Read the Conversation
Meeting highlights:
- Comprehensive Presence in India: Ferring operates across API manufacturing, R&D, and commercial sectors, focusing on expanding access to maternal and reproductive health, gastroenterology, urology, and oncology products.
- Education and Healthcare Impact: Ferring is driving change by educating healthcare workers and doctors, aiming to benefit not just patients but also their families, impacting society as a whole.
- Leveraging Indian Talent and Innovation for Global Impact: Ferring’s R&D lab in Hyderabad is enhancing existing products and developing new solutions to address unmet medical needs in India and beyond.
- From Conception to Birth: Ferring addresses the growing infertility market in India and offers solutions for healthy childbirth. In collaboration with organizations like WHO and the Merck for Mothers Foundation, it is working to eradicate postpartum hemorrhage.
- Investment in India’s Healthcare: The importance of being present in India to drive sustainable healthcare change, tapping into the intersection of talent and technology.
- Health Beyond a Pill: Learning from India’s holistic approach to health, focusing on physical, mental, and spiritual health.
EF: Could you elaborate on your footprint in India and the role this country has in your global operation?
SK: Ferring has established a comprehensive footprint in India, with manufacturing, an API plant, an R&D unit, and commercial operations. India is a key growth market for Ferring, both in Asia and globally.
We are fortunate to have a talented team dedicated to expanding our reach and delivering products to all patients in need. Ferring prioritizes maternal health and reproductive medicine but is also a major player in gastroenterology, urology, and oncology.
Our journey in this rapidly growing market has been remarkable. Beyond commercial success, we are committed to making a difference in communities by working to help couples build families and reducing maternal mortality, a critical concern in many emerging and low- to middle-income countries.
Our efforts go beyond providing products. We actively drive societal change by educating healthcare workers and doctors, ensuring our work benefits patients and their families through our innovative solutions.
EF: How is Ferring leveraging India's talent pool and global capability centers to drive innovation?
SK: Today, it is truly powerful in combining advanced technology with skilled professionals. India has a unique advantage: a vast pool of highly educated, capable English-speaking individuals who deeply understand patient needs both in India and globally. This combination has made India a central hub for global innovation centers, and we are seeing many multinational companies, not just in healthcare but also in industries like automotive and electronics, setting up their locations in India. These centers rely on a highly qualified workforce, including engineers, pharmacists, and postgraduates, who contribute significantly to innovation.
At Ferring, we are also taking advantage of this talent pool. Our R&D center is part of our global life cycle management innovation. We are focused on innovating existing products and developing new concepts specifically tailored for markets like India and other emerging countries. The needs of developing nations may differ from those of developed markets, and our R&D center attempts to address these unique challenges.
EF: How do you address the diverse maternal health needs within India's fragmented healthcare ecosystem?
SK: Ferring is committed to making a positive impact by supporting families and healthcare providers from conception to birth.
We approach this in two key areas. The first is fertility treatments for women and men, as infertility affects both genders. With modern lifestyle pressures, natural conception is not always easy, especially typically seen in educated, working individuals. Assisted reproduction treatment has become increasingly necessary. Despite India’s population growth, many areas still struggle with infertility. Over the past decade, more people have sought medical intervention sooner. This has led to the development of fertility centers, not just in major cities but in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well. Ferring plays a critical role by providing products that help couples start families. Our focus extends beyond conception to maternal health throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery.
A major challenge in maternal health is postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), a leading cause of maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries. We believe no woman should die giving birth, and we are committed to addressing this issue. We work with gynaecologists, obstetricians, and medical societies to educate caregivers, midwives, nurses, and hospital staff on preventing and managing PPH. One of our key innovations is heat-stable carbetocin, a single-shot injection that prevents blood loss during childbirth. Developed in collaboration with WHO and "Merck for Mothers," it is manufactured in India and distributed across the country and other nations in Asia and Africa, ensuring affordable access.
EF: What message would you like to convey to investors about the importance of investing more in women's health and conducting healthcare research in India?
SK: The message to investors is clear: to drive sustainable change, you need a presence in India. India uniquely combines talent and technology, delivering innovative healthcare solutions that are both affordable and impactful.
Investing in women’s health in India goes beyond helping an individual—it safeguards entire families and, by extension, society. In a country where family values are deeply rooted, a mother’s health directly affects her children’s and family’s well-being. The loss of a mother can have devastating consequences, both emotionally and for the family’s future.
India is also an ideal location for healthcare research and smart innovation. The country's talent pool and cost-effective environment allow for the development of affordable solutions that can reach a broader population, including those who lack access to expensive treatments. This creates a moral imperative—to develop healthcare solutions not just for the privileged but for the underserved majority.
Ferring, for instance, is committed to making a difference in low- and middle-income countries. Our heat-stable carbetocin is not only an innovation but also a life-saving solution, providing accessible care to those who need it most.
EF: Given the increasing impact of technology, data, and artificial intelligence on healthcare, how do you envision the industry’s future?
SK: Technology, big data, and AI are advancing rapidly and becoming deeply integrated into our daily lives. This shift is prompting everyone in healthcare to adjust their approach. In fields like reproductive medicine and infertility treatment, AI-driven tools are already helping clinicians choose the most effective treatment paths, significantly boosting success rates while reducing the time and effort patients invest. Though still in the early stages, these technologies will continue to evolve, offering more personalized and efficient care.
As technology progresses, treatments will become more precise, reducing uncertainties and improving outcomes with greater accuracy. This could push success rates in treatments like fertility solutions closer to 100%, which would be life-changing for patients.
EF: India is often called the "pharmacy of the world." With India's healthcare sector undergoing rapid transformation, what would be a suitable new nickname to reflect its evolving role in the global healthcare landscape?
SK: The nickname "pharmacy" suggests a product-focused approach, but India offers much more—"care and happiness for the world." Beyond medication and innovation, India is deeply rooted in spirituality, addressing both physical and mental well-being.
While medications treat physical health, mental wellness often requires a spiritual touch. India has the potential to promote happiness for the mind, body, and soul, offering a holistic approach to health.
India’s rich diversity—across religions, cultures, and traditions—creates what I call "order in chaos ." Despite the apparent chaos, everything functions with an underlying order. This unique combination positions India to provide physical health solutions and peace of mind, contributing to overall well-being.
EF: Looking back on your four years at Ferring, what first attracted you to the company, and which achievements are you most proud of?
SK: I have now spent more than 25 years in my career and have worked with various multinational companies across geographies. I see at Ferring that everyone is connected to the company and its philosophy. It is a global organization with strong values, systems, and a supportive culture, which I find incredibly appealing. Being manageable in scale allows Ferring to be more agile. There is freedom to experiment and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Reflecting on the past four years, it has been a remarkable journey of learning. My sense of success comes from the impact I have made on both internal stakeholders and external ones, including our patients and customers. Those contributions are what truly matter to me.
In roles like this, you are not just doing a job; you are building a legacy. Contributing to society, supporting vulnerable populations, and strengthening communities are far more important than commercial success. Ferring allows me to be part of that mission, which keeps me motivated and energized.
