Creating a People-Driven, Equitable, and Inclusive Workplace at Marengo Asia Hospitals

Marengo Asia Hospitals is guided by the philosophy “Humane by Practice”, placing people at the heart of every clinical, operational, and business decision. This belief translates compassion into daily action in how we care for patients, support families, and empower clinicians and staff. The People Development Office (PDO) at Marengo Asia Hospitals brings this philosophy to life through its own belief, “Happy people, Happy patients”, recognising that humane care is only possible when caregivers themselves feel valued, heard, and supported.

Since 2021, our platform has grown to eight hospitals through organic expansion and acquisitions/operations & management partnerships leveraging individual strengths, forming the right leadership teams, and merging cultures rather than imposing one.

Marengo Asia culture emerges from blending each hospital's unique identity and legacy, creating a shared foundation where equity, respect, and inclusion are lived principles. By engaging, equipping, measuring, and motivating our teams across the 2,500+ bed network, PDO ensures that every investment in our people ultimately strengthens Marengo Asia’s promise of humane, highquality healthcare for every patient.

In our journey of growth from acquiring established hospitals in Ahmedabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram to operational partnerships in Bhuj, Varanasi, and Saudi Arabia's Najran, Marengo Asia Hospitals’ people strategy centres on merging cultures, not creating new or overruling one. Every hospital brings its legacy, traditions, and people strengths. Instead of overlaying a singular "Marengo Asia culture," we integrate the best of each, preserving institutional identity while aligning behaviours with our shared values of Compassion, Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration, and Accountability.

Equity, respect, and inclusion are foundational. Cultural integration workshops ensure employees from diverse backgrounds, clinical, administrative, or support understand how their prior practices enrich system-wide learning. Orientation programmes emphasise respect for local customs and patient interactions, fostering continuity and unity. This approach has achieved our patient communities.

over 90% talent retention in acquired entities, proving these principles are lived values, not policies. Open-door forums like "Emerge Circles" bridge generational, regional, and linguistic diversity, while inclusive hiring prioritises women returnees, differently-abled individuals, and multilingual professionals to reflect.

Equity means equal opportunity. Our Managerial Excellence Program and clinical leadership initiatives guarantee fair advancement, regardless of starting hospital. Global collaborations with NHS North Bristol Trust (Nursing Excellence Programme) and Mass General Brigham (teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School), USA provide exposure to international protocols. The NHS-co-developed Nursing Excellence Programme offers standardised training, ensuring consistent outcomes network-wide. Succession planning mentors highpotentials across facilities, while SPARK framework (Strategic Goals, Performance Drivers, Accountability, Results Tracking, KRAs/KPIs) aligns individual roles with Vision 2027.Over 200 structured sessions reached 85% of the workforce, blending CME, virtual modules, and ESG learning (90% completion). Early-career pipelines engaged 58 GenX, 184 interns, 42 fellows, and 15 DNB trainees, building future leaders.

We track culture via quarterly pulse surveys (HQI 4.15/5, 83% satisfaction, exceeding benchmarks) and "You Spoke, We Acted" workshops, converting feedback to change. 82% rate workplaces purpose-driven; nursing retention hit 76-78% (>2 years service). Structured forums across integrated hospitals amplify diverse voices. Ethics helpdesks and field officers uphold accountability, embedding respect as nonnegotiable. Motivate: Well-Being, Innovation, and Recognition.

From ₹25+ crore savings via doctor payout standardisation to 100% paperless onboarding, PDO delivers business impact. Incredible Workplaces 2025 certification validates our path. Every acquisition strengthens diversity; every initiative deepens inclusion. Scaling to equity, respect, and inclusion remain our collective culture—when every voice matters, every patient wins.

By - DEEPALI JETLEY

Chief People Officer

Marengo Asia Healthcare