Latest news with #AnuragPrasad
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Lowe Lintas appoints Anurag Prasad as head Gurgaon office
Lowe Lintas has announced the appointment of Anurag Prasad , chief strategy officer, as also the new head of the agency's Gurgaon office . Anurag takes over from Naveen Gaur , who will be moving on to pursue new entrepreneurial opportunities after being there with the agency for 15 years. Anurag Prasad has been with Lowe Lintas for over twenty years and has accumulated a wealth of knowledge over his two-and-a-half-decade career span, ensuring an output befitting the agency's reputation and a work ethic that is hard to replicate. As one of the best brand strategists in the industry, he believes in small details defining the bigger picture and not losing sight of either. Anurag describes himself as roll-up-your-sleeves-and-dive-straight-in planner. He has been the spearheading strategy for several marquee businesses, notably Maruti Suzuki, Google, Havells among others, for well over a decade. Across these partnerships, his ability to integrate deep consumer insights with brand imperatives has made a lasting impact on the business outcomes. Anurag is an ardent practitioner of marketing effectiveness and a firm believer that communication and brand must ultimately drive business growth. His views and work in brand-building effectiveness have won numerous awards for the agency and placed him on the Effie Awards jury, among other accolades. He is also a strong evangelist of the agency's proprietary cultural study – State of States – and has championed its integration into brand strategies to ensure that they succeed in the many Indias that make up this complex market. Speaking on the appointment, Subramanyeswar S (Subbu), Group CEO – India and CSO – APAC, MullenLowe Global , said, 'We are absolutely thrilled to appoint Anurag Prasad as the head of our Lowe Lintas – North operations. It is a role that is as critical as it is deserving. Anurag's strategic brilliance has already been a guiding light for our agency, and now, with this expanded mandate, we're placing one of our most trusted and forward-thinking leaders at the helm of an operation that is vital to our ambitions." "His dual lens – both operationally rigorous and strategically inspired, will ensure that we not only meet the demands of today but also shape the opportunities of tomorrow for our clients, brands, and us. This is a moment of real momentum, and I can think of no one better than Anurag to lead it," he added. Subramanyeswar further added, "As we mark this transition, I want to express our deepest gratitude to Naveen Gaur, who has led Lowe Lintas – North with integrity, dedication, and heart for the past 15 years. He has left a meaningful and lasting imprint on all of us who had the pleasure of working alongside him. We wish him only the very best in whatever comes next.' Commenting on his new role, Anurag Prasad shared, 'I walked into Lowe Lintas, 21 yrs ago and immediately had the privilege to be nurtured by its numerous greats and inspired every day by its infinite talent. And therefore, this is an enormous privilege. Lintas has often ushered the future, for its brands and even the industry. And Lowe Lintas of today is transforming into what agencies of tomorrow should be. To participate and contribute to this evolution is possibly going to be my most exciting time at Lowe Lintas.' This move signals Lowe Lintas' continued commitment to nurturing leadership from within and building a future-ready organisation that stays ahead of the curve.
The Wire
01-07-2025
- Health
- The Wire
Visit Health & India InsurTech Association Release Landmark Report on 'The Changing Landscape of OPD Insurance in India
New Delhi [India], July 1 : As healthcare costs pose a significant economic challenge for many Indians, Visit Health, India's leading digital healthcare and OPD insurance platform, is taking bold steps to reshape the country's healthcare and insurance ecosystem. In collaboration with the India InsurTech Association (IIA), a key industry body driving innovation and policy advocacy in insurance technology, Visit Health has released a ground breaking report titled 'The Changing Landscape of OPD Insurance in India.' The report highlights the urgent need to expand outpatient department (OPD) insurance to address soaring medical inflation, rising incidences of day-to-day and chronic illnesses, and unsustainable out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. With medical inflation in India at 14% and nearly 40% of healthcare costs borne directly by households, the report positions OPD insurance as a critical component of healthcare, not merely a supplemental cover, for Indian citizens. 'India cannot achieve true universal health coverage without mainstreaming OPD insurance. Everyday medical expenses—such as consultations, diagnostics, and medications—are pushing millions into financial distress,' said Anurag Prasad, Co-founder of Visit Health, at the report's launch event in New Delhi. Addressing the OPD Insurance Gap The report reveals a stark contrast: India's OPD market is valued at $37.7 billion, yet insurance coverage in this segment remains below 0.1%, leaving most Indians financially vulnerable. Key findings include: • 61% of corporate employees utilize OPD benefits when offered, indicating strong latent demand. • Medications account for 60.3% of OPD costs. • Hypertension affects 1 in 4 Indians, and cardiovascular diseases cause 1 in 4 deaths, yet routine treatment costs are typically uninsured. • India's total insurance penetration is only 4% of GDP, significantly trailing countries like Taiwan (11.4%) and South Africa (11.3%). Technology and Reform Driving the Future The report outlines a promising future for OPD insurance, driven by: • The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India's (IRDAI) "Insurance for All" vision by 2047. • The upcoming National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX), which could reduce claim processing costs from ₹650 to ₹50. • The rise of telemedicine (now accounting for 1 in every 35 consultations) and AI-driven digital fraud mitigation, projected to reduce losses by up to 60%. A Call to Action for Stakeholders The report urges key stakeholders to act: • Insurers: Develop customer-centric, comprehensive plans covering general physician consultations, pregnancy, mental health, and postnatal care. • Employers: Integrate OPD insurance into wellness programs to reduce productivity losses, with 14% of working days lost due to chronic illnesses. • Policymakers: Create frameworks to expand OPD coverage, prevent fraud, and foster innovation. Towards Equitable Healthcare Access Poor employee health not only affects absenteeism but also reduces productivity, even when employees are present. Timely healthcare interventions, made possible by reducing financial barriers, are essential for healthier lives. With India's working-age population increasingly seeking proactive health solutions, demand for OPD services has surged from 5% in FY21 to 20% in FY24, signaling a significant shift in public health priorities. The report also notes that Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are emerging as key growth areas, particularly with increased access to digital healthcare. The convergence of affordable coverage, broader hospital networks, and customizable health plans is expected to drive insurance inclusion in underserved regions. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PNN and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
