are therefore working towards it in a careful and sustained manner. We have already made descent strides in reaching our goal. We are envisioning a complete facility offering end-to-end services in select specialities that are on par or even better than the facilities at MIOT International, India. Providing healthcare of uncompromising quality is our motto.
In order to provide effective medical care, one needs a robust medical infrastructure to cater to their patients. In light of the same, can you discuss as to the number of patients being served by you in Seychelles currently?
MIOT has had a presence in Seychelles for the past three years, through MIOT (Seychelles) Medical and MIOT International Total Eye Care. The number of patients we are serving in Seychelles is only the tip of the iceberg. We are paving the way for a facility where we can expertly treat unforeseen illnesses or provide lifesaving emergency care, for these are the game-changers in healthcare. We have served around one-tenth of the population at our current healthcare facilities in Seychelles.
In case if one needs to approach MIOT Hospitals’ services in Seychelles, what would be the best way to connect with the healthcare service providers there?
The easiest way to reach out to any hospital anywhere in the world is the internet. You can visit the website of MIOT (Seychelles) Medical at www.miot-seychelles-medical.sc or MIOT International Total Eye care at www.miot-totaleyecare.sc which have the respective contact details and provide answers to any queries you may have. You can also visit www.miotinternational.com which offers a glimpse of our flagship hospital in Chennai, India, and the entire spectrum of healthcare services offered by us.