Why Venture Studio 2070 Health Incubated Nivaan?

Sushma, a 52-year-old woman, has been battling chronic lower back pain for the past five years. During this time, she consulted eight different doctors, including general practitioners, orthopaedic and spine surgeons, physiotherapists, acupuncturists, and other alternative therapy practitioners. While some of the recommended therapies provided temporary relief, the pain would always return, leaving her unable to live a normal life. Sushma has spent a few lac rupees and hundreds of hours in her search for the right treatment, but her quest continues. The back pain has greatly affected her life: she used to enjoy traveling, but it has become difficult, and she struggles to sit for long hours at work without exacerbating her condition.

Problem Statement

Sushma’s story is not unique, as approximately 20% of the Indian population suffers from chronic pain. Moreover, an alarming statistic reveals that around 27 million new patients are added to this number each year, turning it into a hidden unsolved health crisis in India.

Musculoskeletal (MSK) pain is a complex issue whose cause and treatments vary significantly in each case and requires a holistic approach. The current management of MSK pain in India is siloed, with each care provider predominantly focused on a single modality. This ‘unimodal’ approach to managing pain leads to a patient journey riddled with uncertainty, frustration, and persistence of chronic pain. Patients are either suggested OTC painkillers, physiotherapy, or surgeries. Astonishingly, 70% of the recommended surgeries are unnecessary, resulting in limited mobility and requiring extensive post-operative physiotherapy.

During our research, we discovered that the US MSK pain management market is estimated to be $300 billion and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.5%. However, it became evident that India is yet to fully catch up with the advancements and understanding of pain management witnessed in the West. Considering these findings, 2070 Health conducted in-depth research on the problem and found that the gold standard of care for pain management is approaching it as a biopsychosocial issue. This approach recognizes that a patient’s pain may stem from physical, psychological, and social factors, or a combination thereof. To develop effective treatment protocols, it is crucial to consider each patient’s unique circumstances and the role these factors play in their pain. This can be done by leveraging a multidisciplinary team of specialists collectively managing the underlying chronic pain. With these principles in mind, 2070 Health incubated Nivaan, India’s leading outpatient pain management company.

About Nivaan 

Nivaan provides a holistic, integrated approach to manage musculoskeletal pain. At the core of Nivaan’s clinical model is a multi-disciplinary team comprising a Pain Management Specialist (MD), physiotherapists, nutritionists, and psychologists. The team works together to create a personalized care pathway for each patient to meet their individual treatment goal. Patients receive a combination of medical consults, physiotherapy, nutrition counselling, psychotherapy, and minimally invasive out-patient procedures, as needed. Nivaan launched its first two clinics in Delhi NCR earlier in April 2023. 

Impact of Nivaan’s unique approach

Since launch, Nivaan’s patients have shown spectacular results – 50% pain relief and 85% patient satisfaction. Returning to Sushma’s case, she learned about Nivaan and visited their center, where she had consultations with multiple care providers, including a pain specialist, physical therapist, and nutritionist. Through these discussions, the practitioners gained a comprehensive understanding of Sushma’s goals and the level of physical mobility she aimed to regain through treatment. Once the goals were aligned between Sushma and her doctor, they broke them down into smaller targets for her to track. This approach proved immensely helpful, as Sushma witnessed progress within just 10 days of starting the program. The doctor also suggested a day care procedure that was covered by her insurance. Encouraged by the multidisciplinary protocol, Sushma decided to proceed with the treatments, leading to her recovery from the debilitating pain that plagued her for five years.

We firmly believe that Nivaan has the potential to create similar life-changing impact for millions of patients and become the national pioneer in the field of MSK chronic pain management.

About 2070 Health: 

2070 Health is India’s first Venture Studio building patient-centric healthcare companies from scratch by bringing together futuristic ideas, exceptional founders, and a powerful innovation platform.