Kanchan Naikawadi: The Woman Entrepreneur Who Pioneered Preventive Healthcare in India

Rajkumari Sharma Tankha

Despite coming from a family with no business background, Pune-based entrepreneur Kanchan Naikawadi has carved a remarkable niche for herself in the healthcare industry. As the Founder and Director of Indus Health Plus, she is widely recognised as a pioneer of preventive healthcare services in India.

Naikawadi established Indus Health Plus in 2000, overcoming numerous challenges and scepticism to build one of India’s leading preventive healthcare companies. Her entrepreneurial journey, she says, was greatly influenced by her uncle, Sadanand Bapat, who served as her mentor and guide.

A Leader in Preventive Healthcare

Over the years, Kanchan Naikawadi has emerged as a prominent voice advocating the importance of preventive health check-ups and early disease detection. Through her company, she has worked extensively to create awareness about how regular health screenings can prevent severe health complications and reduce the risks associated with lifestyle diseases.

Her contributions to the healthcare sector have been recognised with several national and international awards. Some of her notable recognitions include:

• Women Entrepreneur of the Year in Healthcare by CMO Asia

• Gold Stevie Women in Business Award (2015) in New York for Female Entrepreneur of the Year

• Women Leadership and Innovation Award (2013) at the International Women Leadership Forum in Mumbai

• Asia’s Leading Women in Healthcare Award (2013) in Singapore

• International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge (IWEC) Award (2012) in Barcelona

• Leading Woman in Healthcare Award (2011) in Mumbai

These accolades underline her impact in promoting preventive healthcare awareness across India.

A Personal Tragedy That Inspired a Mission

Interestingly, Kanchan Naikawadi did not initially plan to enter the preventive healthcare sector. The inspiration behind her venture was deeply personal.

Her father, who worked with the Bombay Municipal Corporation, passed away after his cancer was detected too late. The experience left a lasting impact on her.

“We could have saved him had the cancer been detected in time,” she recalls. “After the diagnosis, we did everything possible, but I realised that neither technology nor money can protect us from lifestyle diseases like cancer, heart attack and diabetes if they are detected too late.”

This realisation prompted her to create awareness about the importance of early detection and regular preventive health check-ups.

“Early detection is the key to lasting health and happiness,” she says.

Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs

Starting a business in healthcare was not easy. Naikawadi faced several obstacles, many of them linked to gender bias.

“Though the changing role of women in business is gradually being acknowledged, the journey is still full of challenges,” she explains.

According to her, women entrepreneurs often struggle to gain credibility with financial institutions.

“Banks and financial organisations sometimes do not consider women entrepreneurs as serious applicants when they seek funding for their projects,” she says.

Building an Integrated Preventive Healthcare Model

Another major challenge was building a system that could integrate hospitals, diagnostic centres and pathology laboratories into a single model that delivers affordable preventive health check-ups to the public.

At the time, the concept of preventive healthcare itself was relatively new in India. Convincing people to undergo health check-ups even when they felt healthy was a difficult task.

Resources were limited and spreading awareness about non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer was an uphill battle.

Starting from Home

Believing that change begins at home, Naikawadi began by spreading awareness within her own circle.

“We started by convincing our extended family and friends and arranged interactive sessions with doctors,” she says.

However, skepticism remained one of the biggest challenges.

“When we talk about health, most people think that if they look healthy, they must be healthy. Nothing could be further from the truth,” she adds.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs

Today, Kanchan Naikawadi is keen to pass on her entrepreneurial mindset to the next generation—including her younger daughter.

“I often play card games and business strategy games with her to help develop business thinking,” she says.

But her advice is not limited to her daughter alone. She believes any woman can become a successful entrepreneur if she is passionate about her work.

“Family responsibilities are important, but passion for your own venture must also remain strong,” she says.

Her mantra for aspiring entrepreneurs is simple:

• Don’t be afraid of taking risks

• Accept failures with a smile

• Learn from mistakes

• Celebrate successes but stay grounded

“Accepting downswings and celebrating upswings should be the mantra,” she says.

Social Barriers Still Exist

While opportunities for women have increased, Naikawadi believes societal expectations still pose barriers for many aspiring female entrepreneurs.

“In our society, girls are often raised in ways that limit their aspirations,” she says.

Balancing family responsibilities with business ambitions can create feelings of guilt and stress for many women entrepreneurs.

“Devoting time and energy to growing a business is often seen as neglecting family duties, which makes it harder for women to pursue entrepreneurial ventures,” she explains.

A Businesswoman with Diverse Interests

Beyond her professional life, Kanchan Naikawadi enjoys travelling, listening to music and occasionally playing the piano.

Interestingly, she also credits an unusual activity with improving her business thinking—playing the strategy-based video game Bakery.

“It is a great stress-buster and teaches many nuances of running a business,” she says.

Because her day is packed with meetings and discussions, she rarely finds time for structured strategic thinking.

“Playing this game has helped improve my decision-making, planning and patience,” she says.

According to her, the game has subtly influenced the way she approaches business challenges.