Dr. Omar Chughtai, a pathologist by training, embodies the spirit of constant evolution that has propelled Chughtai Lab to the forefront of medical diagnostics in Pakistan. In this exclusive interview with CWPakistan, Dr. Chughtai dives into his career journey, the innovative practices at Chughtai Lab, and his vision for the future of healthcare in Pakistan.
From Heir to Disruptor
“It was always my dream to work with him,” Dr. Chughtai says of his father, the founder of Chughtai Lab. However, his ambitions extended beyond simply maintaining the status quo.
The initial years were dedicated to ensuring consistent quality across the lab’s network. “It took some time to get the product… It was important to make sure that we had consistent quality across our network,” Dr. Chughtai explains. “So we made some changes in technology… and improved the people working in the lab.”
A Culture of Disagreement for Continuous Improvement
Dr. Chughtai emphasizes the importance of a culture that embraces constructive disagreement. “The rule of sitting at this table is that you have to be willing to be capable of disagreeing politely, but disagreeing because if you’re a yes person, then you’re not really adding any value to the conversation.”
Personalized Medicine: A Shift in Paradigm
“Personalized medicine is something where it’s where medicine is going… What we are doing is we are going to put technology in place… so that if you get your test done today, and your lab values come back as x, and if you get your test done three months from now and your lab value is 3x the technology puts a break on the result and says, what happened here?” Dr. Chughtai explains.
Telemedicine: Beyond Video Calls
“Telemedicine is also doing an x-ray in rehearsal and reporting it by a world class pathologist anywhere in the world. Telemedicine is also doing a CVC test one place and making sure that a pathologist in Lahore or Karachi whose world class agrees with the local pathologist diagnosis.” Dr. Chughtai highlights the broader applications of telemedicine beyond video consultations.
Unburdening Patients: The Unmet Need
“There has to be a third party in this whole picture, and that third party can be a health tech company, but somebody has to think about it and deploy solutions and learn and iterate and get there.” Dr. Chughtai identifies the lack of a centralized patient record system as a major pain point.
A Hybrid Approach to Healthcare Challenges
“I think that people working in our government funded hospitals get a very bad deal. They get written about as if they’re not doing anything… They’re overburdened.” Dr. Chughtai emphasizes the need for increased government investment in healthcare infrastructure to address access challenges.
Looking Ahead: Seizing Opportunities in Telemedicine
Dr. Chughtai envisions a future where telemedicine encompasses remote diagnostics, real-time data analysis, and improved access to lab reports.
“Telemedicine is also at a very basic level, making sure that you get access to your lab reports on your smart device whenever you need them.”
Embracing Disruption: The Key to Success
Dr. Chughtai emphasizes the importance of continuous disruption. He views Chughtai Lab’s greatest competitor as its past self, constantly striving to be a more agile and forward-looking company each year.
“Let go of what you thought was valuable or indispensable, because nothing is. The only thing that matters is that we must, every year, be a much better, much more agile, much more forward looking company than we were the last year.”
Beyond Lab Testing: A Holistic Healthcare Vision
“We’ve started radiology services. We’ve just started mammography services and similar things.” Dr. Chughtai embraces a future filled with unforeseen opportunities, guided by a clear vision of making patients’ lives easier and enabling better care.
