Bold decisions help revive Philip Hospitals

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

Reviving a business is a challenging task. Remaining and sustaining profitability is even more difficult. However, Philip Hospitals, Kalutara Chairperson and Managing Director Indrani Fernando is a shining example of sheer determination and courage a woman possesses. Her untiring efforts is the success of the three ventures, namely New Philip Hospitals, Philip Hospitals and Philip Engineering. The Philip Hospital has become a prime healthcare provider in the Kalutara District offering latest medical facilities to patients. The managerial, communication and negotiation skills in her are amply demonstrated in the upward path of these ventures. The secret behind her success is the bold decisions she took to turnaround the hospital against all odds. The hospital is a testimony for her timely action.

Indrani Fernando

She was interviewed by Daily News Business for this week's column.

Q. What is the business you are engaged in and how do you set about it?

A. My business is related to private healthcare service. Since I got married in 1978 I have been a housewife and never had an idea to get involved in any type of business. I have qualifications in Banking and Administration. I went to America for a short period and came back and got married.

The Philips Memorial Nursing Home was set up in 1955 by my father-in-law Dr. Leo Fernando and Dotty Fernando. After his demise in 1980 my husband's family looked after the business. My involvement started in 1994. I bought the business from them. My sister-in-law Dr Olivia Fernando continued to work with us.

I was faced with the Herculean task of turning this ailing business and winning confidence of potential customers. I put in a great deal of effort to turnaround the hospital. I discussed my plans with consultants and re-organised the hospital. I took decisions to revive the business. All consultants helped me and gave their fullest support to upgrade the facilities.

I obtained a loan from DFCC Bank and constructed a new wing and kept the old Philips building as a channeling centre. I recruited staff and increased the facilities offered. We were the first to bring an ultra sound scanner to Kalutara.

The Philip Hospitals is a BOI hospital with six floors housing cardiology, eye surgery, phasco surgery and 4 D normal scanning. All the major surgeries are carried out in this hospital and the facilities are offered keeping in mind the convenience of the patient. The hospital consists of a pharmacy, laboratory, x-ray department and 24 hour OPD service. There are 30 laboratory centres in all the remote areas in Kalutara District so that the patients from these areas need not come to Kalutara for laboratory testing. We have an integrated courier service for report delivery. This is a community service for the people in Kalutara. Some of these centres are equipped with ECG facility. Recently we joined with NSB to provide benefits to patients. This is the first hospital to tie up with a State bank. We are in to medical tourism too. We look after tourists from nearby hotels and try to attract patients, especially cataract patients for eye surgeries and also to provide dental services for them.

The Philip Nurses' School affiliated to the Philip Hospital is approved by the Health Ministry to provide nursing training. We want to have a common examination for the entire country to maintain standard. We work hard to attract school leavers to pursue nursing. This will also help send our excess nurses for foreign jobs.

Q. How do you balance your family life and business?

A. My husband is Dr Christo Fernando and I have two children Christopher and Dr Ishani. They are grown up and this has made work easy for me to work extra hours at the hospital. My parents late Justin and Dorothy Millie Fernando were instrumental in making me into a strong person.

Indrani with her family

My brother Damascene Fernando gives a huge support. My son is the Administrative Director. When I look back I feel that I have performed my duties successfully.

Q. What were the challenges you faced?

A. The funding for the hospital at the initial stages was a difficult task and many banks refused to provide facilities. Winning back the confidence was a huge challenge. Whenever latest equipment and technology was available I make sure that it is also available with us.

Q. What are your goals?

A. Some of the goals are already achieved. I want to do well in medical tourism. I want to have a dialysis facility in Kalutara. We have high-end equipment such as CT and MRI. I want to open another hospital in the South. I plan to set up two elders' homes, one a paying home and other providing free service. The medical facilities for the inmates could be made available from the hospital. This would be of immense benefit for the fast growing elder population.

Q. Being a woman was it an advantage to be in business?

A. Being a woman there are advantages as well as disadvantages. The sensitivity on the woman's part helps in many ways. They are capable of meeting deadlines and challenges more effectively. Women have patience and they are self- driven to achieve a given task. They somehow find a way to reach end results. They also face disadvantages. Among them is the restriction of movement as Sri Lanka is still a male dominated country. You have to be strong to overcome this.

Q. What is your advice to women in business?

A. Women need to have a plan in mind and execute it to the end. Start small so that you know the path and then the progress is easy. Planning is the most important element in a process. Women are resourceful and they need to capitalize on this to go that extra mile. Fund management and family support are two vital ingredients to complete a task successfully.

When recruiting people for your business be extra careful. People's loyalty should not be taken for granted. Keep important things for yourself to ensure proper control. Do not sit back until you pay 100 percent attention to the task. Put right people in the right place. These will give you rich dividends.

Q. What were your achievements in family life and business?

A. The biggest achievement is that I was able to turnaround the business to reach the level that it is today.

This I consider a remarkable achievement. The Women's Chamber of Commerce and Industry rewarded me for this at the Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 awards ceremony. I won the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 award and the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 Gold Award for large category at this ceremony.

I also won the Zonta International Award for Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2004 and 2005, Woman Entrepreneur of the year 2005 for large category organised by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Business Excellence Award for Year 2007/8 for large category from Kalutara District Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and Best Woman Entrepreneur of the year 2007/8 for large category from Kalutara District Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.

These awards are a motivating factor and the recognition is vital to ensure better service to the community.

Q. What is your contribution to society?

A. I have provided over 300 employment opportunities. I am an Adviser to the Share Foundation and Saukyadana Movement. I help many people in their needs and it is a major part of the charity work. We conduct regular health camps in religious places and we give free OPD treatment. We do charity work, but they are a silent part of my life. Charity is something in your blood and I consider sharing to be very important.