Praava Health

Praava Health operates a network of family health centers in Bangladesh, built on a “brick-and-click” model that merges in-person clinical services with digital health solutions. The company was founded by Sylvana Quader Sinha, a Bangladeshi-American lawyer and entrepreneur, who serves as the company's Founder and CEO. The inspiration for Praava Health came from a personal experience in 2011 when Sinha's mother faced a near-fatal outcome at a top private hospital in Bangladesh, highlighting the systemic quality gaps in the nation's healthcare system. With a background in international law, management consulting, and foreign policy, including work at the World Bank and as an advisor to Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign, Sinha moved to Bangladesh in 2015 to establish the company, which began full operations in 2018.

The company positions itself as a one-stop-shop for outpatient needs, addressing a market where 72% of health spending is out-of-pocket. Praava's business model integrates general physician consultations, specialist care, in-house diagnostics, imaging, and pharmacy services. A key feature is the emphasis on longer consultation times, averaging 15 minutes, a stark contrast to the national average of 48 seconds, fostering better doctor-patient relationships. Revenue is generated primarily on a fee-for-service basis, with an average visit costing around $25. The company also serves over 1,100 corporate clients and offers annual membership plans that provide unlimited access to certain services, marking an early foray into value-based care in the region.

Praava Health's physical presence is centered around a flagship facility in Banani, Dhaka, and includes numerous sample collection points across the city. Digitally, the company was a pioneer in the country, launching Bangladesh's first patient-facing mobile app in 2018, which allows patients to book appointments and access their electronic health records. The company rapidly scaled its digital offerings, including telemedicine and e-pharmacy services, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when it became the first private provider to partner with the government on its COVID hotline. While virtual consultations surged during the pandemic, they now constitute 10-15% of visits as in-clinic services resumed. The company’s diagnostic lab is one of only six internationally accredited laboratories in Bangladesh, performing a wide range of tests, including molecular cancer diagnostics. Praava Health has raised significant funding, including a $10.6 million Series A round in 2021, to fuel its expansion with plans to open more health centers in Dhaka and other major cities like Chittagong.

Keywords: Bangladesh healthcare, digital health, brick-and-click model, outpatient care, primary care, diagnostics, telemedicine, e-pharmacy, family health centers, value-based care, patient-centric, healthcare platform, medical diagnostics, Sylvana Quader Sinha, Dhaka, health-tech, emerging markets healthcare, corporate wellness, health membership, international accredited lab, patient mobile app