The Sankara Nethralaya Academy (TSNA), the academic arm of its illustrious parent institution and world class eye care provider is committed to sharing the knowledge and experience of its parent institution to enhance the overall functioning of the Medicare industry, by improving every one of its multiple facets.

It was surprising for many to know that the most contributing cost factor in healthcare is the supply chain which is normally invisible, especially with respect to the customers. The information packed session on Healthcare Supply Chain organized on 25th April 2015 commenced with the play of a video clipping on Healthcare Logistics by DHL.

Sri A Mahalingam, Deputy Registrar, TSNA welcomed the gathering and Introduced the speaker for the Healthcare Supply Chain Session.Prof. S. Ramani is having a blend of experience of more than two decades in industry and one decade in higher education. He has been associated with a wide range of functions viz. manufacturing, marketing, distribution, logistics, supply chain and information systems, which he leveraged in management education. He has worked for reputed organization like Madras Fertilizers Ltd., ICFAI and Confederation of Indian Industry and currently he is the Principal of our Sankara Nethralaya Academy

Prof. S Ramani explained various concepts pertaining to Healthcare Supply Chain, while driving home the point that in healthcare, the supply chain need to be managed both effectively and efficiently, with the sole objective of optimizing the total cost, without compromising on quality of service.

He explained Healthcare supply chain management as the management of materials like medical equipments, medical supplies like medicines, bandages, p.o.p, syringes, etc. manpower like physicians, specialists, nurses, etc. to treat the sick patient efficiently at a reasonable and affordable cost, in the shortest time, with the maximum patient’s satisfaction.

While the presentations were highly informative, combination of relevant video clippings, case study, participant activity and even a simple test, made the session highly participative and interesting.

Prof. Ramani detailed how a supply chain is the network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials, transformation of these materials into intermediate and finished products, and the distribution of these finished products to customers. He suggested that Hospitals can control cost by practising economies of scale; the most important criteria are being able to maintain value to the customers, with cost reduction.

He concluded that we have one winning strategy i.e. to win the overall trust of the customer by OPTIMIZING SATISFACTION through two approaches viz. Enhancing (Customer) Satisfaction and Eliminating (Customer) Dissatisfaction.

The session was well appreciated by all the participants who felt that it added value to their knowledge.

At the end of the session, Mr A Mahalingam also announced that the next session will be Healthcare Marketing on 09.05.2015 by Shri Murali Subramanian, professor of healthcare marketing, Indian Institute of Knowledge Management (IIKM) & Visiting Faculty for Sankara Nethralaya Academy’s Healthcare Management programs.