A Tech Reboot to Ensure Healthcare for All

To serve the needs of the 1.64 billion people expected to live in India by 2047, the country needs to leverage its expertise in tech

- BY KIRAN MAZUMDAR-SHAW

MY VISION FOR India in 2047 envisages a healthcare landscape that is both advanced and affordable. Not just for a few, but for the masses. Not just for India, but for the globe.

I foresee a future where a focus on preventive healthcare will proactively prevent illness and bring down the disease burden. Where predictive healthcare will substitute the need for reactionary interventions and where personalised solutions will form the crux of all therapeutic endeavours.

The convergence of health tech, digital, media and mobile telecommunications will completely revolutionise India's healthcare system by the time the country celebrates the 100th year of its Independence.

Convergence of IT and life sciences is making an impact: The convergence of information technology and life sciences is creating a more resilient, agile and innovative healthcare system in India and across the globe. We already see signs of this happening. The eSanjeevani telemedicine service had served 76 million patients by December 1, 2022. The Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium, or INSACOG, had sequenced over 250,000 SARSCoV-2 genomes till November 2022. Recent advances in AI applications have enabled clinicians to rapidly interpret radiology exams like X-rays and CT scans. Over 80 per cent of healthcare professionals in the country are using electronic health records (EHRs) in their practice leading to better quality of care and patient outcomes. Portable diagnostics available on smartphones and tablets are enabling our frontline health workers and technicians in early detection of diseases such as breast and oral cancers. These examples illustrate that we are at the cusp of an interesting revolution where the future of medicine and biotech belongs.