With over 15 years of entrepreneurial experience in the healthcare sector, Raj Sharma is a force in helping individuals, teams, and organizations reach their professional and business aspirations. As the Founder & Business Director of The Priority Group, he excels in delivering top-tier management consulting, training, and coaching services across various sectors, including hospitals, audiology, hospitality, strategic leadership, and strategic negotiations.
Harnessing his deep expertise in audiology and speech sciences, Raj spearheads business development and administration for Priority Health Pvt. Ltd. and Priority Hearing Care Pvt. Ltd., premier providers of hearing aids, cochlear implants, and other hearing solutions both in India and internationally. He has not only established and managed multiple clinics but also forged significant partnerships with renowned hospitals and manufacturers, propelling the company’s global footprint.
Raj holds a Bachelor of Audiology and Speech Language Pathology (BASLP) from AIIMS, a Diploma in Vestibular Science from Maastricht University, and an Executive MBA from Cornell University. With this extensive educational background, Raj brings a wealth of professional experience to the board, seamlessly integrating his expertise into our strategic vision.
Raj’s innovative pilot projects continually elevate the quality and accessibility of hearing care. His unwavering commitment to healthcare excellence earned him the Healthcare Excellence Award in 2015. In 2023, he further cemented his influence in the field by authoring a book for hearing aid buyers, offering invaluable knowledge and insights.
In an exclusive dialogue with The Interview World, Raj Sharma highlights how The Priority Group is delivering audiology and speech services to hospitals in Delhi NCR, empowering individuals with hearing disabilities to access top-notch care. Below are the key takeaways from his discussion.
Q: What progress has been made in developing indigenous assistive technology products in India, and how are these innovations benefiting persons with disabilities?
A: In the last two decades, particularly the last decade, numerous startups have emerged, likely driven by current government efforts and policies. This momentum is also benefiting professionals like us, enabling us to make a meaningful impact on society beyond our traditional roles.
We strive to create a broader societal impact by developing innovative solutions for professionals and people with disabilities. Regarding the effectiveness of these efforts, it’s clear that we cannot immediately match the advancements of Western nations, who have had a head start of nearly a century. Comparing our progress to the automobile industry, we are beginning to catch up, although we still have a way to go to meet end-user expectations fully.
The existing advanced technologies in the market present significant competition. As a result, there is a noticeable gap that we need to bridge to become truly competitive. Achieving this competitiveness will take more time, with 2030 being our target year for substantial progress. This aligns with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, where we aim to achieve near-complete competitiveness by then, and realistically, we can expect to reach 80% to 100% by 2030 or 2035.
Many research projects, including ours, are still in development. Bringing these innovations to market typically takes about 4 to 5 years, indicating a promising future for our industry.
Q: Can you provide an overview of the key products and services your company offers?
A: Our company, The Priority Hearings, operates as a premier service provider in audiology and speech services across Delhi NCR’s leading hospitals. Currently, we serve approximately 35 hospitals, leveraging over 20 years of collective experience. During this time, our team of 52 audiologists has cared for approximately 2 million patients.
Building on this extensive expertise, we are now translating our experience into broader impact by launching our own line of devices and introducing Sunoji, a specialized practice management system. Sunoji aims to enhance professional performance by promoting accountability and delivering measurable outcomes, ensuring that practitioners not only hold degrees but also deliver tangible results.
To foster early adoption and ensure foundational support, we are offering Sunoji free of charge to children entering the profession. Our goal is to eliminate the waiting period typically associated with gaining practical experience over 5-10 years.
Although our initial launch provided a brief overview, we are committed to expanding Sunoji’s capabilities further soon.
Q: What core technologies and innovations power your platform?
A: Our platform operates independently of specific technologies; it focuses solely on workspace efficiency. We emphasize the superiority of our scientific approach. Our platform operates autonomously, with no need for interlinking. Users simply log in using any email ID, and all functionalities are instantly accessible.
Whether managing one clinic or multiple clinics, handling 10 or 20 patients daily is effortless, without reliance on external entities—neither companies nor government sources are required.
Initially, many face hurdles such as seeking support or funding, which can be daunting. However, we’ve overcome these challenges and gained valuable insights. Now, we’re poised to share our knowledge and empower others.
Q: Can you explain in detail what your platform does and how it benefits users?
A: We enable practitioners to efficiently manage patient care through our patient management system, Sunoji. Sunoji, a trademark of our platform, signifies our commitment. Aligned with the Indian Speech and Hearing Association, which include professionals registered with the Rehabilitation Council of India, we aim to support and enhance their development. Our priority is to empower audiology professionals so that our end-users, the disabled population, receive the best possible care without any gaps. By focusing on improving ourselves first, we ensure we deliver excellence in everything we do.
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