Jatin Mahajan, an astute healthcare specialist J Mitra & Co transforming the diagnostics segment

Jatin Mahajan, an astute healthcare specialist

J Mitra & Co transforming the diagnostics segment

The year 2018 turned out to be a major milestone for the healthcare sector.

The year was marked by various noteworthy developments –Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), Mission Indradhanush, Ayushman Bharat, advancements in Home healthcare, Artificial Intelligence, out-of-hospital digital health-tech have all seen a boom.

Private investments in the sector have also increased. With the line blurring between technology and healthcare, India will soon emerge as one of the most preferred healthcare destinations globally.

A noteworthy name in the healthcare segment is that of J Mitra & C0, India's leading in-vitro diagnostics company.

Lalit Mahajan laid the founding stones of J Mitra & Co in 1969. Carrying the legacy to newer heights, Mr Lalit Mahajan's son – Jatin Mahajan further strengthened the company's focus on research and development to ensure that the organization pursue its course in the right earnest.

This research-based biotechnology company enjoys a global reach and is the biggest exporter of diagnostics kits and reagents from India, exporting to more than 45 countries across the globe.

As the Managing Director, Jatin has been spearheading the organization for the past 18 years, taking it to its present glory – regional leader, exporter to over 45 countries, and more than 55 patents.

Today, Jatin Mahajan is a well-established name in the medical fraternity as a promoter of excellent quality medical diagnostic test solutions for the detection of various infectious diseases.

His cost-effective, safe, and international-standards compliant products are used by most of the big names, and his clientele reads like a who's who of the medical diagnostic fraternity.

It is this drive for quality and excellence that has resulted in the company bagging more than 55 patents in this industry, and the title of "India's Patent King" by Wall Street Journal.

Let's hear more from the leader himself who envisions a strong position for India as an IVD manufacturing hub on the global map.

Edited Excerpts

What kind of impact do you intend to make in the Indian healthcare space?

The four most important words are – affordability, accessibility, quality and speed. While on one hand, we are focused on decreasing the cost and time frame of detection, on the other we are focusing on extensive R&D so as to develop newer solutions for other ailments -the focus is on better, faster and more extensive diagnostics.

Information Technology has seen a major transformation in the past few years. What impact has it had on your company?

IT has brought about phenomenal changes and advancements in detection & diagnostics, treatment and monitoring of patients. The focus is on early detection and management.

At J Mitra, we have been singularly focusing on technological innovations to create path-breaking healthcare solutions that are affordable and accessible to all. In August 2018, we launched iQuant, a unique product based on Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyzer technology, that is transforming diseases detection in the rural and semi-rural areas.

Launched in collaboration with IIT Madras' HTIC (Healthcare Technology Innovation Centre), this portable equipment with 9 diagnostic parameters is a state-of-the-art analyser for quantitative and qualitative determination of blood test parameter – that includes TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone), T3 (tri-iodo thyronine), T4 (Thyroxin), Vitamin D, Dengue NS1 Antigen, Dengue IgM, Dengue IgG, HbA1c and CRP test.

With this launch, various highly-active and sought-after diagnostic solutions have become available across the country and in the remotest of locations at the fraction of a cost. And we will be exporting the same to more than 45 countries across the globe.

In a digital world, how will mobility change healthcare?

It is a constant move towards mobile detection and management. While the sizes of diagnostics devices are becoming smaller and smaller thus making them more mobile and durable, remote surgeries using internet and robotics is a reality. This scenario will continue to improve further, and our future is limited only by our imagination

By 2025, how will our healthcare delivery system change? What roadmap you have laid for the same?

Both detection and delivery of healthcare are under a constant blanket of change. We will continue to innovate and focus on mobile / portable diagnostics solutions so that we are able to focus on the remotest regions of our country.

The point of care has to shift from metros and bigger towns to the smaller towns and villages, and ultimately to the very homes of the consumers. This will continue to be our endeavor and drive all our business strategies.

What are the reasons for your success? What does it take to become a successful entrepreneur?

Business and Social ethics are of utmost importance to us. All business requirements can be acquired, but no organization can survive and flourish for a long time without ethics.

The only other aspect is a continuous focus on change and innovation to keep abreast and ahead of the market requirements.

So, what keeps you up at night?

We sleep well, knowing that we are making a difference in the lives of millions. The only business aspect that is probably completely not in our control is research and development.

This is a very time-consuming process and realistic timelines can never be established. Break-throughs, at times, take 5-7 years. If there is anything we could change, this would be it.

The Periscope

Jatin Mahajan

Jatin is a regular speaker at Industry forums like ASSOCHAM, AIMED (Joint Coordinator, IVD Group), BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) as a Principal Member, Sectional Committee, ADMI and Voice of Health. He is also a proud receiver of WHO recognition.

An MBA graduate from the renowned International Management Institute, New Delhi, and continues to be a regular part of the admission and intake process for the institution.

Chronoscope of India's No. 1 In-Vitro Diagnostics Manufacturing Company

Year Achievement 2018

§ 50 years of serving the nation

§    Launched iQuant (India's first portable state-of-the-art Fluorescence Immunoassay Analyzer – in collaboration with IIT Madras)

§    iQuant procured by the Presidential Estate, Govt of India as part of the in-house medical and diagnostic support system

§  New Products Launch

o   Dengue IgM  Quanti card

o   Dengue IgG  Quanti card

2016

§  New Products Launch

o   HbA1c Quanti card

o   VITAMIN D Quanti card

o   Dengue NS1 Ag  Quanti card

o   T4 Quanti card

o   T3 Quanti card

o   TSH Quanti card

2011

§    Launched Typhoid antibody test

2010

§    Launched Dengue NS1 Ag & antibody Rapid test kit

§    Launched Chikungunya antibody test kit

2007

§    Launched Lepto IgM & IgG antibody test kit

2006

§    Launched 4TH Generation HIV Elisa & Rapid test

§    First time Launch of T.B. Antigen kit

2005

§    Launch of T.B. Antibody test Kit

§    ERP Implementation and Launch of Malaria Kit

2003

§    Development of Therapy Technology Division

2001

§    Hepatitis-B Strip and Card tests launched

2000

§    HCV RAPID Test HCV ELISA Tests launched

1999

§    HIV W.BLOT Test kit officially inaugurated by the then Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

1997

§    HIV ELISA Test Kit launched

§    Hepatitis-B test kit launched

1996

§    HIV TRI-DOT (Rapid Screening test) for AIDS launched in India based on In -house Research and Development

1987

§    Monoclonal Blood Grouping Reagents launched

§    Blood Grouping Reagents launched

§    In-house R&D unit recognized by DSIR, Ministry of Science Technology

1986

§    Digital Lab System launched in India

1981

§    Lab System launched in India

1969

§    Incorporation of the company