<dhhead>CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE </dhhead>
Advancing Healthcare with Purpose
AT RAINBOW, CLINICAL EXCELLENCE IS NOT JUST A BENCHMARK IT IS THE VERY
FOUNDATION OF OUR IDENTITY. OUR STEADFAST COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, INNOVATION, AND
PATIENT-CENTRIC CARE, CONTINUES TO DRIVE EXCEPTIONAL OUTCOMES ACROSS THE FULL SPECTRUM OF
PEDIATRIC AND PERINATAL SERVICES.
DEAR SHAREHOLDERS,
It is my privilege to present the Integrated Annual Report of
Rainbow Childrens Medicare Limited for the financial year
2024-25. This year holds special significance as we celebrated our 25th anniversary. A
silver jubilee is not just a milestone; it is a moment to reflect on the journey that
brought us here, one built on compassion, trust, and an unwavering commitment to
excellence in pediatric and perinatal care.
This milestone reflects the values we hold dear, the culture weve
nurtured, and the resilience that has carried us through the challenges and triumphs
alike. To commemorate this occasion, we came together to celebrate the people and the
purpose that define us. It was a moment of pride to honor a large number of our team
members for their invaluable contributions over the years.
As we look ahead, we do so with deep gratitude, renewed conviction, and
a clear sense of purpose. The next phase of our journey holds immense promise, and we
remain committed to growing with integrity, staying rooted in our mission, and continuing
to deliver care that truly makes a difference.
CLINICAL EXCELLENCE
At Rainbow, clinical excellence is not just a benchmark - it is the
very foundation of our identity.
Our steadfast commitment to quality, innovation, and patient-centric
care continues to drive exceptional outcomes across the full spectrum of pediatric and
perinatal services. I would like to highlight a few clinical achievements that are
particularly close to my heart. These cases are a reflection of the depth of expertise
within our clinical teams and reaffirm our ongoing commitment to delivering the highest
standards of tertiary and quaternary care.
In one case, a four-year-old with severe dengue, brain swelling, and
dangerously high inflammation markers was admitted. The treatment involved mechanical
ventilation, bronchoscopy, and three cycles of plasmapheresis. With coordinated care
across multiple specialties, the child made a steady recovery and was discharged healthy
after two weeks. In another complex case, an eight-year-old child presented with neck
swelling, sepsis, and multi-organ dysfunction. Emergency renal support, surgical
debridement, ventilation, and rehabilitation were required. The combined efforts of our
intensive care and surgical teams led to a full recovery, and the child was discharged in
three weeks.
At BirthRight, a 32-year-old first-time mother with a complex medical
history · including nephrotic syndrome, chronic hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and
ischemic heart disease · successfully delivered under our care. A multidisciplinary
team worked in close coordination to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery, reflecting our
strength in high-risk maternal care.
This year, we further strengthened our credentials, with fertility
services at Rainbow Childrens Hospital Kondapur receiving re-accreditation from JCI
and Rainbow Childrens Hospital in Visakhapatnam receiving NABH accreditation. With
these, we continue to remain the only pediatric hospital chain in India with three
hospitals accredited by the Joint
Commission International (JCI) and 13 NABH-accredited hospitals across
the network.
FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
FY 2024-25 was a year of strong growth, demonstrating the resilience of
our business. We achieved an operating revenue of 15,158.7 million, marking a 16.9%
year-on-year growth, driven by consistent performance in our mature hospitals and
increasing contributions from newer ones (under five years old).
Our hub-and-spoke model grew stronger, with new hospitals seamlessly
integrating into the Rainbow network. While upholding high clinical standards and
excellent patient care, we efficiently managed operational expenses through disciplined
cost control.
Despite the additional costs of expanding new hospitals, we maintained
a healthy EBITDA margin of 32.3%, highlighting our scalability and efficiency. Our newer
hospitals are progressing as expected, while mature hospitals continue
THIS YE WE FURTHER AR, STRENGTHENED OUR CREDENTIALS, WITH FERTILITY
SERVICES AT RAINBOW CHILDRENS HOSPITAL KONDAPUR RECEIVING RE-ACCREDITATION FROM JCI
AND RAINBOW CHILDRENS HOSPITAL IN VIS AKHAPATNAM RECEIVING NABH ACCREDITATION.
to achieve steady organic growth.
Overall occupancy for the year stood at 50.5%, with mature hospitals at
57.8% and new hospitals at 36.5%.
EXPANDING OUR REACH
Rainbow currently operates 1,935 beds across 19 hospitals in six Indian
cities, with a strategic focus on geographic expansion, particularly in Southern India and
the National
Capital Region (NCR). Over the next three years, we plan to enhance our
capacity by adding ~1,000 beds, strengthening our presence in key markets.
In Bengaluru, we are expanding our hub-and-spoke footprint with a
90-bed brownfield spoke hospital in Electronic City and a 60-bed
hospital in Hennur, respectively. Both hospitals are anticipated to commence operations by
Q2 FY 2026.
We are also entering new regional hubs with high growth potential.
A 100-bed hospital in Rajahmundry is on track to be operational by the
first quarter of FY 2026, while a 130-bed hospital in Coimbatore is expected to be
operational by the end of FY 2027.
In the NCR, our expansion plans comprise a 300-bed flagship
super-specialty hospital at
Sector 44 and a 100-bed spoke hospital at Sector 56 in Gurugram.
With regulatory approvals already secured, both hospitals are scheduled
to commence operations by calendar year 2027, significantly strengthening our footprint in
North India.
This strategic expansion aligns with our vision of reinforcing our
integrated hub-and-spoke model, improving patient accessibility, and driving excellence in
clinical outcomes across our expanding network. At the same time, the Company is actively
exploring strategic acquisition opportunities, aiming to collaborate with existing
promoters to expand into newer regions.
Our focus is particularly on the North
East, where there is a significant need for enhanced healthcare
infrastructure and services.
BROADENING OUR SERVICES
I would like to take this opportunity to highlight a few key
initiatives undertaken over the past year to expand our service offerings:
a. Fertility Care
Recognizing the rising demand, we have expanded our IVF services and
now offer advanced reproductive care across 12 facilities, further reaffirming our
commitment to accessible, high-quality fertility treatment.
Our IVF services continue to gain strong momentum, driven by clinical
excellence, brand trust, and exceptional patient care. As a strategic growth driver, this
segment remains well-positioned for continued expansion, and we are confident in our
ability to further strengthen our leadership in the fertility space.
OUR COMMITMENT TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS DRIVING MEANINGFUL
ADVANCEMENTS IN BOTH PATIENT CARE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY. BY EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY
ACROSS THE SYSTEM, WE ARE CREATING SMARTER, MORE CONNECTED HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCES.
b. Child Development
At Rainbow, we continuously evolve to address the emerging healthcare
needs of children and their families, not only through clinical excellence but also by
fostering holistic well-being. Cognizant of the increasing prevalence of childhood
developmental and behavioral challenges, we have established an ~8,000-square-feet,
state-of-the-art Child Development Center at our Banjara Hills campus in Hyderabad. This
pioneering facility sets a new benchmark in pediatric developmental healthcare in India,
integrating multidisciplinary specialists under one roof to provide comprehensive
therapies in a supportive environment.
c. Butterfly Essentials
Aligned with our vision of the patient experience beyond clinical care,
we launched Butterfly Essentials · a specialized initiative offering a carefully
curated range of baby and womens care products. Now operational across
17 hospitals, Butterfly Essentials provides families with convenient
access to safe, natural, and hospital-approved essentials, further enriching the overall
care experience.
d. Transplant Services
Over the last few years, we built a strong foundation for quaternary
care at our Banjara Hills facility, consistently delivering excellent clinical outcomes.
Building on this success, we are now expanding advanced services in Bengaluru and Chennai.
Our kidney and bone marrow transplant programs are already underway,
and we recently performed our first successful liver transplant in Chennai. With
regulatory approvals received, we look forward to formally launching our liver transplant
program at Bengaluru soon, further strengthening our quaternary care offerings.
DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES
Our commitment to digital transformation is driving meaningful
advancements in both patient care and operational efficiency. By embracing technology
across the system, we are creating smarter, more connected healthcare experiences.
Our advanced hospital information system ensures real-time data access
across departments, supporting timely and well-informed decisions for both caregivers and
administrators. The deployment of our Patient App and Portal has enhanced accessibility,
allowing patients to easily connect with doctors and access their health records ·
broadening our digital outreach. Furthermore, we have fortified our cybersecurity
framework, implementing robust data privacy measures to ensure that enhancing patient
information remains secure and trustworthy.
Looking ahead, our focus is on mapping the patient journey across all
initiatives, enhancing electronic medical record (EMR) capabilities for doctors, and
integrating intelligent systems for effective decision-making.
INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND GLOBAL OUTREACH
Like many in the Indian healthcare sector, our international business
faced challenges this year due to geopolitical developments and regulatory constraints in
key regions, including Bangladesh, Oman, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan, resulting in a
temporary decline in patient inflows. In response, we have intensified engagement with
health authorities and local stakeholders to ensure smoother access to care. At the same
time, we are expanding our focus to high-potential markets such as the Philippines,
Mauritius, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, where we see significant opportunities for growth.
Recognizing the increasing demand for advanced pediatric and maternal
healthcare in emerging markets, we are strengthening collaborations with medical
professionals and hospitals across Africa and neighboring countries. These efforts aim to
reinforce Rainbows position as a trusted healthcare destination while building a
more resilient and diversified international patient base.
PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT
Our people are the cornerstone of Rainbows success. Cultivating a
culture of learning, growth, and well-being is a priority across all levels of the
organization. We continue to invest in talent development, ensuring a steady pipeline of
qualified doctors, nurses, and paramedics to support our expanding network while
maintaining our standards of clinical excellence.
Rainbow takes pride in running one of Indias largest pediatric
training programs, offering 230+ DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats across our
network. Our comprehensive training ecosystem also includes super-specialty programs,
equipping healthcare professionals to manage complex, high-acuity pediatric and maternal
cases. In addition to in-house training, we are exploring the establishment of dedicated
training centers for paramedical and nursing staff to address a critical need in
Indias healthcare landscape.
We are proud to have been conferred two prestigious recognitions by The
Economic Times: Best Pediatric Hospital and Best Organization for Women.
As we continue to grow, we remain dedicated to building a future-ready
workforce that embodies our core values and supports our mission. Additionally, we are
honored to have received the Great Place to Work certification for the fifth
time in 2025, highlighting our continuous efforts to cultivate a work environment that
prioritizes the well-being and growth of our team members.
SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL IMPACT
At Rainbow, we take our role in contributing to society beyond core
healthcare delivery seriously. Sustainability and social responsibility are not just
ideals; they are integral to the way we operate. We continue to collaborate with local
communities and government programs to enhance access to maternal and child healthcare,
particularly for underserved populations.
In our commitment to environmental responsibility, we have adopted
green hospital practices across our network, focusing on energy-efficient infrastructure,
waste reduction, and water conservation to minimize our ecological footprint.
Additionally, through health camps, parental education programs, and digital outreach, we
actively promote awareness around pediatric and maternal health, ensuring families are
empowered with the knowledge they need to make informed health decisions.
In line with our commitment to responsible governance and transparent
ESG disclosures, we are continuously enhancing our sustainability data management
practices. By focusing on standardizing environmental data collection and optimizing the
use of our information systems, we aim to improve both operational efficiency and
environmental stewardship.
GROWTH OUTLOOK
Looking ahead, we remain focused on strengthening our leadership in
pediatric and perinatal healthcare through a balanced and sustainable growth strategy.
Expansion will be driven by scaling mature hospitals through the addition of new
specialties and clinical talent, accelerating the performance of newer hospitals, and
commissioning three new facilities in FY 2025-26, which will increase capacity by ~13%
(250 beds).
The Southern region remains our stronghold, with strong brand
recognition and sustained demand driving growth. We will continue to expand our
hub-and-spoke network, enhance accessibility, and reinforce our market leadership in key
cities.
Our planned entry into Gurugram marks a pivotal step in our North India
expansion strategy. As we establish our presence in the NCR, we will assess further
opportunities in micro-markets, guided by patient needs and regional healthcare dynamics.
Simultaneously, we are actively exploring strategic acquisitions in the
Western and North eastern regions, targeting institutions that align with our clinical
standards, operating philosophy, and long-term vision. Our approach emphasizes
comprehensive regional coverage, ensuring sustained impact rather than isolated
expansions.
Our strong financial position provides the foundation to execute these
growth plans effectively. With a robust balance sheet, we are well-positioned to fund our
expansion through internal accruals, minimizing reliance on external debt and further
strengthening our financial resilience.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my fellow
Board members for their valuable guidance, and to our doctors, employees, and leadership
team for their dedication and hard work. I also extend heartfelt thanks to our
shareholders for their continued trust and support.
Importantly, I am deeply thankful to the young parents, pediatricians,
and the wider community who place their trust in us every day. Their continued faith
inspires us to build a more inclusive, community-driven model of healthcare that truly
responds to the needs of children and families.
Warm regards, |
Dr. Ramesh Kancharla |
Chairman and Managing Director |