Tag: medical practitioners

  • Practo- Business Model & Revenue Model | How Does Practo Make Money?

    Numerous technological innovations and advancement has made the world a smaller place. Irrespective of type of business, online services is booming. The demand of online service has taken over the healthcare industry as well. Online doctor consultation is rising popularity and growing with high speed after Covid Pandemic. There has been 500% increase in online doctor consultations in India in 2020.

    Practo is one of those online doctor consultation platform which has revolutionized the healthcare industry. Practo enables consumers to find the best doctors, book appointments, and consultations for better health care decisons and treatment. The bangalore based healthcare platforms has gained tremendous popularity. Here are insights of Practo’s Business model, its revenue model, and more to know about Practo.

    About Practo
    Services Provided by Practo
    Business Model of Practo
    Why Should Doctors Use Practo?
    Practo’s Customer Segments
    Key resources for Practo
    How Practo makes money?
    Acquisitions of Practo
    Revenue Model of Practo
    FAQs

    Practo Business Model | How Practo earns money?

    About Practo

    Practo is an Indian based company that is now established in about 15 countries. It is an application that works as a bridge between doctors and patients and is mainly focused on booking interactions with doctors. It was founded by 2 Indian B.Tech students, Shashank ND and Abhinav Lal. They aimed to come up with a way to save or keep reports and other medical prescriptions. Their idea was then put into action and they came up with an online platform where the patients can interact with the best online doctors, book appointments and so on.

    Services Provided by Practo

    Their major value proposition for patients was to make online healthcare search easier. The application must be able to help patients look for various medical help like doctors, hospitals, clinics, laboratories, check-up and scan bookings and so on. This must be done through the app or website and without any issue. They should be able to get a virtual doctor on demand.

    The next plan was Practo Plus, which is a subscription-based membership. This is to provide perfect 24/7 care.

    Practo not just helps book appointments but also consult a doctor online. This is a cost and time-saving attribute in the app. In this case, the communication can be through audio call, video call and also image sharing through the app. This can help the doctors diagnose and give necessary medical advice.

    Just like Google drive helps us save details and records for future use, Practo drive helps patients store the necessary medical records like test results, prescriptions, schedules, etc. This is highly secure and safe.

    Business Model of Practo

    Practo Logo
    Practo Logo

    The first thing that a business has to do is to figure out the major activities and value propositions and make a perfect, working business model. Practo, being a common platform for patients and doctors, they had to make sure there was proper value provided to both sides.

    Why Should Doctors Use Practo?

    Practo competitors
    Practo competitors

    Practo helps the doctors get more patients and grow their practice online. They can hence maintain a better relationship with the patients and also chat with them whenever necessary. A prescription can also be uploaded through the app. Follow-ups and other notifications can also be given by the doctors to the patients. They can also publish health-related articles and tips. Practo makes the entire system easier and efficient.

    Practo provides a complete tool for clinic management for doctors which helps in generating invoices, reminders, storage of bills and prescriptions, etc. On the whole, the online visibility of the clinic and the doctor grows with the use of Practo.

    Practo’s Customer Segments

    Practo has segmented their customers into 3. Which are:

    Practo's customer segment
    Practo’s customer segment

    Key resources for Practo

    The major resources that they use are the website, the app, their staffs and manpower and Information technology.

    Their major activities are:

    • Marketing and advertising, through which they promote their product and services. With the growing use of social media, they use those platforms to promote Practo.
    • This, being a technology-based app, their another major activity is to develop an easy to use software.
    • They also had to bring in and enhance the network between patients, doctors, labs, clinics and so on.

    They also have the perfect customer relationship management strategies. They provide 24/7 customer service through mails, chat and also phone calls and their automated services, like notification system and SMS services have helped them maintain customer relationships.


    HealthifyMe Success Story – Founders | Funding | Revenue | Business Model
    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified informationon different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by the organization it is based on. Having a fit and healthy body is everyone’s dream, but it has somehow not beeneveryone’s cup of …


    How Practo makes money?

    Any company thinks of how to increase revenues and hence generate more profits. Practo also has its way to make huge revenue. We know that Practo has a few products and services and using this they generate the revenue.

    They initially started by taking a certain percentage of money for every booking that takes place. As they expanded, they found more opportunities to get better revenues.

    Practo charges the doctors and hospitals some money for getting listed in the app or the website. This also gives them some revenue. They are now expanding their domain and are now connecting bigger hospitals, labs and pharmacies and take commissions from all these. This is their basic revenue model. Over this, there are a few other ways by which they generate revenue.

    Acquisitions of Practo

    They get revenues through their acquisitions. Practo has acquired 4 companies.

    • QikWell: It is an online appointment booking software
    • FitHo: It is a disease prevention app
    • Genoo: A software development firm
    • InstaHealth: Hospital management software

    Market Growth Of Online Doctor Consultation During Lockdown
    Are you looking for Online Doctor Consultation? Consultation is available at your fingertip. The market growth has increased rapidly during the lockdown.


    Revenue Model of Practo

    Over the years, Practo has helped doctors reach a lot of patients and also helped them practice medicine.

    Just like there are search results on search engines, Practo has a search result. Doctors need to get on top of the list to be able to do more online consultations and hence earn more. Practo Profile sells premium listing and for this, the doctors have to pay some money. This is a part of their revenue.

    The next way of generating revenue is through Practo reach wherein, Practo provides ad spaces on their website and app. It is available in various sizes and the payment depends on various factors. Displaying ads on their website also gives them good revenue as we know that Practo has a lot of users.

    There is another division in Practo which is called as Practo Ray. This helps the doctors Manage the hospital or clinic. It is a PMS (Practice Management Software) for the doctors. For doctors to use this, they need to pay a fee, monthly. This is the largest source of revenue for Practo.

    Next comes Practo Plus. It is a subscription-based yearly healthcare plan for patients. It offers unlimited online doctor consultation and Practo gets some revenue from this too.

    Practo earns from medical deliveries too. Now that they have tie-ups with labs and pharmacies, they get some commission for bookings and also from delivering medicines to the patients. They also make the sale of medicines to drug stores and chemists.

    The main reason for Practo to be able to attract the customers is because they can cover the right audience. They know that there is no big point in covering famous doctors as they would have already established themselves and would not pay much for Practo and so, they started by approaching new doctors and clinics who will need to get patients. Also, there are not many competitors in the field as Practo has already attracted most doctors and patients and it is well established.

    FAQs

    What is the revenue of Practo?

    Practo has recorded a revenue of Rs 124.3 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2019.

    How does Practo work?

    Practo offers a secure and encrypted platform for patients to connect with doctors online to interact at their own convenience.

    What is the valuation of Practo?

    Practo valuation stands at $904 Million (April, 2021).

    Who are the top competitors of Practo?

    The top 10 competitors of Practo are:

    • Lybrate
    • DocsApp
    • 1mg
    • Goqii
    • Portea
  • Startup Ideas for Medical Practitioners During Pandemic

    Every domain has certain gaps that can be filled only through out-of-the-box solutions. The field of medicine is no exception. Doctors and other practitioners in every capacity and designation can also come up with innovative ways of earning cash through secondary sources. These alternate methods if given the time and dedication, can eventually become a primary income source.

    “The concept of entrepreneurship and startups is only for those dealing with technology.”

    This is not true anymore. The above statement was good to be true if these were earlier times when startups just getting into the market. Now it all depends on how creative and ingenious an individual is.

    Startup Ideas for Medical Practitioners
    FAQ’s
    Conclusion

    Startup Ideas for Medical Practitioners

    Here are some startup ideas for medical practitioners to introspect on and realize their dream of starting their own venture.

    1. Online Consultancy

    People are actually busy these days, they are so busy that they tend to not go to the doctor, till it’s necessary.  It’s common for people to look up their symptoms and identify probable diagnoses using the power of the internet and the countless health-related websites it has to offer. A doctor specializing in a domain of medicine such as cardiology can leverage this trend in today’s generation. By starting a website, he or she can provide online consultation services at a lower cost than what it’d take to visit a practitioner in real.

    2. Medical Prescription Query Services

    A lot of patients end up not being able to purchase medicines due to an incomprehensible doctor’s prescription. While pharmacists are there to help you out, won’t it be a plus if someone could suggest you generic medicines instead of the expensive ones that health specialists usually recommend? Mind you, in order to be able to cater to a variety of prescriptions, it is suggested a group of medical specialists start such an initiative as a team in order to cover as many health domains as possible (cardiology, dentistry, orthopedic, etc.)

    3. Online Medicines Store

    The following is the lifeline of many people in urban areas. Especially, for elderly people, as they are not able to go to medical stores often. For this purpose, this online medical store is getting on-trend. You will be able to get all kinds of medicine, at a cheaper cost and at your doorstep. Easy-peasy right? Hence, these online medicines store a good form of a startup in the medical field.

    4. Consultant to Big Pharmaceuticals

    Companies such as Pfizer, Sun Pharma, Ranbaxy, and many others need expert advice from medical practitioners when it comes to drug trials. As a strategist to these big-shots, doctors can earn good money without working for long hours. Moreover, getting to be a part of something that’s likely to affect the lives of many in the form of medicines is worth the effort!

    5. Reviewing Health Insurance Claims

    Insurance companies don’t want to spend a lot but still protect people. The job requires time and a laptop to review the insurance claims. Medical specialists can take advantage of this kind of outsourcing that big insurance companies usually indulge in. While the idea is great for a startup venture but is a great way to earn some extra income in addition to the primary job for any doctor.

    6. Opening a Fitness Center/Spa

    Ordinary spas are in abundance. But if you’re a GYN/OB, then you can utilize the knowledge of yours to provide special treatment. Physiotherapists and orthopedic specialists have a large consumer base to tap into if they decide to open such kind of startup—fitness enthusiasts are willing to splurge cash to get into shape. This kind of setting is a glimpse of the future; fitness trainers will soon be accompanied by medical experts!

    Success Story of Docttocare- Doctor Appointment, Blood Bank and Ambulance Online
    Company Profile is an initiative by StartupTalky to publish verified informationon different startups and organizations. The content in this post has been approved by the organization it is based on. Gone are the days when one had to rely on word of mouth to find a good doctor,or when one had to…

    7. Becoming a Tutor

    The number of aspirants aiming to get into medical universities for education is staggering. The blossoming of coaching institutes means that the demand & supply is not entirely balanced. Moreover, the quality of educators is not of the standard at all institutes. If you had an exceptional preparation phase while attempting the medical competitive examinations and finally end up studying at a prominent institute solely on merit, then helping students in the same by teaching them is a proven way of making a good income.

    8. Facilitating Sale of Medical Equipment

    A doctor makes innumerable contacts, be it during practice hours or after that. These include pharmacists and medical items, vendors. Patients often lookout for medical equipment at cheap rates—oxygen cylinders, wheelchairs, etc. By leveraging their connections, practitioners can open online platforms dealing in the buying and selling of such items.

    9. Opening a Private Clinic

    This is by far the most common one and a sure-shot case of success. There will be maintenance costs, staff salaries, and other kinds of initial investment expenditures but once the clinic takes off, there’s no looking back. The point to consider is that opening a private practice is possible only after gaining significant experience either in public or private hospitals/institutions. Moreover, the location where the clinic would be set up is also decisive; if the locality is one where medical assistance is rare and not accessible to everyone for whatever reason, then even a small practice can generate significant revenue. But then if the same is to be established in a place already teeming with hospitals and clinics, then experience and popularity as a practitioner decide the level of success that is achievable.

    19 Innovative Health Startups in India | List of Top Healthcare Startups
    The hunger for success makes you forget about health. You might be engrossedwith your startup but don’t work yourself to death for a bright entrepreneurialfuture. A wise man once said that health is wealth[https://startuptalky.com/tag/wealth-management/]. The healthcare sector is growing rapidl…

    10. Healthcare Apps

    We love different apps for different services. Also, people are actually concerned about their health but lack of time, concentration makes it difficult for them to keep track of their health. Hence, a good healthcare app is the need of the time. A complete app that provides all health care benefits like a nutritionist calorie counter, footsteps counter, etc. If the features include, a consultancy with a certified nutritionist, dietician, trainers then it is the perfect icing on the cake.

    11. Rehabilitation Center

    Substance abuse or commonly known as drug abuse is a common problem in today’s generation. To get away from such habits, parents, guardians, NGOs are constantly looking for a rehabilitation center. Hence, this area is also an area to have a startup. It’s not a niche area to work but it serves both public service and private profit. Make sure the center has good doctors, good medical staff, and moral support to the addicts, for their good recovery.

    12. Skincare Line

    This is not a very familiar startup in the medical field but trust me it is a very effective startup. You are not believing me, check Dr. Barbara Streum. She is a trained dermatologist who crafted plenty of skincare products used by celebrities, common people across the globe. Hence, if you tried a dermatologist who has come up with a new formula, different textures treating people’s issues then you should start your own skincare line Of products. It sounds like a new concept but it is an extremely profitable startup idea if been created with innovation.

    How will Healthcare Startup Recover after CoronoVirus Outbreak?
    COVID-19 virus [https://startuptalky.com/tag/coronavirus-outbreak/] is spreading so rapidlyand it has hit dozens of countries globally. Indian government has put 1.3billion residents in lockdwon. This pandemic has impacted many industries likestock market, travel industry [https://startuptalky.com/tag/travel-startups/…

    FAQ’s

    How do I start a healthcare startup?

    To start a healthcare startup follow these steps:

    • Create a business plan.
    • Register with the state.
    • Obtain Medicare and Medicaid certifications.
    • Hire a great staff.
    • Get your clients.

    How many healthcare startups are there?

    There are approximately 2,500 startups in the healthcare sector right now, split into 34 categories. If you can successfully navigate the healthcare landscape, your startup will reign supreme.

    How can I start a healthcare company in India?

    If you are planning on starting a healthcare business in India that will have Application based Services which includes telemedicine services, you will be required to be registered as an ‘Other Service Provider’ (OSP) with the Department of Telecommunications. All drugs must be sold under a license.

    Why do digital health startups keep failing?

    A miscalculated profit margin, a too high or too low price tag, and a generally misplaced pricing strategy could mean the end of a promising digital health start-up.

    Is healthcare a profitable business?

    According to a 2015 Forbes report, healthcare was projected to be one of the most profitable industries of 2016. Perhaps not surprising, though, since the healthcare market is such a large part of the national GDP.

    Conclusion

    Doctors are uniquely qualified to be excellent healthcare tech founders and even operators as they are more familiar with the domain. They are famously termed as entrepreneurs with medical degrees who will drive much of the healthcare innovation to come in the next few years. These medical practitioners might not be immediately familiar with the startup world but they bring invaluable knowledge of the complex healthcare system to the table. They are familiar with how money moves internally, how incentives work inside the organization, and which regulations apply in which circumstances under the healthcare domain.

  • How to Obtain a Pharmacy Business License in India

    Indian pharmaceutical market has been one of the largest markets in the world in terms of volume as well as value. Also, India is the largest provider of generic drugs with around 20% to 25% of global exports in volume. Since the business in the pharmaceutical industry of India is great, one can have a decent opportunity to start it in the local market.

    If you are someone who is interested to open a medical store or obtain a pharmacy license in India, this write-up is for you. Pharmacy business has been eternal in our country. Even when all other businesses suffered huge losses due to the Covid-19 pandemic, pharmacy businesses kept on growing and flourishing and will continue the same in the future as well.

    In India, the pharmacy business doesn’t get affected by economic cycles or financial hiccups. With minimum investment and space you can set up your pharmaceutical business is it a franchise or your own store. Read this article to know more about how to get a pharmacy license in India.

    Types of Pharmacy Business in India
    Types of Drug License
    Prerequisites of obtaining a pharmacy business license in India
    Documents required for starting a Pharmacy Business
    List of Application Forms
    FAQ

    Types of Pharmacy Business in India

    When you decide to obtain a pharmacy license in India, you should first decide the type of pharmacy that you would want to run as there are different types of pharmacy businesses in India.

    In our country mostly all the pharmacy businesses fall under the category of standalone pharmacies who operate their business in the unorganized sector. However, the popularity of township pharmacies has been growing in recent years. It is observed that the majority of the standalone pharmacies are set up under a partnership or sole proprietorship.

    These days pharmacies can now register themselves as LLP or a Private Limited Company for around Rs. 8000/-

    Types of Drug License

    Since there are various types of dealings and businesses in India in the pharmacy sector, there are various types of drug licenses. As mentioned below

    Sales License

    This license is to be obtained by the businesses that plan to make sales of drugs. These include Wholesale Drug License, Retail Drug License, and Restricted Drugs Sale License.

    Manufacturing License

    Those businesses who plan to manufacture drugs allopathic and homeopathic need to obtain a manufacturing license.

    Loan License

    A business that uses manufacturing facilities of some other license and does not own a manufacturing unit, requires a loan license.

    Import License

    When one wishes to deal in the import of drugs, an import license is issued.

    Multi-Drug License

    If one places to operate the pharmacy business in multiple regions with the same name, he/she a multi-drug license will be issued.

    Revenue of Indian Pharma Sector
    Revenue of Indian Pharma Sector

    Prerequisites of obtaining a pharmacy business license in India

    There are a few essential things that are to be acknowledged before obtaining a pharmacy license in India.

    1. Qualification

    If you are planning to have your own pharmacy business, you must be qualified. If your business operations are in wholesale it is imperative that you have completed your post-graduation with one year of experience or have an under graduation degree with four years of experience.

    2. Place

    When you wish to have a pharmacy business, it is important that you have adequate space too.

    Pharmacy License
    Pharmacy License
    • To obtain a wholesale or retail pharmacy business license you must have a minimum 15 square meter space.
    • In all other types, you would have to have a minimum of 10 square meters of space.
    • Also the National Building Code of India, 2005 has laid a few guidelines on the clear height of the premises of the sale which are to be followed accordingly.

    3. Storage

    There are many drugs that are required to be stored in low temperatures, refrigerators, or under air conditioners. You must have such important storage facilities for the same.

    4. Tax registration

    In our country, all pharmacy businesses are required to obtain GST tax and pay GST timely. Since these businesses will be selling drugs and medicines, they are going to be registered under GST 2017.

    Documents required for starting a Pharmacy Business

    Starting a pharmacy business in India comes with certain formalities and responsibilities that vary from state to state. It is suggested that whenever you apply for a pharmacy business license, keep the following documents ready with you.

    1. Application form for the pharmacy license which is in the prescribed manner.

    2. A covering letter would be required with the intent of the applicant. It should be signed by the applicant along with his/her name and designation.

    3. For obtaining the drug license, you would be required to produce the receipt of challan fees.

    4. A declaration in the prescribed format mentioned in the form.

    5. The blueprint of the premises regarding the key plan and the site plan.

    6. The grounds or basis of possession of the premises.

    7. Any authorized Identification proof and photo of the owner/s of the pharmacy.

    8. If the premise is taken on rent, then you would be required to show proof of the ownership of the premises.

    9. Proofs of the constitution of a company like an Incorporation Certificate or Memorandum of Association or Article of Association or Partnership Deed are to be presented while obtaining the drug license.

    10. An affidavit of non-conviction of proprietor or partners of the pharmacy business under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act 1940 is essential.

    11. Along with the above-mentioned affidavit, you also need to produce an affidavit of a registered pharmacist or a competent person working full time.

    12. If the person is employed, an appointment letter of a registered pharmacist or a competent person is required.

    All these documents are required to be produced in order to become eligible for obtaining a medical store license. Once you complete all these formalities, you will be required to file the application for granting the pharmacy business license. For the same, you will have to visit the drug inspector’s office where all the proceedings would be taken ahead.

    List of Application Forms

    Sr. No

    Form No.

    Purpose

    1.

    Form 19

    Application for grant or renewal of a license to sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale, or distribute drugs apart from those specified in Schedule X.

    2.

    Form 19A

    Application for granting or renewing a restricted license to sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale, or distribute drugs by retail via dealers who don’t engage the service of a qualified individual.

    3.

    Form 19B

    Application for license to sell, stock or exhibit or offer for sale, or distribute Homoeopathic Medicines.

    4.

    Form 19C

    Application for grant or renewal of a [license to sell, stock, exhibit or offer for sale, or distribute] drugs specified in Schedule X.

    5.

    Form 24

    Application for either the grant of a license or for the renewal of a license or to manufacture for sale or for distribution of drugs other than those which are specified in [Schedule C, C (1) and X].

    6.

    Form 24A

    Application for either the grant of a loan license or renewal of a loan license to manufacture for sale or distribution of drugs other than those specified in Schedule C, C (1) and X.

    7.

    Form 24B

    Application for grant or renewal of a licensee to repack for sale or distribution of drugs, being drugs other than those specified in Schedule C and C (1) excluding those specified in Schedule X.

    8.

    Form 24C

    Application for the grant or renewal of a license to manufacture for sale [or for distribution] of Homoeopathic medicines or a license to manufacture potentized preparations from back potencies by licensees holding a license in Form 20-C

    9.

    Form 24F

    Application for grant or renewal of a license to manufacture for sale or for distribution of drugs specified in Schedule X and not specified in Schedule C and C(1).

    10.

    Form 27

    Application for grant or renewal of a license to manufacture for sale or for distribution of drugs specified in Schedule C and C (1) excluding those specified in part XB and Schedule X

    FAQ

    How much does it cost to open a pharmacy in India?

    A pharmacy franchise requires an initial investment starting from INR 8 – 10 lakhs, which includes licensing and documentation.

    How long does it take to become a pharmacist in India?

    To practice pharmacy in India one atleast requires a diploma in pharmacy, which is awarded after only 2 years and 3 months of pharmacy studies.

    Which is the number 1 pharmaceutical company?

    Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd is the number 1 pharmaceutical company.

    Conclusion

    Health is the most important part of everyone’s lives and is certainly a business sector that is evergreen. Pharmacy business in India is currently at the growth stage and will continue to flourish in the coming years as well. By following the procedure mentioned in the above write-up, you can easily obtain a drug license and open your own pharmacy store.