Saarthak Bakshi, CEO of RISAA IVF, speaks of his journey in healthcare entrepreneurship

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE

An eminent health entrepreneur and chief executive officer of RISAA IVF-a leading infertility clinic- Dr Saarthak Bakshi said that like every journey starting with a small idea, it was same for him.  “The idea came when I saw how infertility affects couples. Infertility is a condition which affects couples physically, emotionally and also socially. I saw their pain, their struggles and the way the society often judged them. That is when I decided to do something about it to make them feel understood, supported and truly cared for. I met a myriad of challenges but I carried on, taking them in my stride, for the fulfillment of my mission of helping every couple which wanted babies,” he said.

Asked to speak more about his mission, he said that his journey in healthcare had started when he was working at Adiva. “It is a hospital that is focused on women’s health. During that time, I met many couples who were unable to have children. 

I saw how much they were hurting physically and emotionally. They often stayed quiet about their pain and many of them felt judged by others around them. That’s when I realised that infertility is not just a medical problem but also a social and emotional one. I knew I had to do something and I wanted to create a place where couples could feel safe and supported. That moment changed my life and gave me a mission to bring happiness to couples who dream of having a child. And that is how my journey truly began,” he said.

Dwelling on how RISAA IVF started, he said that with his mother, Dr Rita Bakshi, a senior IVF specialist, he had established it in New Delhi. “

 RISAA IVF started as a single clinic but has now grown into a network of over 14 centers across India,  Bangladesh and Nepal. We have helped more than 50,000 patients and have helped over 25,000 successful IVF procedures.

We offer modern medical technology with a caring approach to every patient. We also started the International Institute of Reproduction & Fertility Training (IIRFT) to train doctors and medical staff in fertility ttreatments. Additionally, we launched the Upkaar Welfare Trustto support every woman by offering them vocational training and better opportunities,” Dr Bkashi said.

While spelling out the challenges he had faced, the lessons he had learnt and the impact his clinic had made, he said that when he had embarked  on the idea, infertility was still a sensitive topic in  the society with many couples shying away from the subject. “Aside from ridding them of their stigma-related shyness, I had to make sure that treatments were affordable and that our team was skilled and caring. IVF is expensive, so we introduced EMI options, interest-free loans and even free treatment for underprivileged couples. Further, we initiated awareness campaign-educating people about fertility treatment and giving the childless couples hope. Every challenge taught me something that made me stronger in my mission to help people,” he observed.

Asked to explain the lessons he had on the way, the health entrepreneur said that empathy was the key factor. “Understanding and sharing the feelings of our patients has been important for us. It was not just about medical treatment but about emotional support. Then came teamwork. We needed to build a dedicated and compassionate team.

As  the field of fertility treatment is growing, it is important to stay updated with the latest advancements to provide the best treatment,” he stated.

 While speaking of his vision for the future, he said that he longed to  make fertility care easy to access and even more affordable for every couple, no matter where they live.

“I want to bring RISAA IVF to more cities and towns so that couples do not have to travel far to get help. I plan to keep using the latest tools and medical techniques to improve the chances of success. Further,I want to guide and support young doctors through our training programmes so they can offer the same quality everywhere. Moreover, I will continue to provide easy EMI plans,

low-cost options and financial support to help more people to start their families.  Besides, awareness campaign should continue to be conducted. There is still fear inherent in people about fertility treatment. It must be removed,” he said.  

Finally, he said this journey had shown him that even a small idea could make a big difference if one had commitment.