Year: 2025

Indore, 16th December: R1 RCM, a leading technology-enabled revenue cycle management (RCM) and healthcare services organization, today announced the launch of its new office in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. This milestone reinforces India’s role as a strategic global delivery and innovation center for the company.

The new Indore hub, located at “R1 RCM Global Pvt. Ltd., 8th Floor, Plot No. 16, Brilliant Summit block-B, Scheme no.78, Part 2^nd Vijay Nagar, Indore-452010, Madhya Pradesh”, is designed as a modern, scalable workplace and will support R1’s multi-year expansion in India. R1 expects to onboard approximately 500 associates in Indore by end-2026, with future expansion aligned to business needs. The hub will initially focus on backend revenue cycle operations—roles such as AR follow-up and billing—comparable to voice-based BPO functions, with potential to expand into specialized areas like coding and clinical documentation.

As R1 strengthens its India presence, the company is also accelerating its evolution into a technology-first healthcare services enterprise, where digital innovation, automation, and intelligent workflows anchor its global delivery model. This advancement reflects a strategic shift from traditional operations-led structures to a digitally engineered, high-efficiency ecosystem built for the future of healthcare.

With strong existing operations in Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, and Chennai, Indore marks R1’s entry into a Tier-2 location. The city’s skilled talent pool, academic ecosystem, and infrastructure readiness make it a strategic addition to R1’s distributed delivery model.

Over the next year, R1 will hire a mix of fresh graduates and experienced professionals while strengthening local employability through dedicated trainers who have already been deployed. These teams are being equipped with niche RCM skills as part of R1’s long-term workforce development plan. University partnerships will follow as part of the broader talent strategy. Employees in Indore will also have access to R1’s structured career and leadership development programs. We maintain a long-standing partnership with IIM Indore to support our leadership learning initiatives.

Abhijeet Pawar, EVP – Global Operations & India Country General Manager, R1 RCM, said:
“Indore is an important strategic addition to our India presence. The city’s deep talent pool, strong educational ecosystem, and progressive infrastructure make it a natural fit for our next phase of growth. We have always seen strong synergy with this market, and our continued focus on Madhya Pradesh reflects the confidence we have in its ability to support a future-ready healthcare technology workforce. Integrating the Mobile Medical Units initiative into our launch is also a stepping stone in creating our long-term community partnership in the region. This new hub reaffirms our commitment to India and our belief in the region’s tremendous potential.”

Reinforcing its commitment to community wellbeing, R1 RCM has integrated a dedicated social impact initiative into the Indore launch through its partnership with Smile Foundation for the ‘Helping Hands on Wheels’ program.

This collaboration will deploy Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) that offer free primary care, diagnostics, essential medicines, preventive health education, and referral support across underserved communities in and around Indore—particularly benefiting women and children.

Santanu Mishra, Co-founder & Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation said, “Our collaboration with R1 RCM ensures timely healthcare access for underserved communities in Indore. The Mobile Medical Unit initiative will help improve early diagnosis, preventive care, and overall health awareness; and thus. supporting government efforts to build healthier and resilient communities. We are excited for this partnership.”

The Indore hub will play a critical role in supporting R1 RCM’s global operating model by enabling end-to-end revenue cycle processes using automation-driven workflows—strengthening scalability, redundancy, and resilience across its operations network.

About R1-

R1 is the leading provider of technology-driven solutions that transform the patient experience and financial performance of hospitals, health systems and medical groups. We are the one company that combines the deep expertise of a global workforce of revenue cycle professionals with the industry’s most advanced technology platform, encompassing sophisticated analytics, AI, intelligent automation and workflow orchestration. 

 With over 30,000 employees globally and a robust presence in India, comprising over 17,000 employees across Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai, we foster an inclusive culture where every team member feels valued and empowered. Our mission is to transform the healthcare industry by driving efficiency for healthcare systems, hospitals, and physician practices, continuously striving to make healthcare work better for everyone. 

R1 India is proud to be recognized among the Top 20 of India’s Best Companies to Work For 2025 by the Great Place To Work® Institute, marking our third consecutive year of climbing the ranks – from Top 50 in 2023 to Top 25 in 2024, and now amongst the Top 20. This achievement is a testament to the exceptional workplace culture we have collectively cultivated and reflects our unwavering commitment to employee well-being, inclusion, and diversity. Our accolades also highlight our excellence in healthcare, support for millennials, women, diversity, and health and wellness.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organisation benefitting over 2 million children and their families directly every year through numerous welfare projects in the areas of education, healthcare, and livelihood across 27 states of India.

New Delhi; September 30, 2025: Kone Elevator in partnership with Smile Foundation has launched Smile on Wheels mobile clinic project in Delhi. The initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of the communities in 14 urban colonies and communities of Delhi, benefitting 90,000 individuals directly.

The mobile medical unit was flagged off by Amit Gossain, Managing Director India and South Asia KONE, in the presence of Smile Foundation Executive Director Puneet Bali, and Director Programme (Health & Women Health) Dr. Rashmi Ardey.

The mobile medical unit is equipped with a qualified MBBS doctor, paramedical staff, basic diagnostic facilities, and point-of-care services, and it offers free outpatient consultations (OPD) and medicines. The project will also raise awareness about preventive healthcare and about government health schemes. Availability and accessibility of primary healthcare services within the communities are also expected to improve through this project.

Along with delivering primary care across the communities, the project will also run awareness programmes on key health issues, including maternal health, immunization, non-communicable diseases, antenatal and postnatal care within the community. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will also be conducted to increase awareness of preventive healthcare practices. Furthermore, the project will facilitate referrals to higher-level medical services when necessary. Through community counselling on preventive health, welfare schemes, and available resources, this initiative will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourages health-seeking behaviour.

The Smile on Wheels project in Delhi will cover 14 areas such as Madanpur Khadar, Harikesh Colony, Subhash Camp, Aali village, Jasola Park, and Aali Vihar.

Kone Elevator and Smile Foundation have already been operating Smile on Wheels project in Guwahati Assam since March’2023.

“At KONE, we believe that businesses must play a meaningful role in shaping healthier, stronger communities. Access to primary healthcare remains a pressing need, and through this initiative with Smile Foundation, we aim to bridge that gap by taking quality healthcare directly to people’s doorsteps,” said Amit Gossain.

“Healthcare is a crucial service in ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of the community. Our mobile medical units have emerged as an effective model in bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of people. Through this partnership with Kone Elevator, we are further enhancing our efforts to take primary healthcare to the communities and thereby complementing the government’s mission,” stated Smile Foundation Co-founder, Santanu Mishra.

About Kone India

KONE’s presence in India dates to 1984 and today it is the leading elevator company in India. Based in Chennai, KONE India serves customers all over the country through its 50+ branches and provides sustainable People Flow™ solutions for India’s rapidly growing cities. It employs 5500+ people in the country.

KONE’s production unit in Sriperambudur, near Chennai produces elevators for the Indian market as well as for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also has three training centers in Chennai, Gurgaon & Pune, where KONE’s installation engineers and field mechanics are trained to meet KONE India’s strong reputation for high quality and uncompromised safety, as well as the expectations of Indian customers, when installing and maintaining elevators and escalators. KONE’s global technology and engineering center in Chennai and Pune, is one of the seven global R&D centers, is a testing and research hub, which supports the latest technology and development of future KONE solutions.

For more information, please visit www.kone.in

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 27 states. Please visit: www.smilefoundationindia.org

New Delhi; September 30, 2025: Kone Elevator in partnership with Smile Foundation has launched Smile on Wheels mobile clinic project in Delhi. The initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of the communities in 14 urban colonies and communities of Delhi, benefitting 90,000 individuals directly.

The mobile medical unit was flagged off by Amit Gossain, Managing Director India and South Asia KONE, in the presence of Smile Foundation Executive Director Puneet Bali, and Director Programme (Health & Women Health) Dr. Rashmi Ardey.

The mobile medical unit is equipped with a qualified MBBS doctor, paramedical staff, basic diagnostic facilities, and point-of-care services, and it offers free outpatient consultations (OPD) and medicines. The project will also raise awareness about preventive healthcare and about government health schemes. Availability and accessibility of primary healthcare services within the communities are also expected to improve through this project.

Along with delivering primary care across the communities, the project will also run awareness programmes on key health issues, including maternal health, immunization, non-communicable diseases, antenatal and postnatal care within the community. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will also be conducted to increase awareness of preventive healthcare practices. Furthermore, the project will facilitate referrals to higher-level medical services when necessary. Through community counselling on preventive health, welfare schemes, and available resources, this initiative will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourages health-seeking behaviour.

The Smile on Wheels project in Delhi will cover 14 areas such as Madanpur Khadar, Harikesh Colony, Subhash Camp, Aali village, Jasola Park, and Aali Vihar.

Kone Elevator and Smile Foundation have already been operating Smile on Wheels project in Guwahati Assam since March’2023.

“At KONE, we believe that businesses must play a meaningful role in shaping healthier, stronger communities. Access to primary healthcare remains a pressing need, and through this initiative with Smile Foundation, we aim to bridge that gap by taking quality healthcare directly to people’s doorsteps,” said Amit Gossain.

“Healthcare is a crucial service in ensuring the wellbeing and prosperity of the community. Our mobile medical units have emerged as an effective model in bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of people. Through this partnership with Kone Elevator, we are further enhancing our efforts to take primary healthcare to the communities and thereby complementing the government’s mission,” stated Smile Foundation Co-founder, Santanu Mishra.

About Kone India

KONE’s presence in India dates to 1984 and today it is the leading elevator company in India. Based in Chennai, KONE India serves customers all over the country through its 50+ branches and provides sustainable People Flow™ solutions for India’s rapidly growing cities. It employs 5500+ people in the country.

KONE’s production unit in Sriperambudur, near Chennai produces elevators for the Indian market as well as for Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It also has three training centers in Chennai, Gurgaon & Pune, where KONE’s installation engineers and field mechanics are trained to meet KONE India’s strong reputation for high quality and uncompromised safety, as well as the expectations of Indian customers, when installing and maintaining elevators and escalators. KONE’s global technology and engineering center in Chennai and Pune, is one of the seven global R&D centers, is a testing and research hub, which supports the latest technology and development of future KONE solutions.

For more information, please visit www.kone.in

For further information, please contact:

KONE Elevators India 

kei.communications@kone.com

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 27 states. Please visit: www.smilefoundationindia.org

New Delhi, 17^th September 2025: Ashirvad by Aliaxis, India’s leading provider of plumbing and water management solutions, today announced the launch of its Plumber Saathi mobile training unit, in partnership with Smile Foundation, in Jharsuguda, Odisha. The training vehicle was formally flagged off by Shri Suresh Pujari, honourable Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Government of Odisha in the presence of Shri. Kunal Motiram Chavan, IAS, Collector & District Magistrate of Jharsuguda; Tariniprasad Mohapatra, State Head, Odisha (Building Vertical); Sanjay Palai, Plant Head, Cuttack from Ashirvad by Aliaxis; and Sushanta Kumar Bhuyan, Sr. Director Programmes of Smile Foundation. 

Incidentally, this is India’s first formal launch of Plumber Saathi project. All the trainings and new-age capacity-building will be provided free of cost.

Ashirvad by Aliaxis, in collaboration with Smile Foundation, has launched a transformative initiative to train the youth of Odisha in plumbing, a skill witnessing growing demand across sectors such as infrastructure, manufacturing and construction.

Committed to empowering underrepresented communities, Ashirvad by Aliaxis is equipping local youth with practical, industry-relevant plumbing skills paving the way for sustainable livelihood opportunities and long-term socio-economic upliftment. The Plumber Saathi mobile training unit is central to this mission. Fully equipped with modern tools, resources and guided by expert mentors, the unit will travel across various localities in Odisha to deliver hands-on training aligned with best industry practices.

This skilling initiative will be implemented by Smile Foundation, an Indian development organisation of repute, known for its work in the areas of education, skilling, and healthcare, in close coordination with Ashirvad by Aliaxis. Together, the two organisations are working towards a common goal—creating inclusive pathways to employment and fostering self-reliance through skill development.

Speaking on the occasion, Sudeep Agrawal, CFO & Head- CSR, Ashirvad by Aliaxis said, “With a strong presence in Odisha through our state-of-the-art plant in Cuttack, Ashirvad is deeply committed to the region’s development. The Jharsuguda launch of our Plumber Saathi mobile unit is a step toward building a skilled and self-reliant workforce across Odisha. Our goal is to empower local youth with the knowledge and practical skills needed to pursue meaningful careers in plumbing and allied services. We remain committed to Skill India’s vision by providing inclusive training opportunities that build skills and transform lives.”

Shri Suresh Pujari, Minister of Revenue & Disaster Management, Government of Odisha said, “We appreciate Smile Foundation and Ashirvad’s initiative to deliver vocational and industry-relevant training to the youth of Odisha. Programmes like Plumber Saathi are well aligned with the state’s vision of fostering employability and entrepreneurship. We are confident that this initiative will make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people across the region.”

Shri Santanu Mishra, Co-founder of Smile Foundation said, “India needs to fill over 90 million new jobs by 2030, the majority of which will require some level of vocational or life-skills training. Hands-on vocational training in high-demand trades has to be delivered close to where workers live and work. This is not just about preparing workers for income-generation, it’s about preparing the workers participate actively in India’s growth story.”

Starting its journey in Jharsuguda, the Plumber Saathi will traverse across Odisha to raise awareness and equip the state’s youth with essential plumbing skills. The initiative reflects Ashirvad by Aliaxis’s broader commitment to building future-ready, resilient communities through focused skill development emphasizing grassroots empowerment and gender inclusivity.

Please visit: www.smilefoundationindia.org

Prayagraj, July 5, 2025: MSD Pharmaceuticals India in partnership with Smile Foundation has launched MSD India supported Smile on Wheels mobile clinic project in Prayagraj district. The initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of the communities in Bhagwatpur block of the district. The mobile medical unit was flagged off by the Honourable MLA Prayagraj West, Shri Sidharth Nath Singh.

Shri Sidharth Nath Singh, Hon’ble MLA for Prayagraj West, said, “I would like to thank MSD Pharmaceuticals and Smile Foundation for bringing this innovative healthcare programme to this region. I am sure that community women in particular will benefit immensely from this well-equipped mobile medical unit as services will be delivered at their doorsteps.”

Dr. A. K. Tiwari, Chief Medical Officer, Prayagraj said, “With our supervision and cooperation, I am confident that general public will receive great primary healthcare benefit from this unique project.”

The mobile medical unit is equipped with a qualified MBBS doctor, paramedical staff, basic diagnostic facilities, and point-of-care services, and it offers free outpatient consultations (OPD) and medicines. The project will also raise awareness about preventive healthcare and about government health schemes. Availability and accessibility of primary healthcare services within the communities are also expected to improve through this project.

Along with delivering primary care across the communities, the project will also run awareness programmes on key health issues, including maternal health, immunization, non-communicable diseases, antenatal and postnatal care within the community. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will also be conducted to increase awareness of preventive healthcare practices. Furthermore, the project will facilitate referrals to higher-level medical services when necessary. Through community counselling on preventive health, welfare schemes, and available resources, this initiative will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourages health-seeking behaviour.

MSD and Smile Foundation are already operating five Smile on Wheels projects in Uttar Pradesh in the districts of Sonbhadra, Varanasi, Gorakhpur, Lucknow and Bahraich.

Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director of MSD India Region, said, “Improving access to healthcare is deeply embedded in MSD’s purpose. We are proud to expand our CSR programme in Prayagraj district’s Bhagwatpur block with an aim of delivering essential healthcare services closer to people in underserved communities. To ensure long-term impact, our initiatives include awareness sessions, home visits, community mobilization, and behaviour change programmes to foster a sustainable and healthier future for these communities.”

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation, conveyed his enthusiasm and stated, “Healthcare remains a factor in the wellbeing and prosperity of the community, and this has been a crucial part of our mission. Mobile medical units have proven to be an effective model in bringing healthcare services to the doorsteps of people. Through this partnership with MSD, we are further enhancing our efforts to take primary healthcare to the communities, and thereby complementing the government’s mission.”

This initiative underscores the shared commitment of MSD Pharmaceuticals and Smile Foundation to advancing equitable healthcare and improving health outcomes for underserved communities.

About MSD                                                                                                                                                   

For 130 years, MSD, known as Merck in the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 27 states.

Deputy CM and Health Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak flagged-off the four mobile medical units

The MSD-supported Smile on Wheels will be aspirational in Lucknow, Sonbhadra, Prayagraj and Varanasi districts.

The initiative comprises of four mobile medical units that will serve over 2 Lakh people across more than 40 villages

Lucknow, June 25, 2025: MSD Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd (MSD) in partnership with Smile Foundation, today announced the launch of the MSD-supported Smile on Wheels mobile medical units, a step towards enhancing primary healthcare access in Uttar Pradesh. The four mobile medical units were dedicated by the Honourable Deputy Chief Minister & Cabinet Minister of Medical Education, Medical and Health, and Family Welfare, Shri Brajesh Pathak in Lucknow. The initiative aims to bring primary healthcare services directly within underserved communities in Lucknow, Sonbhadra, Prayagraj and Varanasi districts. In addition to the above expanded locations, MSD-supported Smile on Wheels projects are already operational in the districts of Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and Bahraich.

Shri Brajesh Mishra, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Cabinet Minister of Medical Education, Medical and Health, and Family Welfare said, “I am pleased to dedicate four mobile medical units for the needy areas of Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi and Sonbhadra districts. These units will provide free healthcare services along with various diagnostic tests and other facilities. I wish to congratulate Smile Foundation and MSD for this initiative.”

The programme, comprising four mobile medical units, is expected to reach over 2 Lakh beneficiaries over three years. Each unit is equipped with qualified doctors, paramedical staff, diagnostic facilities, and point-of-care services, offering free outpatient consultations (OPD) and medicines. It will also aim to generate awareness about preventive healthcare and raise awareness about government health schemes. This initiative aims to address the availability, accessibility and affordability of primary healthcare services.

The mobile medical units will deliver primary care and run awareness programmes on key health issues, including maternal health, immunization, non-communicable diseases, antenatal and postnatal care within the community. Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will also be conducted to increase awareness of preventive healthcare practices. Furthermore, the programme will facilitate referrals to higher-level medical services when necessary. Through community counselling on preventive health, welfare schemes, and available resources, the program helps reduce out-of-pocket expenses and encourages health-seeking behaviour.

Rehan A. Khan, Managing Director of MSD India Region, said, “Improving access to healthcare is deeply embedded in MSD’s purpose. We are proud to expand our CSR programme in Uttar Pradesh with the aim of delivering essential healthcare services closer to people in underserved communities. To ensure long-term impact, our initiatives include awareness sessions, home visits, community mobilization, and behaviour change programmes to foster a sustainable and healthier future for these communities.”

Santanu Mishra, Co-Founder and Executive Trustee of Smile Foundation, conveyed his enthusiasm and stated, “At Smile Foundation, our mission has always been to bring development directly to underserved communities, and healthcare remains a crucial part of that vision. Over the years, we have worked nationwide to ensure the most deserving populations receive timely and quality healthcare. Mobile medical units have proven to be an effective model in reducing access barriers. Through this partnership with MSD, we are further enhancing our efforts to provide healthcare where it is needed most—ensuring continuity of care, early intervention, and healthier communities, and thereby complementing the government’s mission.”

This initiative underscores MSD Pharmaceuticals’ and Smile Foundation’s shared commitment to advancing equitable healthcare and improving health outcomes for underserved communities.

About MSD                                                                                                                                                   

For 130 years, MSD, known as Merck in the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases in pursuit of our mission to save and improve lives. Today, MSD continues to be at the forefront of research to prevent and treat diseases that threaten people and animals – including cancer, infectious diseases such as HIV and Ebola, and emerging animal diseases – as we aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world.

About Smile Foundation

Smile Foundation is an Indian development organization directly benefiting over 1.5 million children and families every year through more than 400 welfare projects on education, healthcare, livelihood, and women empowerment spread across 2,000 villages and urban clusters in 27 states.