With the pandemic, the importance of healthcare and healthcare technology has been felt more than ever before. Despite the gender imbalance faced in the healthcare industry, in recent years, we have seen strong and committed women entrepreneurs leading successful healthcare organizations in India and leaving an indelible mark in the healthcare business ecosystem. They are contributing great ideas for a better future and making a major contribution to the economy as well. Medicircle presents a series on top women entrepreneurs of the healthcare sector so that these influential role models share their views and insights for the benefit of aspirants. 

Dr. Ritu Mittal Garg is Vice President, Fortis Healthcare. She is an ENT specialist who turned to Healthcare Management. After spending 12 years in a premier medical school in India, Dr. Garg has handled senior leadership roles across various functions and organizations like Fortis Healthcare, Sakra World hospital, and Amrop. India. Dr. Garg has an astute understanding of healthcare dynamics and changing landscapes in the healthcare segment. She also has a keen interest in digital innovation in healthcare and works with health tech startups to help build efficient and future-ready healthcare service delivery models. 

Fortis Healthcare Limited is a chain of private hospitals headquartered in India. Fortis started its health care operations from Mohali where the first Fortis hospital was started. Later on, the hospital chain purchased the healthcare branch of Escorts group and increased its strength in various parts of the country.

Intrapreneur with insights of a clinician, patient, and business professional

Ritu describes herself as an intrapreneur. She explains, “this is because I work with an entrepreneurship spirit in a large organization. I have been able to add the insights of a clinician, a patient, and a business professional together on one table. I think corporate healthcare has come of age in the last decade. The contribution by the private sector and overall healthcare industry in the Covid pandemic has been exemplary in India. And it's great to be part of this journey and be the center of providing the best outcomes and healthcare delivery at affordable costs,” says Ritu.

Women combine personal and professional worlds to build a large ecosystem of both 

Ritu observes, “it's a challenging world out there for us women, whatever role that we are in entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship or any business function, it is all about dealing with different kinds of people, and also balancing our work and family life. There would-be times when work needs a lot more attention and this would keep on stretching for days. On the other hand, there will be times when your family needs to get prioritized. I think the only way to be able to do this is to build one large ecosystem encompassing both, instead of trying to juggle between the two, we should make one aspect of life supportive of the other,” says Ritu.

Mantra for Success

Ritu emphasizes, “The challenge for women business leaders is to get a perception about how not to get tangled in the exits that are common in the middle management level. And also, how to manage the business pressures as well as your personal life pressures. Managing both pressures is key to life’s success.”

To be able to make a difference is the biggest motivation

Ritu, explains, “the biggest motivation is to be able to make a difference and the desire to leave behind a legacy. Whatever, work you are doing, there should be something that you should be able to look back with satisfaction and a smile when you sit quietly with a cup of coffee. There are frustrating days or weeks where you seem to be hitting the wall and nothing seems to be moving but be persistent and you will be able to crack it. That intrinsic feeling of being able to crack it and solve a problem is the biggest motivator of all,” Adds Ritu.

(Edited by Amrita Priya)