Over the past decade, a lot has changed in the healthcare sector especially, with some powerful women heading the most powerful positions in the different areas of health and medicine. From finding value in tele-medicine to exploring data solutions for healthcare, these women have gone out of their way to streamline India’s healthcare scenario. As founders of path-breaking healthcare startups and initiatives, these ten crusaders of health have not just managed to break barriers but also have dared to redefine the healthcare sector to make it accessible to all.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw – Founder and Chairperson, Biocon Limited

One of the top women entrepreneurs in the country, Mazumdar-Shaw is the founder of India’s largest biopharmaceutical firm – Biocon. The company that was launched with a humble seed capital of Rs 10,000 ($145) in 1978, has today emerged as India’s largest biotech giant and Asia’s biggest producer of insulin. For her relentless efforts to develop, manufacture and supply life-saving biopharmaceuticals at price points that make them affordable and accessible to the masses, Mazumdar-Shaw has also been honoured with the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan award.

Sangita Reddy – Joint Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals

Being the executive director-operations at Apollo Hospitals and the head of Apollo Philanthropy, Reddy also heads initiatives like SAHI (Save a Child’s Heart Initiative), CURE and Billions Hearts Beating Foundation, all of which have had an enormous impact on the growth of health sector in India.

Dr Sunita Maheshwari – Co-founder, Teleradiology Solutions, RXDX Clinics and Telerad Tech

Sunita Maheshwari, a doctor-turned-medical entrepreneur, co-founded Teleradiology Solutions, a one of its kind innovative healthcare IT company that provides teleradiologic interpretations to hospitals globally and is now in remote areas of India as well. She has also helped set up RXDX Clinics; a multi-specialty chain of primary care clinics in Bengaluru and Telrad Tech; a software company that builds tele-health solutions and is active in the space of AI in radiology.

Vinita Gupta – CEO, Lupin Pharmaceuticals

Vinita Gupta played a pivotal role in Lupin’s globalisation through a series of acquisitions that established its footprint across geographic and therapeutic areas. Under her leadership, Lupin has emerged as the fourth largest pharmaceutical player in the US and third largest by global revenues.

Meena Ganesh – MD and CEO, Portea Medical

Meena Ganesh is counted amongst India’s foremost business leaders and most successful entrepreneurs. She founded Portea Medical, a home healthcare company in 2013 which is now catering to primary care, chronic care, and geriatric care as well. Today, Portea handles more than 100,000 home visits a month, across 21 cities, and has a workforce of about 4,500 people.

Dr Swati Piramal – Vice Chairperson, Piramal Enterprises Limited and Director, Piramal Foundation

Dr Swati Piramal is a leading scientist and industrialist who is actively involved in the public health sector. Owing to her strong background in medicine, she has been at the helm of transforming the trajectory of healthcare, education and public policy in India. As Director of the Piramal Foundation, Dr Swati takes several initiatives to promote and provide healthcare in rural sectors of the country.

Dr V Shanta – Oncologist and Chairperson, Adyar Cancer Institute

Magsaysay Award winner, Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan Dr V Shanta is a co-founder and chairperson of Chennai’s state-of-the-art Adyar Cancer Institute. In an era when specialised medical care has become commercialised, Dr Shanta strives to ensure that the Institute remains true to its ethos, ‘service to all’. At the age of 91, she is still devoted to change the scene for cancer treatment in India that serves as an inspiration to young doctors and physicians.

Neerja Birla – Founder and Chairperson, Mpower Foundation

Neerja Birla founded Mpower, a foundation that works to improve awareness and understanding of mental health conditions among masses. The foundation that offers diagnostics, treatment, and counselling for psychiatric conditions endeavours to remove taboos related to mental health conditions through means of education, spreading awareness, and conducting workshops at various levels such as schools, colleges, and corporates.

Anu Acharya – Founder, MapMyGenome

Anu Acharya started MapMyGenome in 2011 to make people aware of their genetic makeup and work towards preventing some 100 health conditions. The concept was born with emphasis to avert certain health ailments by analysing an individual’s genetic report and health history and combining it with genetic counselling.

Dr Nandita Shah – Homoeopath and Founder-Director SHARAN

Recipient of the prestigious Nari Shakti Award, renowned homoeopath and author of the book ‘Reversing Diabetes in 21 Days’ Dr Nandita Shah founded SHARAN (Sanctuary for Health and Reconnection to Animals and Nature) in 2005 with the vision of helping people connect to animals and nature. Through her health workshops, Shah has helped many people reverse diabetes and other lifestyle diseases by adopting a plant-based or vegan diet.