From HealthKartPlus to 1MG: Growth plans
The “1mg” case focuses on a key strategic dilemma of an entrepreneur in times of digitalization. Should 1mg be just an e-pharmacy and designed as pure pipeline business, a marketplace or be a hybrid between these two? Should it adhere to the current stakeholder constellation, or should the needs of patients, and no longer those of doctors and hospitals, be at the centre of the healthcare ecosystem? India’s healthcare market in 2014 was expected to grow with 14% CAGR reaching by 158B$. E-pharmacies not only enjoyed the support of the national government to reduce costs and improve quality of medication, but also to increase access to people in rural areas, comply with India regulation and increase sales tax collection. Traditional pharmacies were regulated under the Drug & Cosmetics Act whereas e-pharmacies were regulated under the IT Act. These different regulatory bases created distortion. It was expected that regulation would be clarified and give digitalization a strong boost. That said, the traditional brick and mortar pharmacies were still playing a critical role in the overall supply chain. At the same time a plethora of competitors were attracting funds by international venture capitalists and gain market traction, either based purely on new digital technologies or on their existing healthcare footprint. The case describes the different market segments based on demographics, health habits, age, and combines it with the penetration data of the mobile industry in the life of urban & rural Indians. The case also tackles the question of profitability versus growth and provides all the elements needed for a debate over the business model choice to be implemented.
- Understand the characteristics but also the limitations of the platforms
- How the ecosystem can be changed by altering the focal point of the stakeholders mapping (doctors to patients)
- How to apply different business models in an industry (Platforms, E-commerce, or Hybrid) and how regulations, or their lack, impact the chance of success
- Understand the impact of the growth and profitability metrics in a platform / hybrid business model.
Tata Group, Tata 1mg, Healthcare
2009-2015
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Today’s workforce often includes a mix of permanent employees, freelancers, and outside contractors – but even organizations with mostly external workforces or highly autonomous workforces need proximity to succeed over the long term. Here are fou...

Set in 2024, the case describes the trajectory of Nike's success and how it had recently lost its way. The company was experiencing its worst slump in more than 10 years. Since 2020, CEO Donahoe oversaw a significant shift away from wholesale, wit...

Corporate leaders must stop being passive spectators and actively shape geopolitical outcomes to drive global competitiveness and collaboration.

This brief case exercise presents an increasingly common business scenario: An established player acquires a small, agile start-up to re-energize its value proposition. In this case, established global beauty giant UrbanLuxe acquires beauty start-...

Trump’s unconventional negotiation strategy reveals how game theory in negotiations can shape power, commitment, and outcomes before talks begin.

In an age that prizes agility, breaking up is a strategy rather than a surrender, argues IMD’s Salvatore Cantale, as CFOs step forward as architects of value in the de-conglomeration era.

What does it take to move from CFO to CEO? Four top executives share candid lessons on leadership, risk, growth, and redefining the finance role.
In an increasingly uncertain world, how do companies plan for the long term? Take this short quiz to test your knowledge of future readiness, and read on for insights from future-ready companies.

Use our AI Trust Checklist to avoid bias, hallucinations, and deepfakes. Practical tips to build trust in your AI systems.
Shenzhen Power-Solution (SPS), founded in 2009 in China as an entrepreneurial venture, disrupted traditional lighting markets in African villages with its flagship product, Candles Killer. This solar lamp, priced under $5, replaces hazardous keros...
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications