“If there is one organisation that is worthy of being a model for quality health care, it would be this company. This private sector initiative would be the strongest contender for handling our public health system.”
That was a comment made by Prime Minister John Key soon after he handed over the Supreme Business Award to East Tamaki Health Care (ETHC) at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) Presentation Night on November 16, 2009 at Stamford Plaza Hotel.
Our independent panel of judges, not knowing that they were on the same page, wrote earlier, “ETHC is a customer focused health service driven by the needs of the customers. The company has developed an innovative model for carrying out geographic and customer segmentation to identify areas of demand for their services.”
Those two comments, not being a PR campaign, carry credibility to an organisation that has been rendering the noble task of fostering the health of hundreds of thousands of people in the Auckland region.
Its nobility is underscored by impeccable honesty, humility and most important of all, genuine care for every individual who walks through the doors of its 12 well-appointed clinics throughout the City.
There may be much work to be done in the field of public health, but arguably, it is institutions like ETHC that would make Auckland a Super City.
The Company is the sponsor of the Best Large Business Award of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) 2010 and would be the source of inspiration to the entrants in various categories.
Apart from winning the Supreme Business of the Year Award 2009, the Company also won the Best Innovation Business Award 2009, the Best Professional Services Business Award 2009 and was a finalist in the ‘Best Large Business Award’ category.
The story of ETHC is one of commitment, hard work, dedication and vision, and should inspire any entrepreneur with social and community responsibility to emulate its approach. The Company is a model for the private sector in general and those in the medical profession in particular.
It all began 36 years ago when Dr Kantilal Patel established a small practice in the South Auckland suburb of Otara. His firm belief that there should be easy access to health, diagnosis, treatment, cure and most important of all, preventative care helped the practices grow.
Today, ETHC boasts of 90,000 registered patients visiting its 12 clinics spread across various parts of Auckland. In addition, about 180,000 casual patients also seek treatment through its impressive team of 50 doctors and 53 nurses, supported by 25 receptionists who speak several languages and about 35 other staff.
His wife Ranjna, who is the co-founder, has been a pillar of strength from the beginning, assisting Dr Patel in administration and related matters.
Their son Rakesh, a MBA graduate, has joined the Company to enhance the value of services rendered to customers.
The ability of ETHC to focus on its customers’ requirements with a business model, which can link business margins without compromising the outcome expected by the clinical professionals, has been the prime source of its impressive growth over the years.
Planning and strategy have been the hallmarks of the success of ETHC. As the Indian Newslink IBA judges noted, “The Company’s strategy to train its own nurses and the learning environment for its professional personnel allows the company to grow successfully through engaged and focused personnel. Systems developed in-house are now being used by other New Zealand medical organisations and there is interest from overseas.”
An extended coverage of ETHC and its people will appear in an ensuing issue.
Photo:
Dr Kanti Patel, Chief Executive of East Tamaki Healthcare, Winner of the Supreme Business of the Year of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2010, with Prime Minister John Key and wife Ranjna (to his left) and son Rakesh (right) at the Awards Night held on at Stamford Plaza Hotel in Auckland on November 16, 2009. Picture for Indian Newslink by Narendra Bedekar
Our Panel of Judges
Chad Wilkie, Executive Director, Ignition Partner Limited (Convenor)
Adrian Dixon, Business Consultant
Chip Dawson, Managing Director, International Business Management Ltd
Dr Claire McGowan, Managing Director, Commercialisation Advisers Ltd
David Hawkins, Associate Professor, Unitec School of Design
Nevil Gibson, Editor-in-Chief, The National Business Review
Steve Corbett, Chief Executive, e-Centre Ltd, Massey University
Tim Livingstone, Senior Partner, UHY Haines Norton, Chartered Accountants
Tony Bacon, Sector and Partner Manager, Vodafone NZ
Vijaya Vaidyanath, Chief Executive, Waitakere City Council
Our Sponsors & Awards
The National Bank of New Zealand (Title Sponsor)
Best Small Business and Supreme Business of the Year
East Tamaki Healthcare: Best Large Business
Stamford Plaza Hotel: Best Business Innovation
Patton Limited: Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Millennium Group: Best Restaurant Business
Kalamazoo Group: Best Professional Services Business
Supreme Sikh Council: Best Retailer Business
GOPIO: Best Exporter to India Business
Radio Tarana: Best Marketing Excellence
TV 3 (Media Works Ltd): Best Businesswoman of the Year
