Interview taken by Vikram Kumar

Q1. Please introduce yourself and your professional journey to our readers.

I am a Pulmonologist and Chest Specialist with over 20 years of extensive experience in Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care. I am the Founder and Lead Consultant of BreathFree Chest Clinic, a specialised centre for respiratory health in Bhubaneswar. I completed my training in Pulmonology and Internal Medicine from SCB Medical College, Cuttack in 2005. Alongside my clinical practice, I am associated with Hi-Tech Medical College and Hospital for medical education and research, and I handle emergency and critically ill pulmonary cases at Sunshine Hospital.

Q2. When did you begin your entrepreneurial journey and how did BreathFree Chest Clinic evolve?

My primary business milestone was established in 2016 at Rourkela. After building a successful practice there, I strategically expanded to Bhubaneswar, first at Tankapani Road and later at Bomikhal. Till date, we have treated over 7,000 satisfied patients with a high success rate in managing chronic conditions such as COPD and asthma.

Q3. What motivated you to start your own specialised respiratory care clinic?

The motivation came from a blend of professional necessity and a strong patient-first philosophy. I felt a significant gap in personalized respiratory care, accessibility, and specialized diagnostics. My decision to build an independent brand was driven by the desire to focus on patient education, preventive care, and advanced diagnostic services while ensuring compassionate and individualized treatment.

Q4. What were the major challenges you faced in building your practice?

One of the biggest challenges was bridging the diagnostic infrastructure gap, as specialized pulmonary equipment required heavy capital investment. Social stigma and lack of awareness around lung diseases were also major concerns. Maintaining a personalized touch while scaling operations across two cities—Rourkela and Bhubaneswar— was another important challenge.

Q5. How did you overcome these challenges and build a successful model?

Through calculated infrastructure investments, continuous modernization, tackling stigma through awareness initiatives, and diversifying professional roles. Most importantly, I maintained a strong patient-centric approach and ensured consistent quality of care across all locations.

Q6. What advice would you give to young doctors and healthcare entrepreneurs?

I would advise them to prioritize patient literacy over only treatment, integrate diagnostics early, and leverage media for public education. Emotional intelligence is a crucial business skill, and maintaining consistency across locations and services is essential for building trust and long-term success.

Q7. What are your future plans for BreathFree Chest Clinic?

Our future plans include expansion of services and products, strengthening digital health and public education programs, infrastructure modernization, and contributing more actively to institutional and academic leadership in respiratory medicine. Special Section: BreathFree Chest Tips for a Healthy Life.

Q8. Could you share some “BreathFree Chest Tips” for maintaining healthy lungs and a better lifestyle? 

Certainly. At BreathFree Chest Clinic, we strongly believe i in preventive care and patient awareness. Some essential tips for a healthy respiratory life include:

• Quit smoking and avoid passive smoking
• Practice regular breathing exercises and yoga
• Maintain good indoor air quality and ventilation
• Exercise regularly, even simple brisk walking
• Stay vaccinated against respiratory infections
• Manage allergies and asthma proactively
• Eat a balanced, antioxidant-rich diet
• Seek early medical advice for persistent respiratory symptoms

Q9. What remains the core philosophy of your practice?

Our core philosophy is a strong commitment to a patient first approach, integrating accessibility and affordability with advanced diagnostics and compassionate care. We believe healthcare should be both technologically advanced and deeply humane.