Philips bets on home-care services in India, looks to replicate model in other countries

Updated - January 13, 2018 at 02:46 AM.

Will focus on strengthening personal health, diagnostic and treatment segment

Abhijit Bhattacharya (right), Global CFO, Royal Philips, and Madhavan Hariharan, CFO, India Subcontinent, Philips India Ltd, at a press conference in Chennai on Thursday

Dutch firm Philips bets big on its Indian home-care services arm of the healthcare business and plans to replicate the model overseas in the coming years based on the success of the programme.

The company launched home care services six months ago in the Delhi-NCR region to care for people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Patients can avail the service from different subscription models offered by Philips. Currently a pilot is on in Karnataka and few areas in the western region. Addressing media persons, Abhijit Bhattacharya, Chief Financial Officer, Royal Philips, said the company is experimenting with home care services in India and based on the success there are plans to replicate the model in other countries as well.

Investment in R&D
Philips has a global research and development centre in Bengaluru. It invests ₹12,000 crore in R&D every year for developing products using latest technology like artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning and also market specific products such as a device for screening pneumonia in kids, which is very specific to India.

Philips is also focusing on strengthening its personal health and diagnostic and treatment segment. The company's global health technology sales are 41 per cent in the personal health space and 39 per cent in diagnostic and treatment space.

Home appliances company Preethi, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Philips, has expanded to manufacture products like air fryer and soup makers. Bhattacharya said the company aims to promote healthy living and attract health-conscious clientele through this line of products.

With healthcare technology growing at a rapid space, Bhattacharya said the company is on the lookout to invest and acquire potential companies and start-ups that will strengthen its healthcare business.

Published on March 9, 2017 16:37