Apollo Knowledge, BITS Pilani Partner on Healthcare Research & Medtech Workforce Development

Apollo Knowledge and BITS Pilani will also explore joint research involving clinicians and researchers, focusing on clinical and healthcare challenges identified through the collaboration.

Apollo Knowledge and Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand collaboration across healthcare research, education, and workforce development.

The partnership brings together Apollo’s clinical network and BITS Pilani’s capabilities in engineering, technology and data science.

Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, founder-chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "Healthcare today runs on technology as much as it runs on clinical skill. The people who deliver care need to learn that technology properly, and they need to learn it without stepping away from their work. BITS Pilani has taught working professionals for over four decades. We have the hospitals, the clinicians and the students. Putting the two together lets us train the healthcare workforce this country needs, and take up research that answers the questions our doctors are asking today."

A key focus will be Work Integrated Learning programmes for healthcare professionals. These programmes are expected to cover areas including healthcare logistics and supply chain, pharmacy and hospital finance, with the curriculum designed around the responsibilities and work environments of participating professionals.

Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and healthcare managers will be able to pursue qualifications without leaving their existing roles.

Apollo Knowledge and BITS Pilani will also explore joint research involving clinicians and researchers, focusing on clinical and healthcare challenges identified through the collaboration. Specific research areas will be determined as the partnership develops.

The institutions will further examine technology-focused learning programmes for students based on their intended professional roles.

The initiative could extend to learners at The Apollo University, medical and nursing colleges within the Apollo network, and Apollo Healthcare Academy’s partner institutions.

Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, said, "Healthcare is one of the areas where good engineering makes a direct difference to people's lives. The collaboration creates opportunities to work with Apollo's clinical ecosystem and with a large base of healthcare professionals and students. We bring the technology, data science, and a proven model of teaching people who are already working. We expect this collaboration to produce both research and trained professionals."

The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals, and Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao.

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