ROUNDING OUT AND HONING IN
TBY talks to Ravi Raj, CEO of Columbia Asia Indonesia, on how to learn from new captive markets, developing broadly before specializing, and creating centers of excellence within each hospital.
BIOGRAPHY
Ravi Raj started his career in the hospitality industry before becoming an executive in the medical sector. He previously worked in Malaysia.Where does Indonesia fit into the group's regional portfolio?
The idea started when we were in Malaysia and discovered that there was a large patient base from Indonesia coming to Malaysia or Singapore for treatment, which meant enormous potential. We wanted to pursue this opportunity because Columbia Asia has a wide footprint in Malaysia and considered opening a hospital in Penang because many Indonesians go to Penang as tourists. Instead, we decided to serve the Indonesian market from within and open hospitals there. We were one of the first international hospital companies to acquire a property in Indonesia. Around 10 years ago, we acquired a hospital in Medan that we transformed into a Columbia Asia hospital. Today, our hospital is not only the leading private hospital in Medan, but the number-one tertiary referral hospital in North Sumatra. This helped us to further grow our footprint. Rather than expanding rapidly to other locations in Indonesia, we studied the market in Medan for several years to understand its needs. We were more confident because we developed an understanding of the Indonesian market and culture. Our driver is to provide a healthcare system and service within Indonesia at the same level as an international healthcare provider. Three years ago, we felt confident enough to open two further hospitals in Jakarta and Semarang, and plan to grow in Sumatra and acquire and manage more hospitals in Java.
Do you offer all-around healthcare services or specialize in certain fields?
We have three different hospitals with three different levels of growth in three different regions of Indonesia. We are the most mature in Medan, where we handle a great deal of tertiary care and critical cases. Many critical cases from Banda Aceh all the way to Batam are brought to our hospital because we run one of the best critical care units and surgical centers of excellence in our area. In Jakarta, we handle general cases at the moment because we have not evolved into a tertiary care hospital just yet. All hospitals start at the level of general care and then progress into whatever specialized fields that are actually needed. In order for us to specialize, we need to first understand what an area requires. We then evolve into certain specialized areas by developing centers of excellence. In Medan, we have several centers of excellence in the same hospital that were formed over years of expanding and understanding what the community needs and what our doctors' capabilities are. This is our strategy: to establish hospitals and develop centers of excellence within them.
How are the dynamics between the public and private healthcare systems here different?
Since President Widodo took power, there has been a strong dedication to providing healthcare to the country. Since then, the government and the Ministry of Health have done remarkably well to provide this health coverage program to facilitate public health. The moment public healthcare awareness and provision increases, it will automatically escalate private healthcare because the bar is being set higher. Indonesia's public healthcare program has helped to raise the overall healthcare bar for the country, which is extremely positive. Now it is a matter of choosing the type of healthcare one needs. It is becoming a buyer's choice because various healthcare systems are available, and this is significantly changing the landscape.
What is Columbia Asia Indonesia's approach to sourcing, recruiting, and retaining its staff?
There is no shortage of doctors or skilled medical and clinical staff here, but Columbia Asia Indonesia has to be an environment that improves its medical professionals. We have to provide the best environment for our people to strive; if we do that, our staff will automatically deliver a much higher level of commitment and service.
ROUNDING OUT AND HONING IN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Interview
Dr. Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister , National Development Planning (Bappenas)
TBY talks to Dr. Bambang Brodjonegoro, Minister of National Development Planning (Bappenas), on acquiring financing for infrastructure projects and boosting private sector involvement in the country.
read articleInterview
Thomas Trikasih Lembong, Chairman, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM)
Thomas Trikasih Lembong is the Chairman of BKPM. He was a former Minister of Trade of Indonesia from 2015-2016. Prior his appointment in the cabinet, he had a long professional career. He was a Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Managing Partner, and Partner at Quvat Management Pte Ltd and also served as President Commissioner at PT Graha Layar Prima Tbk (BlitzMegaplex) since 2012. He was previously employed with Principia Management Group and the Equity Division of Morgan Stanley (Singapore) Pte. Ltd, among others. He received a bachelor's degree in architecture and urban design from Harvard. He also was elected Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2008.
read articleGuest Speaker
Tevita Lavemaau, Former Minister of Finance and National Planning , Tonga
TBY talks to Tevita Lavemaau, Former Minister of Finance and National Planning of Tonga, on the effect of climate change on the country, its work to combat inequality, and further areas of cooperation with Indonesia.
read articleInterview
Dr. Tito Sulistio, President Director, Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX)
TBY talks to Dr. Tito Sulistio, President Director of Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), on the strong performance of the capital markets, its goals to increase the number of listed companies, and the growing importance of digital innovation.
read articleInterview
Amien Sunaryadi, Chairman, Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas)
TBY talks to Amien Sunaryadi, Chairman of Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities (SKK Migas), on preparing new block offerings, attracting greater investment into the sector, and pushing for exploration.
read articleInterview
Ronald Walla, President Director, PT Wismilak Inti Makmur
TBY talks to Ronald Walla, President Director of PT Wismilak Inti Makmur, on offering the public a more relevant value proposition, strengthening the ideology of Indonesia's founding fathers, and forging bigger profit margins.
read articleInterview
Teddy Tjokrosaputro, President Director, PT Rimo International Lestari (RIMO)
TBY talks to Teddy Tjokrosaputro, President Director of PT Rimo International Lestari (RIMO), on stepping back forcefully from the brink, using affordable housing as a springboard, and laying the groundwork for the country's future.
read articleReview
In the House
As strong economic growth, an optimistic political outlook, and a partially successful tax amnesty to repatriate offshore wealth continue to drive up housing prices in Indonesia's major urban centers, demand for new housing and shares in developers plummeted in 2017.
read article