When you meet Reet Phulwani, you don’t just meet an entrepreneur — you meet resilience personified. Behind her warm smile and confident presence lies a story of grit, determination, and the unwavering belief that dreams, no matter how distant, can be turned into reality.
Today, Reet is the Director of Medsurge Healthcare, one of Australia’s fastest-growing family-owned pharmaceutical companies, servicing almost 1,000 hospitals and 6,500 pharmacies across the nation. The company’s recognition as one of Westpac’s Top 200 Businesses of Tomorrow in 2017 is only one of the many milestones in her remarkable journey.
But to understand the full scope of her success, you have to go back to the beginning.
Reet Phulwani: From Bhopal to Melbourne – A Leap of Faith
Born and raised in Bhopal, India’s enchanting city of lakes, Reet grew up in a progressive, business-minded family. Conversations at home often revolved around entrepreneurial challenges and the intricacies of running a business. These early experiences planted the seeds of ambition in her young mind.
While she pursued her Bachelor of Information Systems at Bhopal University, her dreams were already stretching far beyond her hometown. Marriage to Kam Phulwani — a qualified pharmacist from a family steeped in medicine, science, and community service — brought not just love but a shared vision for the future.
In 2002, with only two suitcases, $1,000 in savings, and a head full of dreams, the couple arrived in Melbourne. Kam worked multiple jobs — often from 6 a.m. to midnight — while Reet pursued her Master’s in Information Systems at Monash University. It was a time of relentless hard work, financial strain, and no safety net, but also a period that shaped their shared entrepreneurial grit.
The Birth of Medsurge Healthcare
By 2007, Reet and Kam were ready to channel their combined skills into something of their own. They saw a gap in the Australian healthcare market: life-saving pharmaceuticals that were either unavailable or took weeks to arrive. Their vision was to make these medicines accessible in days, not weeks — because, in healthcare, every moment counts.
In 2009, Medsurge Healthcare began trading. What set them apart was their promise: guaranteed delivery of niche pharmaceuticals anywhere in Australia within 48–96 hours — often by the next morning. It was a game-changer for hospitals and pharmacies, saving lives and building trust.
Reet Phulwani: Expanding Beyond Borders
Under Reet’s leadership, Medsurge’s reach quickly extended beyond Australia. Today, the company operates in New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and India. In a major move, they acquired their own pharmaceutical manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Bangalore — a 5-acre facility equipped with an advanced injectable R&D unit and integrated ampoule and glass vial lines.
Their in-house brand, Medicianz Healthcare Australia, further solidified their presence in the global healthcare space.
A Multi-Talented Visionary
While her achievements in healthcare are extraordinary, Reet Phulwani’s talents extend beyond pharmaceuticals. She is a qualified Gemmologist and Diamond Grader, registered with the National Council of Jewellery Valuers since 2013, and the founder of K.R Impex Pty Ltd, a gemstone wholesale and jewellery design company.
Her ability to balance multiple ventures while raising three children — Ronith, Sienna, and Kyra — speaks volumes about her discipline, time management, and passion for life.
Recognition and Community Impact
Reet’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. She was a finalist in the Multicultural Excellence category at the 2019 AusMumpreneur Awards and served as a Youth Ambassador for the India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA) 2020.
As a member of the Women in Business and Make in India chapters of the Australia India Business Council, she actively supports cross-border business collaborations and women-led entrepreneurial ventures.
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