Job loss turned into opportunity: Ex-CorroHealth employees to launch joint venture in Kerala

Employees of US-based CorroHealth Infotech Private Limited, who were laid off without notice, wait at the entrance of the company’s office in Kochi on July 7, 2026. | Photo credit: H. VIBHU

In an attempt to turn job losses into a collective entrepreneurship opportunity, former employees of Kochi-based CorroHealth plan to launch a health IT and health coding business.

The proposed ‘Health Care IT & Revenue Cycle Cooperative Society’ has applied for registration as a primary co-operative society and sought the cooperation department’s support to expedite the process.

The promoters met Cooperation Minister M Liju in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday and submitted a report on the project. According to them, the minister responded positively to the proposal.

A sustainable alternative

More than 800 professionals reportedly lost their jobs when CorroHealth shut down earlier this year. With many still looking for jobs, Jijy Philip, founder and CEO of UACC, a cooperative consultancy based in Kochi, met with stakeholders and affected employees to explore a sustainable alternative to short-term assistance.

Professionals from all over Kerala subsequently joined an online meeting to discuss the proposal. 26 professionals applied as founding members.

Preliminary discussions have begun on securing healthcare IT subcontracts and revenue cycle management.

The proposed business seeks to establish a technology business owned and operated by the professionals who work within it. Members will collectively own the cooperative, outsource technology and services, and create employment opportunities for themselves. The model is intended to go beyond the conventional activities of credit and savings unions, applying the cooperative principle of collective ownership to health IT, medical coding, billing and related services.

Indian cafe model

The initiative draws inspiration from the history of the Indian coffee shop. In the 1950s, after the decision to close down the cafes operated by the Coffee Board, affected workers organized themselves into cooperatives and took over their operation. The first outlet of Keralam Indian Cafe was opened in Thalassery in 1958 and the workers’ societies were federated in 1960. The institution continues to operate on a cooperative model, making it a prominent example of workers coming together to sustain a business.

“Cafe workers had a counter and a kettle. Today’s tech professionals have laptops and specialized skills. They need the right organizational structure, and Kerala’s cooperative tradition offers a way to build one,” says Jijy Philip.

Proponents see the proposed company as the start of a broader initiative that could, over time, create opportunities for recent graduates, women returning to the workforce and skilled professionals in smaller towns.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 20:51 IST