Executives said the acquisition will help overcome labor shortages that have constrained UHS’ behavioral health services, while attracting more patients to its facilities.

Universal Health Services, one of the largest U.S. hospital operators, has agreed to purchase Talkspace for $835 million, paying $5.25 per share, a 10% premium over the company’s last closing price. 

Executives said the acquisition will help overcome labor shortages that have constrained UHS’ behavioral health services, while attracting more patients to its facilities.

The transaction is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2026, under a definitive agreement between the two companies.

Addressing Staffing Shortages

UHS’ behavioral health segment, the largest in its portfolio, has struggled to meet growth targets of 2% to 3% in adjusted patient days due to a shortage of therapists and mental health clinicians. CFO Steve Filton noted at Leerink Partners’ annual healthcare conference that acquiring Talkspace allows UHS to sidestep these challenges by integrating its network of roughly 6,000 clinicians.

“This network will enable UHS to provide mental health services to more patients discharged from our facilities who require follow-up care,” Filton said.

Integration of Virtual and In-Person Care

The deal is expected to create new referral streams, with Talkspace clinicians directing patients to UHS facilities when in-person care is needed. UHS will now offer a full continuum of behavioral health services, including inpatient, intensive outpatient, partial hospitalization, therapy sessions, and virtual assessments.

Analysts highlighted that the acquisition complements UHS’ brick-and-mortar outpatient services, broadens access to commercially insured patients, and addresses longstanding staffing bottlenecks.

Talkspace, founded in 2012 and publicly listed in 2021, shifted from a direct-to-consumer model to serving employers, health plans, and organizations after pandemic-related demand waned. The company now reaches more than 200 million Americans through insurance and benefit arrangements.

UHS expects Talkspace to contribute around $280 million in revenue this year and be slightly accretive to adjusted earnings, excluding one-time acquisition costs. Filton also indicated that UHS remains open to additional virtual care acquisitions if they support growth objectives.

The new system will be deployed across its network of 25 hospitals in the United States, aimed at expanding its virtual care capabilities, strengthening patient monitoring, and communication between care teams and patients.

Mortgantown-based WVU Health System has announced plans to deploy AI-assisted hospital rooms technology in collaboration with Florida-based virtual care delivery platform hellocare.ai.

The new system will be deployed across its network of 25 hospitals in the United States, aimed at expanding its virtual care capabilities, strengthening patient monitoring, and communication between care teams and patients.

Under the partnership, hellocare’s technology shall be integrated with more than 3,000 beds across West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Further, WVU Health will introduce core virtual care delivery capabilities, including AI-assisted virtual nursing, virtual rounding, telehealth services, and AI-assisted virtual patient monitoring.

Additionally, certain selected hospitals shall also deploy fully intelligent hospital room modules such as Digital Whiteboards, Door Signs, and Patient Infotainment, all integrated with Epic’s electronic health record platform.

The hellocare.ai platform integrates AI with secure video collaboration, real-time communication tools, and clinical workflow integrations designed to transform inpatient rooms into intelligent hospital rooms.

The technology is also expected to enhance patient engagement and operational efficiency by enabling clinicians to remotely monitor patients and communicate in real time.

Commenting on the new rollout, Jim Venturella, CIO of WVU Health System said, "This enterprise deployment reflects our commitment to leveraging advanced technology to improve care delivery, patient safety, and operational efficiency across our system."hellocare.ai's platform integrates seamlessly with Epic and aligns with our long-term strategy to create connected, intelligent care environments."

As a part of its expansion, NHA introduced key partnership initiatives, including NHCX Champions, ABDM Ambassadors, and recognition of early integrators of NHCX with PM-JAY systems.

India’s Apex body that implements the flagship health insurance programme, National Health Authority (NHA), has announced the expansion of its NHCX platform with three new initiatives.

This was launched at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad) to strengthen the digital health claims infrastructure in India.

The digital platform called the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) is designed to standardise and streamline health insurance claims processing across the country.

The platform enables data exchange among hospitals, insurers, and other stakeholders to improve efficiency and interoperability in the claims ecosystem.

As a part of its expansion, NHA introduced key partnership initiatives, including NHCX Champions, ABDM Ambassadors, and recognition of early integrators of NHCX with PM-JAY systems.

These initiatives aim to encourage collaboration among healthcare providers, insurers, and technology platforms to support digital claims processing while also accelerating awareness and adoption of ABDM within healthcare and insurance networks, and enabling early integration of digital systems that allow claims under PM-JAY to be submitted through the NHCX infrastructure.

As a part of the initiative, participants in the “Build” track developed open-source tools to enable conversion of legacy systems to NHCX-aligned standards using FHIR-based formats, including solutions for eligibility verifications, claim and pre-authorisation workflows, and structured data extraction from clinical documents such as diagnostic reports and discharge summaries.

In parallel, the “Ideathon” track focused on designing use cases that leverage NHCX capabilities to detect misuse or abuse in claims and optimise processing time and costs, which is expected to improve transparency and efficiency in the insurance ecosystem through standardised health data and digital infrastructure.

Commenting on the new initiative, Dr. Sunil Kumar Barnwal, CEO, NHA, said, “The National Health Claims Exchange is not limited to hospitals and insurance companies alone; it is a platform designed to serve the entire healthcare ecosystem, including patients, healthcare providers, insurers, and technology innovators. The long-term vision for NHCX is similar to digital public infrastructure like UPI, where people may not know the underlying institution running the system, but they trust the platform because it works seamlessly and reliably for them.”

The AI-enabled system is intended to enhance image processing and support clinicians in identifying abnormalities more efficiently.

Chennai-based Iswarya Hospitals has launched an Advanced Cancer Center at its OMR Taramani facility in Chennai, aimed at expanding its oncology and diagnostic imaging capabilities.

The new center is equipped with an artificial intelligence-enabled PET‑CT Scan system in Chennai, designed to support cancer detection and oncology care.

It also integrates advanced imaging technology with AI-supported tools designed to assist clinicians in analyzing diagnostic scans.

The PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography–Computed Tomography) system integrates metabolic and anatomical imaging to help detect and monitor various types of cancers.

The AI-enabled system is intended to enhance image processing and support clinicians in identifying abnormalities more efficiently.

Additionally, the facility shall also provide immunotherapy, an advanced treatment approach that enhances the body’s immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells more effectively.

In addition to diagnostic services, the newly launched center also brings

together comprehensive oncology services under one roof.

These include surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, bone marrow transplant, pediatric oncology, preventive oncology, nuclear medicine and theranostics, onco-pathology, and palliative care.

Furthermore, the hospital is equipped to perform a wide range of oncological surgeries for various cancers, supported by advanced operating theatre infrastructure and specialized surgical teams.

Commenting on the launch of the new facility, Dr. S. Rajasundaram, CEO, Iswarya Hospital, said, “The introduction of AI-powered PET-CT technology and high-precision radiotherapy at the Iswarya Cancer Center allows us to detect disease earlier, assess its spread more accurately, and guide treatment decisions with greater confidence.”

The company also introduced athenaConnect, a new interoperability layer designed to streamline data exchange across healthcare organizations.

athenahealth showcased a series of artificial intelligence-driven interoperability tools and data exchange capabilities at HIMSS 2026, highlighting how its athenaOne platform integrates real-time clinical data into healthcare workflows. The company also introduced athenaConnect, a new interoperability layer designed to streamline data exchange across healthcare organizations.

The announcement was made during the HIMSS conference in Las Vegas, where athenahealth demonstrated how its open architecture platform connects providers, health systems, diagnostic labs, pharmacies, and other partners. The company said the athenaConnect layer will provide a single access point for external organizations to coordinate care with approximately 170,000 providers using athenahealth technology, representing care delivery to around 20% of the U.S. population.

athenaConnect is designed to integrate external partners directly with the athenaOne platform, allowing clinical data to move across systems and reach providers within existing workflows. The platform aims to support care coordination across affiliated and independent ambulatory practices by delivering relevant clinical information at the point of care.

At the conference, athenahealth also highlighted its participation in several industry sessions focused on artificial intelligence, interoperability standards, and regulatory developments in health IT. In one session moderated by the American Hospital Association, industry leaders from athenahealth, Concord Technologies, Oceans Healthcare, and North Shore Community Health discussed the potential role of large language models in addressing longstanding interoperability challenges in healthcare.

Other sessions included discussions on AI-driven ambulatory operations with Allied Digestive Health, real-time data exchange initiatives with Aetna, and care coordination across practices alongside Sutter Health, Raleigh Neurology Associates, and Epic.

In addition to panel discussions, athenahealth demonstrated several technology features at its HIMSS booth. These included Patient Conversations, a communication tool enabling staff to initiate text chats with patients directly from the electronic health record system and transition to secure web chat when required.

The company also previewed a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server designed to allow patients to securely grant authorized AI tools access to their health data. The capability enables AI agents to generate personalized insights using patient health records while maintaining patient control over data permissions.

Additional demonstrations included digital patient intake workflows developed with b.well Connected Health and referral management capabilities based on 360x interoperability standards aimed at improving care coordination between electronic health record systems.

Both have also indicated plans to explore the creation of a SaMD distribution platform, providing companies with end-to-end support, from product design and regulatory approval to distribution and deployment in healthcare settings.

Japan-based technology company Fujitsu and healthcare regulatory specialist DT-Axis have joined forces to strengthen digital health innovation by supporting the development and commercialization of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD).

The collaboration is designed to assist research institutions, medical device manufacturers, and pharmaceutical companies in navigating complex regulatory processes while accelerating the creation of clinically validated digital health solutions.

The two organizations have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide comprehensive support across the SaMD development lifecycle, from early-stage system design to regulatory approval, deployment, and post-market operations.

By combining their expertise, Fujitsu and DT-Axis aim to improve both the efficiency and reliability of SaMD development in Japan’s rapidly evolving healthcare technology landscape.

The collaboration between Fujitsu and DT-Axis seeks to help companies design compliant development environments and operational workflows from the earliest stages of product creation, including guidance on regulatory submissions, product design validation, system implementation, and post-market monitoring once a device has been approved.

Fujitsu brings extensive experience in healthcare technology infrastructure and system development to the partnership. The company has long been involved in building programmable medical device systems as well as supporting healthcare institutions with digital platforms that manage clinical and operational data.

Its Healthcare Personal Service Platform, for instance, provides a secure environment for storing and managing personal health information, enabling organizations to handle sensitive medical data while meeting strict privacy requirements.

DT-Axis complements this technical capability with regulatory expertise. The company has previously supported the approval process for programmable medical devices manufactured through Fujitsu’s systems.

Through this collaboration, DT-Axis will focus on guiding organizations through approval applications and ensuring that products are ready for commercialization once regulatory clearance is obtained.

Beyond development and approval support, the two companies have also indicated plans to explore the creation of a SaMD distribution platform. Such an ecosystem could provide companies with end-to-end support, from product design and regulatory approval to distribution and deployment in healthcare settings.

Both seek to create AI-enabled governance models that improve health outcomes and strengthen public systems for underserved populations.

Piramal Foundation has announced a strategic partnership with Wadhwani AI to develop and implement artificial intelligence solutions across public systems. The collaboration will focus on healthcare and other public systems, combining AI development with on-ground adoption to improve service delivery and governance outcomes.

The partnership reflects a growing push to apply AI in governance and development programs in India. By combining advanced machine learning tools with large-scale field implementation, the initiative aims to improve decision-making, strengthen public service delivery, and enhance outcomes for communities that rely heavily on government-supported systems.

Piramal Foundation, through its Piramal Swasthya programmes, including the Digital Bharat Collaborative, works with governments and partners to expand the use of digital platforms to improve access to public services and strengthen data-driven governance.

With operations spanning 17 Indian states, the program focuses on enabling equitable access to quality healthcare and strengthening digital infrastructure within public systems.

Within healthcare, the partnership will align closely with the goals of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), which seeks to build a nationwide digital health ecosystem.

One example is the work being carried out in Chhattisgarh’s Mahasamund district, where Piramal Foundation has been supporting the deployment of ABDM-enabled health information systems to enable a continuum of care.

These efforts include training frontline health workers, strengthening district-level command and control systems, expanding digital health IDs through the ABHA framework, and supporting the rollout of reproductive and child health programs.

Wadhwani AI brings experience in developing AI tools designed specifically for low-resource public health settings. Its solutions include Shishu Maapan, a smartphone application that helps frontline health workers assess newborn health and identify early signs of malnutrition.

Another tool, Pregnancy Risk and Outcome Stratification (PROS), predicts which pregnant women are likely to miss antenatal visits, enabling health workers to intervene earlier and improve maternal care continuity.

The organization has also developed AI-based tools for tuberculosis detection and management, including cough-based screening models, AI-enabled chest X-ray analysis, and predictive models that identify patients at higher risk of adverse treatment outcomes.

In addition, Wadhwani AI supports public health systems through AI-powered telemedicine decision support, diabetic retinopathy screening, and conversational assistants for frontline health workers.

Together, Piramal Foundation and Wadhwani AI seek to create AI-enabled governance models that improve health outcomes and strengthen public systems for underserved populations.

In addition to monitoring health signals, MXene coatings have demonstrated antimicrobial properties, making the technology valuable in hospital textiles such as patient gowns, bedding and protective garments where infection control is critical.

Researchers at the University of Georgia are exploring MXene-based smart electronic textiles that can monitor vital signs, generate solar power and store energy directly within fabrics, potentially turning everyday clothing into wearable electronics capable of supporting health monitoring.

The latest research has focused on MXenes, a family of two-dimensional materials derived from metal compounds that possess strong electrical conductivity and chemical stability.

As these microscopic materials can be coated onto or printed into textile fibres, they allow fabrics to function as both sensors and energy systems without significantly affecting comfort or flexibility.

The research team’s analysis suggests that fabrics treated with MXene coatings can measure several physiological indicators, including heart rate, body temperature and blood pressure, while remaining lightweight and adaptable for everyday wear.

“MXenes have some advanced properties,” said Joyjit Ghosh, corresponding author of the study and a doctoral student in UGA’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences. Not only can they detect body temperature, blood pressure and heart rate, he said, but they are also antimicrobial, making them ideal for hospital settings.

The researchers have suggested that such capabilities could support remote patient monitoring, particularly for individuals with chronic conditions who require continuous observation outside hospital environments.

If abnormal readings are detected, connected systems could alert clinicians in real time, enabling earlier medical intervention.

Another important feature of the material is its ability to harvest and store energy. MXene-based fabrics can capture solar energy through thin layers integrated within the textile and store that energy for later use.

This built-in energy system could power sensors embedded in clothing or potentially function as a flexible power source for charging small electronic devices.

In addition to monitoring health signals, MXene coatings have demonstrated antimicrobial properties that could reduce bacterial contamination.

This feature could make the technology valuable in hospital textiles such as patient gowns, bedding and protective garments where infection control is critical.

MXene materials can degrade when exposed to oxygen or moisture, raising concerns about durability during regular use and repeated washing. Manufacturing processes also remain energy-intensive.

“We are trying to prepare MXenes with biodegradable materials so that we can get a sustainable product as well as one that has longer durability,” Ghosh said.

Despite the promise of MXene-based smart textiles, researchers acknowledge that several technical barriers must be addressed before commercialization.

The two new KIMS Hospitals Bengaluru facilities together bring nearly 800 beds to the city’s healthcare ecosystem, with the Mahadevapura hospital including more than 450 beds, while the Electronic City hospital houses 350 beds.

KIMS Hospitals Bengaluru, part of the Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, has launched two super-speciality hospitals in Mahadevapura and Electronic City, marking its entry into Karnataka and strengthening access to technology-enabled tertiary healthcare in Bengaluru.

Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) is one of India’s large multi-speciality healthcare providers with a strong presence across southern and western India. The group operates hospitals in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Maharashtra, and has built a reputation around tertiary and quaternary care services supported by advanced diagnostics, critical care units, and specialised clinical teams.

Speaking about the group’s expansion strategy, Dr B. Bhaskar Rao, Chairman & Managing Director, KIMS Group of Hospitals, said, “Our arrival into Bengaluru healthcare is an adherence to carrying forward the clinical excellence and patient-focused values that have defined KIMS Hospitals for more than two decades. As a group, we are committed to investing in the advanced technology, best clinical minds, and patient-centric facilities to redefine standards of tertiary and quaternary care.”

The two new KIMS Hospitals Bengaluru facilities together bring nearly 800 beds to the city’s healthcare ecosystem. The Mahadevapura hospital includes more than 450 beds, while the Electronic City hospital houses 350 beds.

Combined, the hospitals feature 30 modern operation theatres and more than 170 outpatient consultation rooms designed to support large patient volumes and specialised clinical services.

Both hospitals have been designed as integrated medical centres housing more than 25 super-speciality departments and Centres of Excellence. These include cardiology, neurology, oncology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, ENT, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, internal medicine, critical care, and chronic disease management.

The facilities also provide a continuum of care ranging from preventive health services and round-the-clock primary care to complex procedures and long-term disease management.

Dr B. Abhinay, Chief Executive Officer of KIMS Group of Hospitals, highlighted the strategic importance of entering high-growth healthcare markets. “Launching KIMS Hospitals in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is a strategic move for us in enhancing our footprint in these key markets such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and Telangana. Our growth strategy is centred around building a healthcare ecosystem in high-growth markets to ensure that advanced medical care is accessible to these communities. These two hospital launches are a step forward in that direction.”

According to Dr Nitish Shetty, Managing Director, KIMS Hospitals Bengaluru, the facilities have been designed to meet the evolving healthcare needs of Bengaluru’s expanding population and IT workforce. “We strive to provide timely personalised healthcare. The Mahadevapura and Electronic City facilities have been planned to meet the growing health needs of the people of Bengaluru. These facilities have state-of-the-art ICUs, high-end diagnostic facilities and experienced medical professionals to ensure seamless patient care.”

“Apart from these two units, three more units are also slated for launch in the next few years. Our units house some of the most advanced medical technologies available today. These facilities will act as major health hubs in Bengaluru and the IT Corridor areas,” he added.

HIMSS26 announcements spotlight the rise of Agentic AI in healthcare IT, with vendors unveiling autonomous solutions for revenue cycle management, clinical workflows, telehealth, and enterprise infrastructure.

HIMSS26 opened with a clear signal that healthcare AI is entering a new phase. While previous years centered on the promise of generative AI, early announcements from the conference point to a growing focus on “Agentic AI,” autonomous systems designed to execute workflows, manage operational processes, and operate within complex healthcare IT environments.

Across revenue cycle management, clinical workflows, telehealth, and enterprise infrastructure, vendors introduced platforms aimed at reducing manual administrative tasks and supporting clinical operations through automation.

Autonomous Revenue Cycle Management Gains Momentum

Several vendors unveiled AI-driven solutions targeting revenue cycle management, an area where health systems continue to face administrative burden and financial inefficiencies.

FinThrive introduced its Fusion data architecture, positioning agentic AI as an operational model capable of identifying financial risk and executing workflows across more than 50 use cases. According to the company, early adopters have reported recovering approximately 1.1% of underpayments, representing nearly $1 million in recovered revenue within three months.

Innovaccer launched Flow Capture, a system that combines ambient documentation with automated coding technology. The platform is designed to autonomously code about 80% of patient encounters, while complex cases are routed to certified coders.

XiFin also announced its Empower AI ecosystem, featuring an autonomous Appeals Agent capable of reviewing denied claims, retrieving medical necessity documentation, drafting appeal letters, and submitting them to payors within defined compliance guardrails.

Clinical Copilots and AI-Powered Care Environments

Beyond administrative automation, several vendors showcased technologies aimed at improving clinical workflows and reducing friction at the point of care.

Stryker introduced its SmartHospital Platform, designed to connect devices, care teams, and clinical data through ambient sensors and virtual nursing workflows. The platform includes the Engage middleware engine, which filters alarms and streamlines communication across care teams.

Telehealth company VSee launched an autonomous telehealth robot equipped with LiDAR and infrared night vision that can navigate hospital corridors independently to conduct bedside virtual rounds and support telestroke responses.

ModMed demonstrated Scribe 2.0, an AI-powered documentation tool integrated within its electronic health record platform. The system has reportedly been used in more than 240,000 clinical visits within its first 100 days and is designed to support specialty workflows such as dermatology and orthopedics.

Wolters Kluwer also announced the integration of its UpToDate Expert AI with Microsoft Dragon Copilot and Microsoft Teams, embedding clinical decision intelligence directly within existing clinician workflows.

Expanding Care Beyond Hospital Walls

Several announcements focused on extending healthcare intelligence beyond traditional clinical settings.

Sword Health introduced Dawn, a direct-to-consumer AI mental health platform built on a proprietary clinical model and supported by safety classifiers designed to guide evidence-based therapy and interventions.

Kneu Health presented data from Cedars-Sinai demonstrating the use of an FDA-cleared smartphone application for continuous neurological monitoring in Parkinson’s disease patients. The technology generates data between clinical visits and contributes to earlier interventions in 79% of encounters.

Andor Health and PsynergyHealth highlighted a model combining ambient AI with a virtual clinical workforce to support rural hospitals through automated documentation and telehealth coordination.

Cherish and Aileen also announced a partnership combining radar-based monitoring with an AI voice companion designed to contact seniors if changes in daily routines, such as missed meals or altered sleep patterns, are detected.

Infrastructure, Governance, and Interoperability

Several HIMSS26 announcements emphasized the infrastructure required to support autonomous AI systems across healthcare organizations.

Singulr AI launched Agent Pulse, a governance platform designed to monitor and control the behavior of AI agents through real-time risk intelligence and contextual policy enforcement.

athenahealth unveiled a Model Context Protocol server allowing authorized AI agents to securely access patient data within the athenaOne platform.

Clearsense highlighted an AI-driven archiving strategy aimed at accelerating the decommissioning of legacy IT systems while transforming historical data into governed intelligence layers.

Additional announcements included expanded specialty therapy access tools from CoverMyMeds, an updated AI-enabled EHR platform from Juno Health, endpoint management solutions from NinjaOne, and enterprise imaging strategies from GE HealthCare and Merge.

Medicomp Systems also reported that Institut Jantung Negara achieved HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7 validation using its Quippe clinical documentation platform.

Under the directive, hospitals must link their Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) with the ABDM-HMIS portal maintained by the National Health Authority.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges across India to integrate the digital systems of their attached hospitals with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) within 15 days, in a move aimed at digitizing patient records and improving oversight of hospital activity.

Under the directive, hospitals must link their Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) with the ABDM-HMIS portal maintained by the National Health Authority. The integration will allow hospital registrations and treatment services to be captured digitally and linked to a national platform.

Officials say the initiative is intended to improve the accuracy of patient data reported by teaching hospitals, particularly those claiming treatment volumes under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). By digitizing records, regulators expect to verify the actual number of beneficiaries receiving treatment and eliminate fake or erroneous entries in hospital records.

“One issue we face is that fake patients sometimes get created on paper. Once everything becomes digital, it will help sort this out,” an NMC official said.

Medical college hospitals play a key role in India’s healthcare delivery system and also serve as primary training facilities for medical students. Patient load and hospital service volumes are among the major parameters considered by regulators while assessing medical colleges.

Currently, regulators rely heavily on data reported by institutions. Officials say digital integration will enable the commission to track hospital performance more accurately through verified records rather than relying solely on institutional disclosures.

The move is also expected to support the development of a national digital medical record framework. Through integration with the PM-JAY portal managed by the National Health Authority, treatment details and doctor information can be captured digitally.

“If a patient takes treatment from a doctor, later we will be able to see which doctor treated the patient and access those details,” the official said.

In the long term, officials say nationwide digital connectivity could allow doctors across institutions to access a patient’s treatment history, enabling better continuity of care. However, they noted that full integration will take time since healthcare administration is largely managed by states and hospitals operate under different digital systems.

“Everything will not get connected immediately. Integration will happen step by step,” the official added.

Medical colleges have been asked to complete the required integration within 15 days of receiving the notice.

The funding round was led by Morningside Ventures, IAG Capital Partners and Starbloom Capital, with participation from Apollo Health Ventures, Benvolio Group, New Vintage and other investors.

Cognito Therapeutics has raised $105 million in an oversubscribed Series C funding round to advance development of its Spectris neurotechnology platform designed to treat Alzheimer’s disease using non-invasive sensory stimulation.

The funding round was led by Morningside Ventures, IAG Capital Partners and Starbloom Capital, with participation from Apollo Health Ventures, Benvolio Group, New Vintage and other investors.

The Massachusetts-based company develops therapies that use synchronized visual and auditory stimulation to target neural activity associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Its investigational platform, Spectris, is prescribed by physicians and used by patients at home to stimulate neural networks through natural sensory pathways. The approach aims to evoke coordinated neural activity across interconnected brain networks with the goal of improving cognition and daily functioning in Alzheimer’s patients.

Cognito said the latest funding will be used to advance the pivotal HOPE study evaluating Spectris AD Therapy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The trial is currently fully enrolled, with data readout expected later this year.

The company also plans to use the capital to prepare for regulatory submission to the US Food and Drug Administration, continue clinical development of the Spectris platform and support anticipated commercialization of the technology in 2027.

Beyond Alzheimer’s disease, Cognito intends to expand the Spectris platform into additional neurodegenerative indications through collaborations, including work with the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute.

Gerald Chan, founder of Morningside Ventures and chairman of Cognito’s board, said the platform combines neuroscience research with engineering and clinical development to address neurodegenerative conditions. “Spectris has the potential to redefine how a broad category of neurodegenerative diseases are treated by moving therapy into the home and reducing the burden on patients and caregivers,” he said in a statement.

The company has been expanding its research ecosystem in recent years. In 2025, Cognito launched the Brain Health Collaboratory with the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute to accelerate research and validation of non-drug neurotherapies.

Cognito has previously secured multiple funding rounds to support development of its technology. In 2023, the company raised $73 million in Series B financing, bringing its total funding at the time to $93 million. Earlier studies reported that its gamma sensory stimulation approach reduced white matter atrophy in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

The company received Breakthrough Device Designation from the US Food and Drug Administration in 2021 for its non-invasive neurostimulation device.

At Adani Healthcare, he will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s information technology strategy and digital systems as the company continues to expand its healthcare services and infrastructure.

Adani Healthcare has appointed Himanshu Bhardwaj as its Chief Information Officer (CIO), bringing more than 28 years of experience in information technology and healthcare operations to the role.

Bhardwaj joins the organization from Medanta Hospitals, where he served as Head of Hospital Information Systems (HIS) and IT Applications. During his tenure, he was involved in scaling the healthcare provider from a single flagship hospital to a broader network that now includes six multi-specialty hospitals, along with a network of clinics, pharmacies, and diagnostic laboratories.

At Medanta, Bhardwaj worked closely with clinical and IT teams to support operational and digital initiatives aimed at improving patient care workflows, strengthening data management systems, and supporting hospital operations through technology-led solutions.

Over the course of his career, Bhardwaj has also held senior roles at several technology companies, including Polaris, Virtusa, and Intellect. His professional background includes experience in product and program management, business analysis, and database administration.

He has led teams across multiple geographies and overseen technology projects involving high-volume transactions and enterprise-level systems. His experience includes managing large-scale transformation programs as well as planning and executing IT budgets and operational strategies.

Bhardwaj has also received multiple professional awards during his career for leadership in program management and technology implementation.

At Adani Healthcare, he will be responsible for overseeing the organization’s information technology strategy and digital systems as the company continues to expand its healthcare services and infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the expansion of healthcare services through the Ayushman Bharat programme and the health network.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted the growing role of telemedicine in strengthening healthcare access across the country, particularly for people living in remote areas.

Addressing the fourth post-Budget webinar on Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Fulfilling Aspirations of People, the Prime Minister said telemedicine is increasingly becoming an important channel through which patients in distant locations are able to access medical consultations and services.

"Today a large number of people in remote areas are benefiting from telemedicine and their trust in it is increasing. However, there is still a need to increase awareness and ease of access," he said.

Focus on Digital & Preventive Healthcare

Modi said India is working towards a broader vision focused on preventive and holistic healthcare while simultaneously expanding healthcare infrastructure across the country.

He noted that in recent years, healthcare capacity has increased significantly with the establishment of new medical colleges across several districts.

The Prime Minister also pointed to the expansion of healthcare services through the Ayushman Bharat programme and the network of health and wellness centres that aim to bring primary healthcare services closer to rural communities.

Care Economy & Future Workforce

Highlighting future trends in the sector, Modi said the care economy will also play an important role in creating new skill-based employment opportunities.

"In the coming decade, the number of senior citizens in the country will increase rapidly. In addition, today there is a huge demand for caregivers in many countries. Therefore, the health sector is creating new skill-based employment opportunities for millions of youth," he said.

He also urged experts and policymakers to develop new training models and partnerships that can strengthen the country’s healthcare workforce.

In this role, Joshi will oversee the end-to-end clinical and administrative operations of the hospital, a 435-bed multi-specialty facility.

CARE Hospitals, part of Quality CARE India Limited, has appointed Abhinav Joshi as Hospital Chief Operating Officer (HCOO) at its Banjara Hills facility in Hyderabad, effective March 2026.

In this role, Joshi will oversee the end-to-end clinical and administrative operations of the hospital, a 435-bed multi-specialty facility. His responsibilities include improving patient outcomes, enhancing operational efficiency, and strengthening relationships with consultants and clinical teams.

Joshi brings more than 18 years of experience in healthcare administration and hospital operations. Prior to joining CARE Hospitals, he served as Vice President of Operations at Sahyadri Hospitals, where he managed cluster operations and administrative functions across multiple facilities.

Earlier in his career, Joshi held senior leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer at HCG Hospitals in Ahmedabad and Rajkot. He also served as Regional Head at Motherhood Hospitals, overseeing operational management across regional units.

The appointment marks a return to CARE Hospitals for Joshi. In 2017, he served as Deputy General Manager – Operations at the Banjara Hills unit. His previous tenure included responsibilities related to hospital operations and service delivery at the facility.

Joshi’s experience also includes nearly seven years with HCG Multispecialty Hospitals, where he worked on hospital management and financial operations, including profit and loss responsibilities. Earlier in his career, he was associated with Wockhardt Hospitals, gaining operational experience in healthcare administration.

Announcing his new role in a professional update, Joshi said he looks forward to contributing to patient care and healthcare delivery at CARE Hospitals.

CARE Hospitals’ Banjara Hills facility is one of the group’s flagship hospitals, offering multi-specialty services and tertiary care in Hyderabad. Joshi’s appointment comes as the hospital continues to focus on strengthening operational leadership and clinical service delivery.

The device is designed to restore functional vision in patients with conditions such as macular degeneration and other retinal disorders

California-based Neurotechnology startup Science Corporation has raised $230 million in Series C funding to accelerate the development of its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology designed to restore vision in patients with severe retinal diseases.

The funding round, which included participation from investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Khosla Ventures, Y Combinator, IQT, and Quiet Capital, brought the company’s total capital to approximately $490 million.

Founded in 2021 by Max Hodak, a former co-founder of Neuralink, the company is developing a retinal implant known as PRIMA.

The device is designed to restore functional vision in patients with conditions such as macular degeneration and other retinal disorders.

The PRIMA system works by implanting a small electronic chip beneath the retina. The implant interacts with camera-equipped glasses that leverage AI to capture and convert visual information into signals that stimulate retinal cells, allowing patients to perceive visual patterns.

The new capital infusion is expected to support commercial deployment of the device, including scaling manufacturing capabilities, expanding clinical trials, and building operational infrastructure required for wider adoption.

The device's clinical trials showed that approximately 80% of participants experienced meaningful improvements in visual acuity, enabling some patients to recognise letters, numbers, and words.

Recently, the startup also partnered with Neurosoft Bioelectronics, a company developing minimally invasive, implantable BCI systems that leverage soft-materials engineering and AI to restore function in people with tinnitus, epilepsy, and other disorders.

The new AI-technology shall be designed to analyze chest X-ray images taken at selected facilities and generate automated reports to assist doctors in identifying suspected TB cases

The Greater Chennai Corporation has announced plans to deploy AI-based chest X-ray screening across its urban primary health centers (UPHCs) to improve early detection of tuberculosis (TB) and other respiratory conditions across the state.

The initiative is being implemented by the Corporation as part of its effort to strengthen public health surveillance and accelerate the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

As per reports, the civil administration body has already allocated INR One crore for procuring the AI software and associated equipment required for the deployment.

The AI-enabled screening will be introduced in 15 UPHCs located across the city’s 15 administrative zones, along with seven mobile TB screening units used for community outreach.

The new AI-technology shall be designed to analyze chest X-ray images taken at selected facilities and generate automated reports to assist doctors in identifying suspected TB cases.

The technology is expected to reduce the time required for manual screening by radiologists or trained medical practitioners.

Further, the automated system will also help to prioritise patients with suspected abnormalities during consultations, allowing for quicker follow-up testing and treatment initiation.

Officials noted that the integration with routine diagnostics is expected to enhance the corporation's public health capacity, particularly through outreach screening programmes conducted by mobile units.

The AI tools developed by startups are being deployed across 18 government hospitals across the state to strengthen clinical services.

The Andhra Pradesh government has announced the deployment of AI-based technologies in government hospitals to support faster diagnosis and improve treatment outcomes as part of its pilot programme.

According to an announcement made by the Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav, the AI tools developed by startups are being deployed across 18 government hospitals across the state to strengthen clinical services.

Reportedly, nearly 40 AI-enabled devices and digital tools are being used to conduct screening and diagnostic tests for around 15 diseases, including cervical cancer, heart disease, tuberculosis, anaemia, cataract, glaucoma, and neurological disorders in children.

The AI-powered tools are designed to assist doctors in diagnosing diseases more quickly and accurately, which is expected to enable timely treatment for patients.

Additionally, advanced software is also being used in certain hospitals to streamline patient care and support medical decision-making.

Some of the AI applications being piloted include cough-analysis tools to detect tuberculosis, systems that help identify early signs of heart disease, and predictive models that analyse data to anticipate dengue outbreaks. Portable diagnostic devices designed to run blood tests for conditions such as diabetes, kidney disorders, and thyroid problems are also being used in certain hospitals.

Further, wearable monitoring devices are also being deployed in hospital settings to track patients’ vitals, particularly in intensive care units.

In addition, certain AI systems automatically record doctor-patient consultations and generate treatment summaries, and prescriptions are also being used.

The Health Minister stated that the technologies being tested are divided into four categories, including diagnostic devices, portable point-of-care systems, wearable patient monitoring devices, and telemedicine platforms.

The minister also noted that the pilot phase will be evaluated after completion, and a report will be submitted to CM Chandra Babu Naidu. Based on the findings, the government may consider expanding AI-driven healthcare technologies to more hospitals across the state.

He further stated that these systems are expected to be integrated with digital health records linked to the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA), aimed at enabling more efficient data management and improved continuity of care.

Currently, the pilot programme is underway at several major government hospitals, including facilities in Visakhapatnam, Anantapur, Guntur, Kakinada, and Vijayawada, as well as district hospitals in Tenali and Parvathipuram.

The researchers are working to add wireless monitoring capabilities to allow patient data to be transmitted remotely.

Researchers in Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, have developed a portable diagnostic device designed to detect Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

The prototype was developed through a collaboration between PGIMER and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, seeks to improve access to sleep diagnostics by providing a more affordable and advanced portable testing solution.

Currently, sleep apnea diagnostics in India typically rely on hospital-based tests known as polysomnography, which require specialized equipment and overnight monitoring in sleep laboratories.

The newly developed device is designed in the form of a large smartphone and leverages custom algorithms and machine learning to analyse breathing patterns during sleep.

The system can detect episodes when a patient temporarily stops breathing, which is a key indicator of obstructive sleep apnea.

Researchers estimate that the prototype has been built at a cost of around INR 20,000, which is expected to reduce the financial barriers associated with sleep disorder testing.

Additionally, the researchers are working on integrating wireless capabilities to enable remote transmission of patient data, along with enhanced sensors to track nasal air flow for detailed diagnostic analysis

Further, the future advancements include incorporating AI tools to improve the accuracy of sleep apnea detection.

Reportedly, the research team plans to seek validation from the Indian Council of Medical Research before wider deployment of the technology.

The government also plans to strengthen 108 ambulance services by bringing the command control centre under the health and family welfare department.

The Karnataka government has allocated INR 17,473.4 Cr to the health and family welfare sector in the Budget 2026–27, with plans to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve maternal health services, and expand disease prevention programs across the state.

Presenting his 17th Budget, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government aims to improve access to quality healthcare services and reduce preventable maternal mortality. “We believe that a healthy population is a prerequisite for building an equal society. We are committed to ensuring quality health services from birth to all age groups without discrimination at affordable rates. It is our resolve to reduce the preventable maternal mortality rate to zero,” he said.

To support maternal healthcare, the government has allocated INR 320 Cr to strengthen obstetric services in hospitals. The funding will support the deployment of equipment to treat and prevent severe postpartum haemorrhage using digital technologies. Maternal and child health specialists will also be deputed to every taluka hospital through reallocation of posts.

The budget also includes investments aimed at improving healthcare infrastructure. A 200-bed hospital will be constructed in Bengaluru at INR 150 Cr, while Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru will undergo renovation for INR 650 Cr. District and taluk hospitals requiring major repairs will be renovated in phases with an allocation of INR 183 Cr.

In the Kalyana Karnataka region, the government has earmarked INR 873 Cr under the Kalyana Karnataka Comprehensive Health Scheme to strengthen health systems and improve service delivery.

A new policy focused on the prevention and treatment of burn injuries among women will also be introduced, described as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.

Additional initiatives include a pilot program for early diagnosis of rare metabolic disorders in prenatal and infant populations in Kalyana Karnataka and mining-affected regions, with an allocation of INR 10 Cr. A cervical cancer prevention program will also be implemented to vaccinate 14-year-old girls with the HPV vaccine in 20 taluks of mining-affected and Kalyana Karnataka regions, for INR 9 Cr.

The Gruha Aarogya Scheme, initially launched in Kolar district to screen and treat six non-communicable diseases, will be expanded across the state with a budget of INR 100 Cr.

The government also plans to strengthen 108 ambulance services by bringing the command control centre under the health and family welfare department. In addition, INR 50 Cr has been allocated for a mission-mode program to control communicable diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, and Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in the Malenad region.

Dr. Shafiq AM, CEO and co-founder of TriLife Hospital, said the budget reflects continued focus on strengthening healthcare delivery and improving collaboration between public and private healthcare providers.

The initiative aims to protect sensitive personal health information (PHI) while maintaining a smooth user experience for patients.

LexisNexis Risk Solutions is strengthening security for Epic MyChart users through a broader suite of AI-driven identity verification tools, the company announced. U.S. hospitals using Epic can now deploy these solutions natively via the Epic Connection Hub.

The initiative aims to protect sensitive personal health information (PHI) while maintaining a smooth user experience for patients. LexisNexis’ expanded portfolio offers modular access to solutions such as ThreatMetrix, an AI-powered behavioral and device risk platform; Flex ID; Phone Finder; and One Time Password (OTP) authenticators.

The integration allows hospital IT teams to select the components that best match their risk tolerance. Passive behavioral analytics from ThreatMetrix monitors user behavior, device patterns, and transaction activity. Routine logins from recognized devices and locations proceed without friction, while suspicious access attempts are flagged for further verification.

For higher-risk scenarios, active verification tools such as Instant Verify, Phone Finder, and OTP authentication confirm the user’s identity and device possession.

LexisNexis plans to integrate its AI-powered IDVerse solution within the Epic framework. IDVerse leverages biometric and document verification to detect deepfakes, forgeries, and synthetic identities, offering a NIST IAL2-certified workflow for patient authentication.

Jonathan Shannon, AVP of healthcare strategy at LexisNexis Risk Solutions, said, “In an industry that remains a top target for cybercrime, striking a balance between user experience and security is critical. This integration is another step forward in instilling confidence and trust in healthcare organizations and patients alike.”

The combined platform positions hospitals to proactively defend against emerging cyber threats, ensuring that only verified patients can access their MyChart accounts while minimizing login friction.

Doublepoint develops technology that combines artificial intelligence and biometric data to interpret small hand gestures, allowing users to interact with devices without traditional touch inputs.

Oura has acquired Doublepoint, a startup focused on gesture recognition technology that enables users to control wearable devices through natural hand movements. The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction.

Doublepoint develops technology that combines artificial intelligence and biometric data to interpret small hand gestures, allowing users to interact with devices without traditional touch inputs.

Oura said the acquisition will support the integration of gesture-based controls into its smart rings.

In a statement, the company said the technology enables devices to understand subtle hand movements, making interactions across different interfaces faster and more intuitive. When combined with Oura’s existing sensing capabilities, the technology could enable new background features designed to operate seamlessly during everyday use.

Oura indicated that its next phase of wearable AI will likely rely on a combination of voice and gesture-based interactions. The addition of Doublepoint’s technology is expected to support the company’s efforts to build more ambient artificial intelligence experiences in wearable devices.

The acquisition comes after a year of growth for both Oura and the broader smart ring segment. The company was valued at approximately $11 billion in late 2025. Oura reported that it has sold about 5.5 million rings to date, compared with 2.5 million units reported in June 2024, and forecasts sales to exceed $1.5 billion in 2026.

Industry data also points to strong momentum in the smart ring category. According to market research firm IDC, global shipments of smart rings increased nearly 51% in 2025, with Oura leading the segment.

Through the acquisition, Oura will also add Doublepoint’s Helsinki-based team, including its four founders. The company said the team will contribute to designing and developing future AI-driven experiences for its wearable platform.

Doublepoint becomes Oura’s fourth acquisition. The company previously acquired health tracking startup Sparta Science, metabolic health startup Veri, and digital identity startup Proxy.

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is a 198-bed hospital and one of the largest employers in Napa County.

Fairfield, California-based NorthBay Health has signed a letter of intent to acquire Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, California. The move would expand the health system to three hospitals.

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center is a 198-bed hospital and one of the largest employers in Napa County.

Services at the hospital include a regional heart center, an orthopedic center, and a cancer center approved with commendations by the American College of Surgeons. The facility also operates a neurosurgery program affiliated with UCSF.

Additional services include a women’s center, maternity and infant care, inpatient and outpatient minimally invasive surgery, and a full-service emergency department and trauma center.

NorthBay Health currently operates two hospitals — NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield, California, and NorthBay VacaValley Hospital in Vacaville, California.

The system also includes a 100-provider primary and specialty care medical group, the NorthBay Cancer Center, and the Active Wellness Center at NorthBay Health medical fitness facility.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2026, pending a definitive agreement and regulatory approvals.

“We’re proud to share an important step toward expanding care for the Napa County community,” the system said in a March 5 news release. “Our focus remains the same: expanding access, strengthening local care and building a system to serve the Napa County community for generations to come.”

The company will demonstrate several AI-powered capabilities at the 2026 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas.

Oracle Health is expanding the use of artificial intelligence across its electronic health record (EHR), reimbursement systems, and enterprise cloud applications to address operational and clinical inefficiencies in healthcare. 

The company will demonstrate several AI-powered capabilities at the 2026 HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas.

Seema Verma, executive vice president and general manager of Oracle Health and Life Sciences, said the company is embedding AI directly into clinical and administrative workflows to help providers reduce documentation burdens and streamline operations.

Among the solutions being highlighted is the Oracle Health Clinical AI Agent, which supports automated clinical documentation. The tool generates clinical notes and has seen rapid adoption since its launch in the United States last year. According to the company, more than 300 organizations currently use the agent, which has collectively saved clinicians over 200,000 hours of documentation time. The solution is also available for physicians in Canada and the United Kingdom.

Oracle Health is also introducing AI agents designed to improve reimbursement and claims management processes. These tools aim to automate tasks such as prior authorization, medical coding, and claims documentation by embedding payer rules directly into provider workflows.

Administrative and insurance-related costs in the healthcare sector are estimated at approximately $200 billion annually. Verma said the new AI agents are intended to reduce manual work, accelerate approvals, and improve coordination between payers and providers.

The company will also showcase its Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications, which include AI-enabled enterprise tools supporting finance, human capital management, supply chain operations, and customer experience for healthcare organizations. The applications are designed to integrate with clinical systems to help hospitals manage staffing, streamline supply chains, and improve revenue cycle operations.

Oracle Health is also advancing its next-generation EHR platform, which integrates AI directly into clinician workflows to provide real-time insights and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. The system is currently used by ambulatory care providers in the United States, with availability in acute care settings expected later in 2026.

Additionally, the company is developing a new Oracle Health Patient Portal that allows patients to access and manage their medical records through a single digital platform. Planned AI capabilities will enable patients to receive plain-language explanations of diagnoses, test results and treatment plans.

Oracle Health said its AI framework is designed to support open integration, allowing healthcare organizations to build or integrate additional AI tools while maintaining secure clinical workflows.

The budget also includes investments in tertiary care expansion, including upgrades at Government Medical Colleges in Patiala and Amritsar and the expansion of the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Mohali.

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has welcomed the state government’s decision to raise the health budget to INR 6,879 Cr for FY 2026-27, describing it as a step toward strengthening accessible and affordable healthcare services across Punjab.

The announcement follows the presentation of the state budget by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, which proposed a 23 per cent increase in healthcare spending compared to the previous fiscal year.

The government has positioned the allocation as part of a broader effort to expand primary healthcare coverage, strengthen medical education, and extend financial protection for families through insurance schemes.

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh has described the budget as a “landmark document that prioritises the health and well-being of every Punjabi,” noting that the expanded health budget of INR 6,879 Cr will help improve service delivery across the state.

He said the allocation aims to ensure “accessible, affordable, and quality medical services” while supporting ongoing health reforms.

Insurance Coverage Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana

A significant portion of the health budget will fund the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, a universal health insurance scheme offering cashless treatment coverage of up to INR 10 lakh per family annually.

The programme is expected to benefit around 65 lakh families across Punjab, with an allocation of INR 2,000 Cr in the 2026-27 budget. Under the scheme, residents can access treatment at more than 900 government and empanelled private hospitals.

Expansion of Aam Aadmi Clinics

The state has also continued to prioritise its network of Aam Aadmi Clinics, which function as community-level primary care centres offering essential medicines and diagnostic services free of cost.

Currently, 881 such clinics are operational, providing 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests. Together, they have recorded nearly five crore outpatient visits, including about 1.55 crore unique patients.

To expand the programme, the government has proposed INR 351 Cr to establish 143 additional Aam Aadmi Clinics and convert 308 subsidiary health centres into the same model of care. Once completed, the network is expected to reach a total of 1,432 clinics over five years under the Bhagwant Mann-led administration.

Emergency and Specialised Care & Tertiary Care Expansion

The budget also outlines investments in specialised and emergency care. A modern trauma centre is planned at Sri Anandpur Sahib to strengthen emergency response infrastructure, while funding has been allocated for cancer and drug de-addiction treatment facilities.

The budget also includes investments in tertiary care expansion, including upgrades at Government Medical Colleges in Patiala and Amritsar and the expansion of the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences in Mohali, where a diagnostic block and a 175-bed hospital facility are under development.

Medical Education Development

Medical education and research have received INR 1,220 Cr in the new budget. The state government plans to establish seven new medical colleges in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Lehragaga, Malerkotla, and Ludhiana.

These institutions are expected to add 600 MBBS seats and support Punjab’s ambition to develop a stronger healthcare workforce pipeline. Land spanning 38.5 acres has already been purchased in Malerkotla at a cost of INR 49 Cr for one of the proposed colleges.

Alongside healthcare spending, the Punjab government has also increased allocations for education, proposing INR 19,279 Cr for the sector and outlining reforms such as the Sikhya Kranti 2.0 initiative to modernise schools and higher education infrastructure over the next six years.

Cashless claims represent nearly 85% of the total claim value and around 70% of the claim volume processed. Currently, about one-fifth of these claims are processed entirely through AI without any human involvement.

Star Health Insurance has announced plans to significantly expand the use of artificial intelligence in claims processing, aiming to settle the majority of its cashless claims through AI-enabled straight-through systems within the next two years.

The shift comes as regulators in India have tightened timelines for claim approvals. Insurers are now required to complete pre-admission authorisation within one hour and post-discharge authorisation within three hours.

To meet these requirements consistently, insurers are increasingly adopting digital systems and AI-driven automation to streamline approvals and reduce manual interventions.

Star Health, currently the largest health insurance provider in India by premium collection, says AI is already handling a growing share of cashless claims. Cashless claims represent nearly 85% of the total claim value and around 70% of the claim volume processed by the insurer.

At present, about one-fifth of these claims are processed entirely through AI without any human involvement.

"Cashless claims account for about 85% of claim value and roughly 70% by number. Around 20% of claims are processed straight through using AI without human intervention, and we aim to increase this to over 50% in two years. Human intervention will primarily be for exceptions, high-value claims, or suspected fraud," said Anand Roy, CEO, Star Health.

Cashless claims allow patients to receive treatment at network hospitals without paying upfront for covered services. In such cases, hospitals submit treatment requests to insurers, who approve the procedures and directly settle the bills with the healthcare facility according to pre-negotiated rates.

However, hospital pricing in India remains largely unregulated, which has historically led to variation in treatment costs across hospitals. To address this challenge, the General Insurance Council has been working with hospitals to establish standardised schedules of rates and treatment protocols.

The council is also pursuing a broader industry initiative to streamline hospital empanelment and digital connectivity. One of the key goals is to create a common network of hospitals accessible to multiple insurers, with a target of onboarding at least 10,000 healthcare facilities.

Digital infrastructure is expected to play a central role in this transformation. Platforms such as the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) and the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) are being integrated to enable secure data exchange, faster claims validation, and improved interoperability between hospitals and insurers.

A key component of the agreement is the introduction of a dual-award doctoral programme, in which PhD scholars will be jointly supervised, enabling researchers to benefit from international expertise and shared research facilities.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati has formalised a strategic partnership with Coventry University Group, UK, aimed at strengthening global research collaboration and accelerating innovation in AI in Healthcare.

The agreement is expected to support joint research initiatives, academic mobility, and new doctoral programmes designed to address emerging healthcare challenges through advanced technologies.

The MoU was exchanged during a visit by Coventry University Group’s senior research leadership to the IIT Guwahati campus. The delegation was led by Prof. Richard Dashwood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), who also engaged in discussions around organising a joint research colloquium in a hybrid format.

Coventry University is a global education group known for its focus on applied research and industry collaboration. With nearly 60,000 students worldwide and a dedicated India Hub, the institution has been expanding its academic engagement with Indian universities and research centres.

Highlighting IIT Guwahati’s focus on translational research and its collaboration with CUG, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, said, “Guwahati is emerging as a research centre. AIIMS and NIPER are our partners in our health sciences and technology programme, with a focus on medical devices and drug discovery. In addition, IIT Guwahati's upcoming 400-bed research hospital will anchor active collaborations between medical professionals and scientists from the School of Health Sciences and Data Sciences.”

The partnership aligns with broader national and global initiatives supporting the integration of AI technologies in healthcare. The collaboration will also include short-term faculty and student exchange programmes, allowing researchers and scholars from both institutions to work across campuses.

Another key component of the agreement is the introduction of a dual-award doctoral programme. Under this model, PhD scholars will be jointly supervised by academic mentors from IIT Guwahati and Coventry University Group, enabling researchers to benefit from international expertise and shared research facilities.

Speaking during his visit to IIT Guwahati, Prof. Richard Dashwood, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Coventry University, said, “Our research always comes with real-world change in mind, and working alongside institutions and partners in India, we can have a lasting impact on areas such as AI and healthcare.”

The agreement was signed in the presence of Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director of IIT Guwahati. Prof. Sumana Dutta, Dean of Alumni and External Relations at IIT Guwahati, and Prof. Richard Dashwood signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions.

The government has announced the launch of the Maharashtra Digital Health Technology Mission, enabling real-time health monitoring, data-driven decision-making and improved coordination across healthcare facilities through digital dashboards and information systems.

Maharashtra has unveiled a health-focused budget for the upcoming financial year, allocating INR 5,980.08 Cr for the health sector while introducing initiatives aimed at strengthening public health systems, building digital health capabilities, and improving early disease detection across the state.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government plans to develop the Mumbai Metropolitan Region as a global centre for comprehensive health and wellness services.

As part of this effort, the state will establish an Urban Health Directorate that will oversee implementation of national health programmes and coordinate healthcare delivery across 29 municipal corporations, 247 municipalities and 147 nagar panchayats.

New Public Health Institute in Nagpur

In a move aimed at strengthening public health training and research, the government has also proposed the creation of the Maharashtra Institute of Public Health in Nagpur. The institute will be developed on the lines of leading national institutions such as the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and the Indian Institutes of Management, and will be set up with the support of the Public Health Foundation of India.

The initiative is expected to support workforce development and research in areas such as epidemiology, health policy and public health management.

ADB-Backed Disease Detection Programme

A major component of the state’s health strategy is an INR 4,500 Cr programme, supported by the Asian Development Bank, that focuses on improving early detection and treatment of major non-communicable diseases, including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular conditions in rural areas.

The programme is intended to strengthen diagnostic capacity and expand access to treatment services in underserved regions.

Maharashtra Digital Health Technology Mission

The government has also announced the launch of the Maharashtra Digital Health Technology Mission, which aims to create an integrated digital public health ecosystem.

The platform will enable real-time health monitoring, data-driven decision-making and improved coordination across healthcare facilities through digital dashboards and information systems.

Furthermore, Maharashtra currently operates 35 government medical colleges, and construction is underway for 11 additional institutions to increase the supply of trained doctors and healthcare professionals.

Under the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, the state’s flagship health insurance scheme, the number of treatments covered has been expanded from 1,356 to 2,399. The network of empanelled hospitals has also grown significantly from 1,792 to 4,537 facilities. The scheme will additionally support organ transplant procedures with financial assistance of up to ₹22 lakh through the State Health Assurance Society’s reserve fund.

Complementing these initiatives, the state has proposed establishing a naturopathy centre in Dare village in Satara district. The centre will focus on preventive healthcare, mental wellness and treatment of lifestyle-related diseases, reflecting a broader shift toward holistic health and wellness approaches.

The systems produced under the programme incorporate Blue Light Imaging (BLI) and Linked Colour Imaging (LCI), which support multi-colour illumination and advanced image-processing technologies for clearer visualisation during procedures.

Fujifilm India has launched endoscopy manufacturing operations in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, establishing local production of advanced diagnostic equipment and reinforcing the country’s growing medical-device manufacturing ecosystem.

The initiative is aimed at strengthening the domestic supply of endoscopy systems while supporting India’s broader push for technology localisation under the Make in India programme.

The new manufacturing initiative will operate through a local partner facility in Jodhpur, following Fujifilm’s globally benchmarked Japanese production and quality standards.

The company has indicated that the localisation programme will gradually expand, enabling a larger share of endoscopy systems to be produced in India to meet the increasing demand for high-performance diagnostic solutions across the country and nearby markets.

The systems produced under the programme are designed to support diagnostic accuracy during endoscopic examinations.

They incorporate LED light sources capable of multi-colour illumination alongside advanced image-processing technologies that help physicians obtain clearer visualisation during procedures.

Among the technologies included are Blue Light Imaging (BLI), which enhances the visibility of blood vessels and fine mucosal structures, and Linked Colour Imaging (LCI), a feature that highlights subtle colour differences in tissue, particularly in red regions, helping clinicians identify abnormalities more effectively during examinations.

Gajendra Singh Khimsar, Rajasthan’s Cabinet Minister for Medical, Health and Family Welfare, said the project also reflects growing industry confidence in the state’s industrial environment.

“Viksit Rajasthan @2047 is about building capabilities that generate jobs, strengthen infrastructure, and attract advanced technology integration,” he said, adding that the project would contribute to employment and technology-driven manufacturing in Rajasthan.

Haruto Iwata, Managing Director of Fujifilm Asia Pacific, highlighted India’s increasing focus on preventive healthcare and early diagnosis.

“India’s healthcare landscape is evolving rapidly, with increasing emphasis on early detection, minimally invasive diagnostics, and access to reliable healthcare technology,” he said, noting that bringing Japanese manufacturing standards to India could help strengthen diagnostic capabilities.

Koji Wada, Managing Director of Fujifilm India, said the initiative is part of the company’s long-term strategy to expand its healthcare presence in the country. “This milestone is an important part of Fujifilm’s roadmap to deepen our healthcare footprint in India,” he said.

Fujifilm India has also indicated that it may expand the scope of its “Made in India” products in the future to serve neighbouring markets.

From hospital boardrooms to AI-powered startups, from diagnostics chains to vaccine labs, India's healthtech revolution has a woman's fingerprint all over it.

India is progressing, and the women of this country are leading that charge. There was a time when the conversation was about bringing women to par with men. That time has passed. Today, women are not just keeping pace; they are setting it.

Healthcare, at its core, is built on compassion, empathy, and relentless dedication. It is no wonder that women are finding their most natural home here. At Digital Health News, this Women's Day, we don't just celebrate these twelve extraordinary leaders for a day. We celebrate them for what they do every day, for this sector, and for this nation.

Let us take a look at the trailblazers who are writing the next chapter of India's health story.

01. Carrying Forward a Healthcare Legacy

02. From a Small Lab to a Diagnostics Empire

As a teenager, Ameera Shah spent her summers at her father's pathology lab in Mumbai, writing receipts, answering calls, and cleaning patients' arms before blood draws. Years later, after her finance career in the US, she returned home in 2001, not for a comfortable corporate career, but to transform a single lab with 40 employees into a diagnostics empire. Today, Metropolis Healthcare operates across over 750 towns in India and Africa, and stands as India's second-largest diagnostics chain.

Named to Fortune India's Most Powerful Women in Business list five times and recognised as the EY Entrepreneur of the Year in healthcare for 2021, she successfully led Metropolis's IPO in April 2019. Ameera Shah rewrote what diagnostics leadership looks like in India.

03. Shaping the Future of Digital Health

Neurosurgeon. Hospital CEO. Medical Director at Fortis Healthcare. Technical Advisor to the Minister of Health, Djibouti. Fellowships from Mayo Clinic and Necker Enfants Malades, Paris. An MBA from FMS Delhi. Dr. Uma Nambiar has lived several careers in one lifetime, and she has brought all of them to bear on her newest and perhaps most important mission: building the governance architecture for India's digital health transformation.

As Chairperson of DHIndia and CEO of the Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital at IISc Bangalore, an 800-bed super-speciality institution at the intersection of AI, MedTech, and clinical care, she is helping position India as a global leader in health informatics. In a sector obsessed with specialists, Dr Uma Nambiar is the rare generalist who sees the whole picture of health.

04. Turning Care into a Mission

Her original plan was to join the Indian Administrative Services. Life had other plans, and perhaps larger ones. When she stepped in to support her husband's vision of building a hospital, what began as a partnership became purpose. Since taking charge of Yashoda Hospitals in 2000, she has grown it from a 100-bed secondary care facility into a 700+ bed super-speciality network across the NCR, with a 1,200-bed medical city in the works.

Holder of a Fellowship from ISQua, a Quality Leadership certification from Harvard Medical School, and a vocal champion of ethical, affordable care with zero private equity pressure, she is also the NABH Brand Ambassador and a committed advocate for the Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao initiative. What makes Dr. Upasana stand apart is her bone-deep belief in affordable, ethical care, the kind of leader who puts patients before profits, every single time.

05. When Personal Loss Sparked Innovation

She calls herself an accidental entrepreneur. Her path to founding one of India's most celebrated healthtech startups did not begin in a business school; it began with grief. When her cousin was diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer, it triggered in her a burning question. Why are so many women diagnosed too late?

A PhD holder from IISc, a Gold Medallist, and a former Lab Director at Xerox, she channelled that grief into building Niramai, a non-invasive, radiation-free AI-powered test for early-stage breast cancer detection.

NIRAMAI, Non-Invasive Risk Assessment with Machine Intelligence, uses AI with thermography images to detect early-stage breast cancer, including in women under 45, where mammography falls short. Backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and on Forbes' Top 20 Self-Made Women in India list, Dr. Geetha Manjunath turned personal grief into a technology that is quietly saving thousands of lives.

06. Where Science Meets Service

As a medical student, she helped set up a polio centre that treated 25,000 children, going door to door, performing street plays to drive vaccination. She had to shut it down a decade later because everyone in the area had been vaccinated. That's Dr Swati Piramal, a doctor who doesn't treat symptoms; she transforms systems. A Harvard School of Public Health alumna, she led a team that generated over 200 international patents and developed 14 new drugs under the Piramal banner.

Through the Piramal Foundation, she has championed rural health and women's empowerment, and she was also the first woman President of ASSOCHAM in 90 years. Dean's Advisor to Harvard Business School. Recipient of the Padma Shri and France's Légion d'Honneur. Science and service, worn as a single garment.

Recipient of the Padma Shri in 2012 and France's Légion d'Honneur in 2022, inducted into the Business Today Hall of Fame, Dr. Swati Piramal is a woman who wears science and service as a single garment.

07. The Woman Who Built India’s Biotech Movement

She wanted to be a brewmaster. The industry told her it was a man's job. That rejection turned out to be one of the most consequential moments in Indian science. In 1978, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw started Biocon India in the garage of her rented house in Bengaluru with a seed capital of just Rs. 10,000. Banks wouldn't fund her. Employees were reluctant to work for her. She built it anyway.

Today, Biocon reaches patients in 120+ countries with generics, biosimilars, novel biologics, and research services focused on making life-saving medicines affordable to those who need them most. Named among TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World, a Padma Bhushan awardee, and the first Indian woman business leader to sign the Giving Pledge, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw didn't just build a company. She built a movement.

08. Taking Indian Pharma to the World

She was 14 when she accompanied her father, Lupin founder Desh Bandhu Gupta, on a business trip to Zurich, and looked at global pharma markets with the quiet conviction that Lupin belonged there. Years later, armed with a pharmacy degree from Mumbai and an MBA from Kellogg, she made it happen. She joined Lupin with one mandate; to crack the US market. She did and then some. From a 5% US revenue share in 2005, Lupin became one of America's top generic medicine suppliers under her leadership.

She has steered over a dozen strategic acquisitions across continents, including the $880 million acquisition of Gavis Pharmaceuticals, then the largest foreign acquisition by an Indian pharma company. Today, Lupin employs over 23,000+ people across 11 countries. A daughter who learnt at her father's feet, and built chapters he never imagined.

09. Rising Through the Ranks to Lead MedTech

Most leaders are hired for their vision. Chandra Ganjoo was hired for sales, stayed for everything, and eventually rose to lead it all. That journey, slow, steady, and deeply earned, is what makes her story one of the most grounding ones in Indian MedTech.

She walked in as a sales executive in 1999, and then spent the next two-and-a-half decades earning every room she entered. Marketing, HR, cost control, corporate communications, international joint ventures, she touched every part of the organisation before rising to lead it all. Under her leadership, Trivitron has transformed from a distribution-led company into a global MedTech MNC with 15 certified manufacturing facilities across India, the USA, Finland, Turkey, and China, distributing to over 180 countries.

During the pandemic, she led Trivitron's rapid deployment of Made-in-India COVID-19 test kits, high-quality ventilators, and 20 RT-PCR labs, including mobile units, stepping up for the country at its most critical hour. Named Most Promising CEO of the Year at ASSOCHAM's Healthcare Summit 2023, Chandra Ganjoo is proof that the best leaders are built from the inside out.

10. A Doctor’s Heart in a CEO’s Chair

She is that rare leader who brings a clinician's precision to a CEO's boardroom. A trained radiologist with fellowships from UCLA, the University of Berlin, and Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Dr Devlina Chakravarty joined Artemis in 2007, the year it opened its doors, and has since built it into one of NCR's most respected quaternary care institutions. Under her stewardship, Artemis became the first hospital in Gurugram to receive both JCI and NABH accreditation, and was awarded Best Technology-Driven Hospital in its inaugural year of operations.

Her philosophy is simple and uncompromising; quality and ethics are not competing values; they are the same value. Good outcomes, patient safety, and transparency are not policies at Artemis; they are its culture. A doctor who became a CEO without losing her doctor's heart.

11. Building Vaccines for the World

In the late 1980s, she and Dr Krishna Ella packed up their lives in the United States and came home to India with a plan, and 70% of a 40-foot container filled with lab equipment. In 1996, they co-founded Bharat Biotech in Hyderabad with Rs. 12.5 crore and a mission to build vaccines for the diseases that the world's wealthiest markets had largely forgotten. The first three years produced no products. They stayed the course.

Dr Suchitra Ella oversees customer operations, finance, marketing, and business development at Bharat Biotech, the operational backbone behind a company that has delivered over 4 billion vaccines to 123 countries, developed Covaxin, India's first indigenous COVID-19 vaccine, and holds over 160 global patents. Padma Bhushan. Founding Chairwoman of CII's Indian Women's Network. Proof that when a country's health is at stake, its women are first to rise.

12. A Family Legacy, Her Own Vision

Alisha Moopen grew up watching her father build a healthcare organization from a single clinic in Dubai. Though she once aspired to become a doctor, she chose finance instead, earning a Chartered Accountancy qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a degree from the University of Michigan. After nearly a decade building her career, a life-altering personal experience brought her back to healthcare.

She joined Aster in 2013, initially overseeing hospital finances, and gradually expanded her role to include strategy, expansion, and digital transformation before taking charge of the group’s GCC business. Under her leadership, the organization continues to strengthen its presence across hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories in India and the GCC, with a focus on expanding access to quality healthcare.

13. Grief That Built an Empire

Meena Ganesh grew up in a middle-class family in Chennai and went on to graduate from IIM Calcutta. Over the course of her career, she built and scaled multiple successful companies, including CustomerAsset. Around 2010, when her father was diagnosed with cancer, she struggled to find adequate support for his recovery at home after hospital treatment. That experience revealed a major gap in India’s healthcare system.

In 2013, she co-founded Portea Medical to address that gap and expand access to professional home healthcare services in India. Today, the company operates across dozens of cities and has supported hundreds of thousands of patients, including extensive care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through Portea and her work with GrowthStory, Ganesh has played a key role in shaping the home healthcare ecosystem in India.

14. The Doctor Who Dreamt of Connectivity in Healthcare

Dr. Sunita Maheshwari describes herself as a paediatric cardiologist by training and a healthcare entrepreneur by accident. After returning to India in 1999 with her husband, Dr. Arjun Kalyanpur, the two identified an opportunity to use technology and time-zone differences to deliver radiology reports remotely. What began as a small experiment from their home in Bengaluru grew into Teleradiology Solutions, one of India’s pioneering teleradiology companies.

Today, The Telerad Group spans multiple companies across teleradiology, health technology software, telemedicine, and primary care, supporting hospitals across rural India as well as internationally. Through the Telerad Foundation, the organization has also provided thousands of free radiology reports for underserved communities, expanding access to diagnostics where specialist expertise is limited.

15. The Pharma Shark

Namita Thapar grew up watching her father build Emcure Pharmaceuticals into one of India’s leading pharmaceutical companies. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and earning an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, she spent several years working in the United States before returning to India in 2007. She joined Emcure as CFO and later went on to lead the company’s India business, helping scale its operations and global presence.

Beyond Emcure, Thapar has become widely known as an investor on Shark Tank India, where she has backed numerous early-stage startups and helped bring entrepreneurship into the mainstream conversation. She is also actively involved in initiatives that support women entrepreneurs and works to promote entrepreneurial education for young students in India.

16. A Pioneer of IVF in India

Dr. Indira Hinduja has been one of the pioneers of assisted reproductive technology in India. Working in an era when fertility science was still emerging in the country, she dedicated years to advancing research and clinical practice in in-vitro fertilisation and reproductive medicine.

In August 1986, she delivered India’s first scientifically documented test-tube baby at KEM Hospital in Mumbai, a milestone that transformed fertility treatment in the country. She later introduced additional assisted reproduction techniques in India and has helped thousands of couples pursue parenthood through IVF and related treatments. For her contributions to reproductive medicine, she was awarded the Padma Shri in 2011.

17. From Singapore to South Mumbai

Few Indian healthcare leaders have had the opportunity to learn from one of the world’s most efficient healthcare systems and bring those lessons back home. She trained as an orthopaedic surgeon at Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi, and then did what very few Indian doctors did, she went to Singapore, worked within its Ministry of Health, held leadership roles at Changi General Hospital and Alexandra Hospital, earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from the National University of Singapore, and spent 14 years learning how the world's best healthcare systems actually work. When she came back to India, she carried Singapore's DNA of precision, process, and patient-centricity with her.

She became CEO of Jaslok Hospital, then CEO of Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, and then took on the larger mandate of Group CEO, Healthcare Initiatives for Reliance Foundation. When COVID hit just as she was settling into the role, she had to manage COVID and non-COVID facilities, NSCI, and Seven Hills simultaneously. Her experience with SARS and H1N1 in Singapore gave her a head start most leaders didn't have. Today, the hospital runs at near-full occupancy, 65–68% of its team are women, and Mrs. Nita Ambani has personally recognised her leadership. Named Healthcare Leader of the Year by both the Governor of Maharashtra (2022). A surgeon who chose systems over scalpels, and made both better.

18. Sisters Who Fixed a Broken System

When Shashwata Narain’s sister was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) as a teenager, the experience was confusing, frustrating, and deeply isolating. Doctors offered conflicting advice, and the condition was often poorly explained or managed. Shashwata, who studied data science at Yale, earned an MBA from Wharton, and worked at McKinsey with consumer health companies, saw first-hand how large the gap in women’s health care was.

In 2020, the sisters surveyed thousands of women with PCOS and found that most felt existing treatments were not working for them. That insight led to the launch of Veera Health, a digital platform that combines gynaecology, nutrition, mental health, and lifestyle coaching into one integrated programme. Since then, the platform has supported thousands of women in managing PCOS and improving long-term health outcomes.

19. The Hand That Guides the Nation's Health

When India talks about its digital health future, from open health records to AI-powered public health systems, there is one bureaucrat steering that vision from the very top. As Union Health Secretary since October 2024, Punya Salila Srivastava is among the most powerful women in India's public health architecture today. She has been the driving force behind India's National Digital Health Blueprint, privacy-by-design health systems, and the responsible integration of GenAI into India's healthcare infrastructure. She also launched the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, a women's health initiative aimed at reaching 11 crore people across the country.

An IAS officer of the 1993 AGMUT batch, she brings to this role thirty years of formidable administrative experience, from the Prime Minister's Office as Special Secretary, to the Ministry of Home Affairs during COVID-19, where she was at the centre of India's national emergency response. Holder of a Master's in Public Management from the University of Maryland and a Physics degree from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, she represents India at the world's most important health forums, championing the fact that India produces nearly 50% of the world's vaccines and is the planet's largest supplier of generic medicines. She doesn't just manage the system. She moves it.

20. Children First, Always

For over 35 years, she has devoted herself entirely to children's health and maternal care. As CEO of two of Mumbai's most iconic legacy hospitals, Wadia Hospitals, she has turned institutions that could have coasted on their heritage into centres of national excellence.

Under her leadership, Wadia Hospitals have won over 40 national and international accolades. She has personally received 50+ awards, including recognition from the Government of Maharashtra. The hospitals serve tens of thousands of children and mothers annually, many from the most economically vulnerable families in the city.

What sets Dr. Minnie Bodhanwala apart is not just what she has built, it is what she has refused to compromise. In a healthcare landscape increasingly driven by commercial imperatives, Wadia remains a trust-run, mission-driven institution. She ensures it stays that way. A healer who chose children, and has spent every day since making sure the system does not fail them.

21. Building a Home for India's Elders

She is the daughter of Max Group founder Analjit Singh, and like every great founder's child who earns their own place in the story, she built something entirely her own. Educated at LSE and NUS, named a WEF Young Global Leader in 2020, she could have taken the well-worn path. Instead, she looked at India's 140 million senior citizens, most of whom have no organised, dignified care ecosystem, and decided to build one from scratch.

Antara Senior Care, which she founded and leads, is India's first and most comprehensive integrated senior living and care company. It offers retirement communities, home care services, and assisted living, all designed around the principle that ageing in India should be a dignified, joyful chapter, not an afterthought. With the silver economy growing at an unprecedented pace, Tara Singh Vachani is building the infrastructure India will desperately need in the coming decade. She is not just leading a business, she is changing how a country thinks about its elders.

22. India’s Voice at the World’s Health Table

When the world needed scientific leadership during COVID-19, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan played a pivotal role as the inaugural Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization. She helped establish and lead WHO’s Science Division and contributed to coordinating global research efforts during the pandemic, including initiatives aimed at expanding equitable vaccine access for low- and middle-income countries.

A paediatrician and globally respected researcher in tuberculosis and HIV, she has authored hundreds of peer-reviewed publications and is among the most cited scientists in global health. Since 2023, she has been Chair of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and serves as Principal Advisor to India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme, continuing to shape conversations around public health, science policy, and equitable healthcare access.

23. Fighting India’s Silent Epidemic

After a long global career in healthcare and communications, Dr. Nalini Saligram left her senior role in the United States to focus on a growing public health challenge in India, the rise of diabetes and other chronic diseases. In 2010, she founded Arogya World, bringing together her scientific background and international experience to promote prevention and healthier lifestyles.

Through programmes focused on schools, workplaces, and communities, Arogya World has worked to educate millions of people in India about lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of chronic disease. Using digital tools and community engagement, the organisation continues to advocate for preventive health and greater awareness around non-communicable diseases.

24. Building India’s FemTech Future

Navneet Kaur’s journey into women’s health innovation began with her own experience of severe menstrual pain and the lack of meaningful medical answers around it. That frustration led her to question how women’s health issues were often overlooked or dismissed, and eventually pushed her to step away from her family’s business to focus on building solutions in a space that was still emerging in India.

Today, FemTech India has grown into a large ecosystem connecting hundreds of women’s health startups, founders, and collaborators across the sector. Through initiatives, collaborations, and global conversations around women’s health innovation, Kaur continues to advocate for stronger investment, awareness, and solutions focused on women’s healthcare needs.

25. From Surgeon to HealthTech Unicorn Builder

She was the first doctor in her family. Her father's advice was simple, to serve the masses, that is your purpose. She took it literally, performed over 10,000 surgeries, worked at top hospitals, and saw the same broken system every single day. Unclear pricing. No care continuity. Patients navigating elective surgery alone, with no guidance and no dignity. In 2018, she co-founded Pristyn Care to fix it, a technology-first platform that manages everything from consultation and surgery to insurance and post-operative care.

Backed by Peak XV Partners and others, Pristyn Care became a unicorn at a $1.4 billion valuation in December 2021, one of India's rare healthtech unicorns. Today, it operates across 40+ cities with 700+ partner hospitals and over 2 million surgeries performed. And through it all, Dr. Garima still sees patients. The mission never left the building.

A Nation That Rises Together

These twenty-five women are not just advancing healthcare; they are shaping the future of healthtech in India. Whether it is building digital health platforms that reach the last mile, using AI to detect cancer earlier, expanding access to diagnostics, or scaling innovations that make vaccines and treatments more accessible, each of these leaders is quietly but powerfully transforming India’s health ecosystem.

Along the way, they have faced gender bias, family expectations, funding barriers, and complex systems. Yet they did more than overcome these challenges; they redefined them. Through technology, innovation, and leadership, they have built not just organisations, but platforms and ecosystems that are redefining how healthcare is delivered in India.

Digital Health News is itself a women-led organisation, 80% of our team are women. We don’t report this change from the sidelines. We are in it every single day.

On this Women's Day, Digital Health News celebrates the power of women, these twelve, and the thousands of others across India's hospitals, labs, clinics, startups, and policy rooms who show up every day and make the system work. You are not just India's healthcare future. You are its present.

Disclaimer: The numbering in this list is for representation purposes only and does not indicate any ranking or order of importance. Inclusion is based on notable contributions to healthcare and does not constitute endorsement of any individual or organisation.

The fund is expected to support growth-stage companies working on advanced medical technologies and healthcare devices.

India’s medtech sector is set to receive a dedicated INR 1000 Cr investment aimed at strengthening medtech innovation and manufacturing.

The initiative seeks to boost India's indigenous technology ecosystem and accelerate the growth of indigenous healthcare technologies, and is aligned with the government's ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The proposed fund, named MedArtha Capital, is being launched by a group of investors and industry veterans led by Ganesh Sabat, former CEO of Sahajanand Medical Technologies (SMT).

The fund is expected to support growth-stage companies working on advanced medical technologies and healthcare devices.

The fund aims to address India's significant import dependency in advanced medical devices like MRI machines, CT scanners, and critical cathlab and neurovascular equipment.

Recently, MedArtha Capital has also secured approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).

As per reports, the government is set to invest approximately INR 500 crore in the fund through its Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) scheme.

MedArtha Capital has already submitted an application under the scheme, which allows eligible entities to receive investment support of up to 50 percent of the total fund size.

The RDI initiative, announced last year with a corpus of INR 1 lakh crore, aims to accelerate investments in research, development, and innovation across key sectors.

The funding is expected to be deployed over the next two to three years and will focus on investing in 10 to 12 high-growth medtech companies across India.

Commenting on the initiative, Ganesh Sabat stated that the fund will primarily target small and mid-sized medtech companies that have established products but require capital and operational expertise to scale their manufacturing capabilities and expand their market presence.

The strategy also includes building contract development and manufacturing capabilities in the medtech sector.

Sabat further noted that the newly proposed fund will operate as a scale-up platform focusing on companies with annual revenues between INR 30 crore and INR 80 crore.

By providing both capital and strategic guidance, the initiative aims to help these companies strengthen their technological capabilities and expand production.

During the launch, the CM spoke about efforts to bring new medical technologies and healthcare infrastructure to the state

Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated the Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital in Agra today, marking the entry of the Yatharth Group of Hospitals into the city and adding a new healthcare facility to the region.

The hospital is located on National Highway 19 and has been developed as a 250-bed tertiary care centre with modern medical infrastructure and advanced treatment capabilities. The facility is expected to support healthcare delivery for residents of Agra and nearby districts.

The hospital will provide specialised medical services, including cardiac care, neurosurgery, critical care and organ transplant procedures such as liver and kidney transplants.

Equipped with advanced medical technology and supported by a team of doctors and trained nursing staff, the hospital aims to deliver specialised treatment locally and reduce the need for patients to travel to larger cities for advanced care.

During the inauguration, the Chief Minister spoke about the broader expansion of healthcare infrastructure and medical education in India. Highlighting developments in the state, he added, “Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh had only 17 medical colleges. Today, 81 medical colleges are functioning across the state.”

Focus on Medical Technology & Telemedicine

The Chief Minister also spoke about efforts to bring new medical technologies and healthcare infrastructure to the state.

He said centres of excellence for medical technology are being developed at IIT Kanpur and SGPGI Lucknow. He also noted that a 1500-acre pharma park is being developed in Lalitpur to support the manufacturing and production of medicines within the state.

He added that a medical device park is being developed along the Yamuna Expressway near Agra to support the manufacturing of medical equipment.

Highlighting technology-enabled healthcare services, he said telemedicine services have also been introduced across the state to improve access to medical consultation.

Yatharth Group of Hospitals currently operates eight hospitals with more than 2550 beds and over 900 doctors.

By acquiring the Arkansas hospitals, Freeman is expected to expand its regional presence and strengthen access to hospital and outpatient services for communities in the northwestern part of the state.

Community Health Systems has announced a definitive agreement to sell four Arkansas hospitals to Freeman Health System for $112 Mn. The deal includes multiple medical centres and related outpatient facilities, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions.

The hospitals involved in the agreement are the 128-bed Northwest Medical Centre–Bentonville, the 222-bed Northwest Medical Centre–Springdale, the 64-bed Northwest Medical Centre–Willow Creek Women’s Hospital in Johnson, and the 73-bed Siloam Springs Regional Hospital.

Along with these facilities, several affiliated outpatient sites and clinical practices will also be transferred to Freeman Health System as part of the acquisition.

The purchase price of $112 Mn may be adjusted at closing based on net working capital levels and the amount of finance leases that Freeman Health System agrees to assume. Leerink Partners has served as the exclusive financial advisor to Community Health Systems for the transaction.

The Arkansas hospitals are among the potential divestitures that Community Health Systems had previously discussed during its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call, as well as in subsequent public statements.

The CHS has been evaluating strategic asset sales to streamline operations and strengthen its balance sheet while maintaining focus on core markets.

Headquartered in Tennessee, Community Health Systems operates one of the largest publicly traded hospital systems in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, CHS owns or leases 65 affiliated hospitals with more than 9,000 beds across 13 states and manages over 900 sites of care.

Freeman Health System, the buyer in the transaction, is a regional health system based in Missouri that operates hospitals and care facilities across the Midwest. By acquiring the Arkansas hospitals, Freeman is expected to expand its regional presence and strengthen access to hospital and outpatient services for communities in the northwestern part of the state.

The decision to establish the GCC in Hyderabad follows an evaluation process in which the city stood out for its deep talent pool, advanced infrastructure, and supportive policy environment.

Swiss CDMO giant Lonza has selected Hyderabad as the site for its upcoming Global Capability Centre (GCC), a move expected to deepen the city’s role in the global biopharmaceutical value chain while creating high-value jobs and strengthening Telangana’s growing life sciences ecosystem.

Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Switzerland, Lonza Group AG is one of the world’s largest contract development and manufacturing organisations (CDMOs). The company operates more than 30 facilities worldwide and employs nearly 20,000 professionals across research, development, and manufacturing.

In 2025, Lonza reported sales of CHF 6.5 Bn and Core EBITDA of CHF 2.1 Bn, reflecting its strong position in the global biopharma services market.

The decision to establish the GCC in Hyderabad follows an evaluation process in which the city stood out for its deep talent pool, advanced infrastructure, and supportive policy environment.

A Lonza delegation met Telangana Industries and Commerce Minister D. Sridhar Babu and Telangana Life Sciences CEO Shakthi M. Nagappan to communicate the company’s plans and outline its vision for the centre.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lonza’s decision to establish its new centre in Hyderabad,” Minister Sridhar Babu said. “The city continues to stand out as the bright spot for global life sciences investments, driven by its strong scientific ecosystem, digital depth, and world-class manufacturing capabilities. Lonza’s investment further strengthens Telangana’s position as a preferred destination for innovation-led growth in the global biopharmaceutical industry.”

Shakthi Nagappan said the move adds to the momentum of Telangana’s rapidly expanding life sciences sector. “We are delighted that Lonza has chosen Hyderabad for this expansion. This decision marks another significant milestone in the continued expansion of Telangana’s life sciences ecosystem,” he said.

By setting up its GCC in Hyderabad, Lonza joins a growing list of global organisations leveraging the city’s scientific workforce and technology infrastructure to support worldwide research, development, and operational functions.

The initiative is designed to provide researchers and developers with clinically validated imaging data to accelerate the development of AI tools and applications for early breast cancer detection.

iMerit, a leader in expert structured data for healthcare AI, in collaboration with Segmed and Advocate Health, has announced the release of an open-source annotated dataset of 3D mammography images to support AI-based research in breast cancer detection.

The initiative is designed to provide researchers and developers with clinically validated imaging data to accelerate the development of AI tools and applications for early breast cancer detection.

As per the announcement, the dataset includes annotated breast tomosynthesis images and is available as an open-source resource for research purposes.

It contains imaging studies from 558 female patients and is based on Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT), commonly referred to as 3D mammography, which generates three-dimensional images of breast tissue for screening and diagnostic evaluation.

Further, the dataset has been curated with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses and annotations reviewed by U.S. board-certified radiologists and breast imaging specialists.

In addition, the dataset contains 271 malignant cases (48.5%) and 287 benign cases (51.5%), which provides clinically verified outcomes that are expected to support the development of AI models for breast cancer detection.

Reports also suggest that the dataset is suited for training AI models to detect early-stage breast cancer.

Furthermore, the imaging volume is provided in DICOM format, and the annotations are available in JSON format, including lesion classifications and coordinates, and are fully de-identified in compliance with HIPAA and GDPR standards.

Commenting on the new initiative, Dr. Sina Bari, VP of Healthcare and Life Science AI at iMerit, said, “At iMerit, we believe high-quality, responsibly annotated data is the foundation for meaningful advances in AI for healthcare. By releasing this dataset openly, we hope to empower researchers worldwide to develop tools that can support radiologists, improve outcomes, and ultimately save lives.”

Under the program, all enrolled members are proactively screened for psychosocial barriers at the time of enrollment.

Thyme Care has launched an Integrated Social Support (ISS) model designed to identify and address psychosocial barriers faced by cancer patients. The program combines licensed clinical social workers with an AI-powered acuity engine that analyzes clinical, claims, and social data to prioritize high-risk patients for intervention.

The model shifts the traditional care approach by positioning master’s-level licensed social workers as the first point of intervention rather than waiting for patients to report emotional, financial, or social challenges. Under the program, all enrolled members are proactively screened for psychosocial barriers at the time of enrollment.

Initial screening at one partner site highlighted significant non-clinical barriers affecting cancer care. According to the company, 53% of patients reported financial toxicity, 22% experienced food insecurity, and 13% faced transportation barriers. These factors can affect treatment adherence and overall health outcomes.

The program is supported by Thyme Care’s proprietary AI infrastructure, which continuously aggregates claims data, clinical records, and social determinants of health (SDOH) indicators. This data feeds into a dynamic acuity model that triages patients in real time, allowing social workers to focus on individuals whose data suggests emerging risks.

By prioritizing outreach based on data signals, the system aims to ensure timely intervention while improving the efficiency of social work teams managing large patient populations across different locations.

Thyme Care said the model integrates proactive screening tools such as the NCCN Distress Thermometer and the Columbia Suicide Risk Assessment to identify psychosocial risks early in the care journey. Once barriers are identified, interventions may include virtual peer support groups, structured educational programs, crisis intervention, and behavioral health stabilization services.

The company has expanded its social work team to more than 40 licensed master-level professionals since introducing the ISS model in late 2025.

According to outcomes shared by Thyme Care, high-risk members participating in symptom monitoring experienced a 30% relative reduction in emergency department or inpatient events. Members who completed discharge assessments showed a 20% relative reduction in hospital readmissions, while 88% of members reported feeling more supported after engaging with the program.

Stephanie Broussard, Director of Social Work at Thyme Care, said the model was designed to address non-clinical factors that often affect treatment outcomes.

“You cannot treat cancer without addressing the emotional and social realities that come with it,” Broussard said. “Social workers are trained to look beyond the presenting problem and understand the underlying factors, whether that’s housing instability, caregiver strain, depression, or fear about the future.”

MiniMed develops diabetes care technologies, including glucose monitors and sensors used in patient management.

MiniMed, the diabetes business of medical device maker Medtronic, has raised $560 million through its initial public offering in the United States.

The company priced 28 million shares at $20 each, at the lower end of its previously indicated $25 to $28 per share range.

MiniMed develops diabetes care technologies, including insulin pumps, glucose monitors and sensors used in patient management.

Medtronic, which has a market capitalisation of approximately $119.4 billion, had announced last year that it would separate the diabetes business as part of efforts to simplify its portfolio and focus on higher margin growth markets.

Based on the number of common shares outstanding listed in its IPO prospectus, the offering valued MiniMed at $5.61 billion.

The listing comes during a period of volatility in the market for new public offerings, with companies continuing to test investor appetite amid uncertainty linked to the conflict in the Middle East and concerns related to potential artificial intelligence disruption.

Stronger activity in the IPO market typically occurs during bull markets when investor appetite for risk tends to increase.

The initiative aims to help startups develop, test, and validate digital health tools and AI-based solutions designed to address clinical and operational challenges in healthcare.

Mayo Clinic Platform_Accelerate has announced the selection of 18 national and international healthcare technology startups for its latest cohort, bringing companies developing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven solutions to participate in its 30-week innovation program.

The program provides participating companies with access to expert mentors, advanced technology infrastructure, and millions of de-identified, longitudinal clinical records. The initiative aims to help startups develop, test, and validate digital health tools and AI-based solutions designed to address clinical and operational challenges in healthcare.

“The future of healthcare depends on clinical insight and technology advancing together,” said John Halamka, M.D., president of Mayo Clinic Platform. “Accelerate brings entrepreneurs together with Mayo Clinic clinicians and other leading experts to turn ideas into practical solutions that can improve how care is delivered.”

The newly selected cohort includes startups working across multiple healthcare domains, including patient access, remote monitoring, diagnostics, clinical decision support, surgical technology, and care coordination.

Several companies are focused on AI-based automation and patient engagement tools. For example, 100ms develops AI agents to automate patient access workflows for specialty practices, while SPRYT offers an AI medical receptionist that enables patients to schedule and manage appointments via messaging platforms. NousLogic Telehealth provides a remote monitoring platform designed to track vital signs and medication adherence among elderly patients.

Other startups in the cohort are developing clinical AI solutions. NeoCure is building an AI system to detect eye disease in preterm infants using bedside vital data, while Xcoo supports genomic cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions using AI-based analytics. Curenetics is developing a platform to predict patient responses to cancer immunotherapy by integrating clinical, genomic, and imaging data.

The cohort also includes companies focused on surgical innovation and hospital operations. Precision Imaging, a Tokyo-based startup, is developing AI-powered intraoperative navigation tools for orthopedic procedures, while Hoopcare uses AI to automate preoperative assessments and predict postoperative complications.

Startups addressing chronic disease and population health management are also part of the group. YOBO Health and Canary Applied Intelligence are building platforms to support cardio-renal-metabolic care, while EW2Health uses predictive behavioral analytics to support obesity management.

According to Mayo Clinic, the Accelerate program offers participation through a 30-week immersive track or through longer-term engagement pathways aimed at supporting healthcare technology development and validation.

According to Salesforce, the agents function as a 24/7 administrative layer intended to reduce manual workloads and streamline healthcare operations.

Salesforce has announced partnerships with HealthEx, Verily, and Viz.ai to expand its library of artificial intelligence agents designed for healthcare organizations, aiming to automate administrative and clinical workflows across payers, providers, and public health agencies.

The new integrations build on Salesforce’s Agentforce for Health platform and introduce six AI agents designed to support tasks such as patient referrals, electronic health record (EHR) updates, hospital logistics management, and infectious disease monitoring.

According to Salesforce, the agents function as a 24/7 administrative layer intended to reduce manual workloads and streamline healthcare operations.

Salesforce first introduced Agentforce for Health in 2025 as part of its broader push into agentic AI for healthcare. The latest AI agents are designed to assist with patient access, clinical research, and public health management. Capabilities include accelerating closed-loop referrals, explaining insurance deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, managing hospital facility logistics, and analyzing disease trends for public health authorities.

“We cannot ask our healthcare heroes to operate in a system that is constantly failing them with fragmented data and soul-crushing administrative work,” said Amit Khanna, senior vice president and general manager of health at Salesforce, in a statement.

The partnerships with HealthEx and Verily aim to create a unified health record by combining patient-controlled digital health wallets with clinical and lifestyle data from wearables and other sources. HealthEx aggregates patient records across care settings, including diagnoses, medications, lab results, procedures, and clinical notes, using standards such as TEFCA and FHIR.

Verily, part of Alphabet, contributes data from wearable devices, nutrition trackers, and laboratory tests, enabling the platform to integrate multimodal health information for predictive insights and personalized care approaches.

Viz.ai, an AI-powered disease detection and care coordination platform, will integrate imaging and EHR data into Agentforce for Health to identify suspected diseases and trigger automated workflows.

Several of the AI agents focus on patient and member services. A referrals and assessments agent can triage referrals, route patients to specialists, recommend health assessments, and schedule follow-up appointments. Another tool enables bidirectional data exchange with EHR systems such as athenahealth, allowing contact center staff to submit medication refill requests or update patient demographic information.

Additional AI agents support claims and coverage queries, hospital operations management, and epidemiological analysis for public health agencies. Salesforce said some tools are already available, while others—including referral triage and root cause analysis—are expected to roll out in June 2026. Data integrations with HealthEx, Verily, and Viz.ai are expected to become generally available later this year

The tool is now available to adult users through the company’s secure patient platform, MyQuest, including its mobile app and web portal.

Quest Diagnostics has introduced Quest AI Companion, an artificial intelligence-powered chat feature designed to help patients analyze and understand their laboratory test results.

The tool is now available to adult users through the company’s secure patient platform, MyQuest, including its mobile app and web portal.

The AI-powered feature enables users to ask questions about their test results and receive immediate, personalized explanations without leaving the HIPAA-compliant MyQuest environment. According to the company, the tool can analyze up to five years of an individual’s laboratory data from Quest reports to identify patterns and trends that may indicate potential health risks.

Quest AI Companion is designed to help individuals better interpret medical terminology and laboratory values. Users can ask the tool to define test names, explain whether results fall above or below reference ranges, and translate medical language into simpler explanations. The system can also assist patients in preparing questions to discuss with their healthcare providers, with the goal of supporting more informed conversations during clinical visits.

“Patients often tell us they want help simplifying and understanding their test results and what the results communicate about their health,” said Nicole Antonson, vice president of digital solutions and interoperability at Quest Diagnostics. “Quest AI Companion builds on this history and empowers patients to analyze their results and spot trends they can discuss with their healthcare provider.”

The feature operates within Quest’s existing digital infrastructure, allowing users to access their laboratory data directly without uploading personal health information to public AI platforms. The company said this approach addresses concerns about privacy and data security that many individuals associate with external AI tools.

Quest Diagnostics cited survey findings indicating that although generative AI use is expanding in healthcare, many individuals remain hesitant to use public AI applications to interpret personal health information due to concerns around reliability, accuracy, and data protection.

“People want to understand their lab data, but not everyone feels comfortable uploading their health data to public AI platforms,” said Yuri Fesko, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer at Quest Diagnostics.

Quest AI Companion is powered by Google Cloud’s Gemini family of AI models and stems from a collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and Google Cloud announced in March 2025. The partnership focuses on applying advanced AI technologies to improve data management and patient engagement tools.

The company said the feature is intended for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Patients are advised to consult healthcare providers regarding test results and treatment decisions.

The system can reconstruct images at speeds of up to 106 images per second, with AI-enabled workflow tools integrated into the system to automate routine imaging steps for radiology teams.

Philips has introduced its next-generation Rembra CT system, designed to support high-acuity imaging environments with faster image reconstruction, AI-supported workflows and improved patient accessibility.

The system aims to help radiology departments manage rising imaging demand while enabling quicker clinical decision-making.

According to Philips, the system can reconstruct images at speeds of up to 106 images per second, allowing clinicians to review scans almost immediately after acquisition. In time-sensitive situations such as trauma or stroke assessment, this capability may help radiologists and emergency teams make quicker clinical decisions.

The system is also engineered for high throughput. Philips states that Rembra CT can support up to 270 examinations per day, helping imaging departments manage growing demand without slowing diagnostic workflows.

Patient accessibility and positioning have also been key design considerations. The Rembra CT system features an 85 cm bore, described as the largest in its class among frontline radiology CT systems.

The wider opening is intended to accommodate a broader range of patient types, including bariatric patients, trauma cases and individuals undergoing complex interventional procedures.

The system includes a 60 cm standard field of view and an extended 85 cm field of view, allowing comprehensive anatomical visualization in a single scan. This capability may help reduce the need for repeat imaging and improve patient comfort during examinations.

“Rembra is built for the realities that clinicians face every day,” said Dan Xu, Business Leader for Computed Tomography at Philips. “By combining our most advanced detector technology with AI-powered workflows and industry-leading speed, Rembra represents a significant step forward for high-acuity imaging, delivering speed, access and diagnostic confidence when it matters most.”

At the core of the Philips Rembra CT platform is the company’s NanoPanel Precise XD detector, developed to operate alongside AI-driven imaging tools. The detector offers in-plane spatial resolution of 23 line pairs per centimetre, enabling detailed visualization of anatomical structures as small as 0.25 mm.

A two-dimensional anti-scatter grid has been incorporated to help maintain image clarity across a wide range of patient sizes and clinical scenarios.

AI-enabled workflow tools are also integrated into the system to automate routine imaging steps and simplify daily operations for radiology teams. These workflow capabilities are intended to support productivity and deliver more consistent imaging outcomes across different operators and patient conditions.

Philips has designed the Rembra CT system for long-term operational reliability, stating that it can function in high-altitude environments of up to 5,000 metres and support a system lifespan of up to 20 years with appropriate maintenance and upgrades.

Chief Minister Manik Saha said the telemedicine link is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services and infrastructure at GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College.

The Tripura government has linked the Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, through telemedicine to improve medical services in the state.

Chief Minister Manik Saha said the telemedicine link is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services and infrastructure at GBP Hospital and Agartala Government Medical College.

The initiative is expected to support patient care by enabling consultations and guidance from specialists at AIIMS New Delhi.

"We have previously signed an MoU with AIIMS, New Delhi, to improve healthcare services at GBP hospital. Following their recommendations, we plan to increase the number of ICU beds from 156 to 326. Additionally, GBP hospital is now directly linked to AIIMS, New Delhi, via telemedicine to offer better medical services to our patients," he said.

The Chief Minister also announced that the state government has entered into a partnership with Guwahati Neurological Research Centre to establish a super speciality hospital in Hapania in the West Tripura district.

"We have formalized a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GNRC, a prominent medical institution based in Guwahati, to utilize the vacant land of Tripura Jute Mills Ltd for this project. A team from our department has already visited GNRC to assess their infrastructure and available facilities," he informed the media.

As part of ongoing upgrades at GBP Hospital, a 16 bed dedicated ICU for patients with severe respiratory conditions and a fully equipped ICU in the trauma centre were inaugurated on Thursday.

The Chief Minister also said that the state Cabinet has discussed the proposal to establish a medical university that would oversee medical colleges and institutions in Tripura, with the aim of reducing referral cases by strengthening existing medical facilities.

Tripura currently has three medical colleges offering 450 MBBS seats and 119 postgraduate courses.

Earlier, the government had signed an agreement with Srija Hospitals and Research Institute based in Imphal to set up a super specialty hospital and medical college in RK Nagar in the same district.

The partnership seeks to introduce new AI-powered capabilities within Optum Real, a real-time claims platform designed to streamline reimbursement workflows and enhance transparency in the healthcare payment cycle.

Global healthcare service provider Optum has partnered with global tech leader Microsoft, aimed at improving the experience of healthcare providers in managing claims and reimbursement processes.

The partnership seeks to introduce new AI-powered capabilities within Optum Real, a real-time claims platform designed to streamline reimbursement workflows and enhance transparency in the healthcare payment cycle.

The platform connects healthcare payers and providers in real time, enabling faster validation of coverage, improved claims processing, and better visibility into reimbursement details.

By integrating Optum’s health care and AI expertise with Microsoft’s cloud and AI technologies, including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Dragon Copilot, and Microsoft Foundry, the platform seeks to streamline operational processes and enable providers work more efficiently while dedicating more time to patient care.

The system features several new capabilities, including Unified clinical and operational data that provides providers with an actionable, end-to end view across the care and reimbursement journey.

The platform also provides smarter coverage predictions designed to reduce manual workloads for coders and help clinicians reach recommendations faster.

In addition, the platform also incorporates AI-powered documentation and chart intelligence, enabling providers to spend less time on paperwork and focus more on patient interactions.

Further, the system also includes AI-assisted prior authorization support that can identify potential coverage and payment issues earlier in the process, helping healthcare teams address them more quickly and reduce unnecessary escalations.

Beyond operational improvements for healthcare providers, the initiative also focuses on improving transparency for patients.

The real-time access to coverage and billing information is expected to help patients better understand their healthcare costs and reduce uncertainty around claims and reimbursements.

Highlighting the importance of real-time clarity and reducing waste across the system, Larry Jones, CVP, health and life sciences, Microsoft, said, “Optum Real turns fragmented, disconnected claims data into actionable insights that help payers and providers get it right the first time . By creating a powerful, real-time engine for coverage validation, documentation, and prior authorization, it is more than modernizing claims; it’s about building a more transparent, efficient, and trusted health care experience for everyone.”

He highlighted that although technology has improved diagnosis and treatment, the role of a doctor remains central to patient care.

Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr. Jitendra Singh said that emerging technologies, particularly AI, are playing a growing role in transforming the healthcare sector.

Speaking at a recent event recognising young medical professionals, Singh noted that the advancements in technology are reshaping the way healthcare is delivered and practised.

While addressing the event, the Union Minister highlighted that although technology has significantly improved diagnosis and treatment, the role of a doctor remains central to patient care due to their experience and clinical intuition.

Sing also observed that the growing adoption of digital technologies and AI-driven solutions is significantly improving healthcare services across the country. The integration of advanced technologies into the healthcare system is enabling more accurate diagnosis, efficient treatment, and improved patient care.

The increasing adoption of digital platforms and AI-based tools is also expected to enable healthcare professionals enhance service delivery and expand access to medical services.

He further noted that with the rising burden of disease, the role of artificial intelligence and digital technologies is becoming more prominent, while the medical field is expected to grow more complex.

In this context, Singh urged medical professionals to develop specialised expertise and continuously update their knowledge as medical science continues to evolve.

Recently, the Union Minister also unveiled 'SUJVIKA’, an AI-Driven Biotech Data Portalaimed at strengthening the biotechnology ecosystem.

The initiative seeks to place biotechnology and digital intelligence at the center of India’s ambition to build a USD 1 trillion bioeconomy by 2047.

The AI also directly answers member questions, helping to streamline service for Humana’s more than 20,000 member advocates who manage up to 80 million calls annually.

Humana has launched Agent Assist, an AI-powered solution developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, to support member advocates in delivering faster, more accurate health benefit guidance. The system integrates directly into Humana’s call center operations.

When members call, Agent Assist works in the background to provide real-time guidance to advocates, automate call summaries, and ensure compliance across interactions. The AI also directly answers member questions, helping to streamline service for Humana’s more than 20,000 member advocates who manage up to 80 million calls annually.

The tool aims to reduce manual workloads, strengthen training, and improve interaction consistency, allowing advocates to focus on member needs more effectively. Humana began piloting Agent Assist in October 2025, with full deployment across member service centers planned for 2026.

Built on Humana’s agentic AI platform, the system uses Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, Gemini, and Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX) to support advocates with eligibility and benefit details while ensuring accountability for member engagement. Enterprise-grade data privacy, security, and transparency are incorporated into the platform.

“We are always looking for new ways to enhance the member experience by making those interactions more personalized, accurate, and faster,” said Japan Mehta, chief information officer at Humana. “Agent Assist puts responsible innovation directly into the hands of our advocates, helping them focus on what matters most – helping our members.”

Chris Sakalosky, vice president of Strategic Industries at Google Cloud, added, “Our collaboration with Humana is a blueprint for the future of healthcare – where technology enhances, not replaces, the human element. By integrating Gemini Enterprise for CX, we’re giving advocates an agent that handles benefit complexities in the background so they can focus on empathy and care.”

The platform aims to enhance consumer engagement, streamline care management, and improve health outcomes.

CVS Health and Google Cloud have announced a strategic partnership to launch Health100, a first-of-its-kind AI-native consumer engagement platform designed to provide connected and personalized health care experiences. The platform aims to enhance consumer engagement, streamline care management, and improve health outcomes.

Health100, operated by CVS Health’s technology services subsidiary, will integrate information across pharmacies, care providers, insurance plans, pharmacy benefits managers, and digital health solutions. The platform uses built-in agentic AI to deliver a real-time, omni-channel experience, effectively acting as an always-on personal health care partner for consumers.

The platform is designed to empower consumers to take full ownership of their health. It offers proactive guidance to help users stay on track with their health goals, faster and broader access to care, cost transparency, and tools to reduce out-of-pocket expenses. Health100 also facilitates pharmacist-led care management, leveraging a trusted clinical touchpoint to improve patient engagement.

“Consumer engagement in their own health and care is the holy grail that will drive trust and much better health outcomes,” said Tilak Mandadi, Executive Vice President, Ventures and Chief Experience and Technology Officer at CVS Health. “Google Cloud and AI technologies are core to this platform, which is grounded in responsible AI principles.”

Health100 will leverage Google Cloud’s secure infrastructure and AI technologies, including Gemini models, Cloud Healthcare API, and BigQuery. The system combines robust health care interoperability with advanced multimodal AI to optimize clinical and transactional workflows across multiple data sources. Future integration with biometric wearables may allow real-time, data-driven support for consumers.

“With Health100, CVS Health is delivering the future of agentic, AI-powered health care that enhances human touch and eliminates complexity,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “This platform creates a personalized and proactive end-to-end health care experience that general-purpose AI interfaces cannot match.”

Health100 will launch in 2026, with plans to allow other health innovators to build specialized applications through an open ecosystem approach. A preview of the consumer experience will be shared at Google’s annual health event, The Check Up, in March 2026.

The collaboration will integrate Google Cloud’s Gemini large language models and hyperscale infrastructure with Waystar’s AI-powered platform to automate complex payment workflows.

Waystar has expanded its collaboration with Google Cloud to accelerate the development of agentic artificial intelligence capabilities aimed at advancing autonomous revenue cycle management in healthcare.

The collaboration will integrate Google Cloud’s Gemini large language models and hyperscale infrastructure with Waystar’s AI-powered platform to automate complex payment workflows.

The partnership focuses on strengthening Waystar’s AltitudeAI platform, which combines financial and clinical data with generative and agentic AI embedded directly into revenue cycle operations. By leveraging Google Cloud’s infrastructure and AI models, the companies aim to enable large-scale deployment of automation across revenue cycle processes such as prior authorization, coverage identification, and denial prevention.

Waystar operates a payer–provider–patient network serving more than one million healthcare providers. The company captures and processes large volumes of financial and clinical data generated across healthcare transactions, which it uses to train AI models designed to improve payment accuracy and operational efficiency. The platform analyzes downstream payment outcomes and applies insights to upstream processes to reduce claim denials and streamline reimbursement workflows.

“Waystar’s AI advantage comes from our unique position within healthcare’s payment ecosystem, where we capture critical financial, clinical, and administrative intelligence across more than one million providers,” said Matt Hawkins, chief executive officer of Waystar. “Our partnership with Google Cloud accelerates our efforts, adding infrastructure and advanced models that amplify our impact and speed to market.”

Through the expanded collaboration, Waystar will increase the use of Google Cloud’s Gemini models to support agentic AI capabilities that can execute tasks within revenue cycle workflows. The integration is expected to support automation across the claims lifecycle and enable new use cases that combine financial and clinical data to optimize payment processes.

“The true potential of AI in healthcare isn’t just in analyzing data, but in its ability to take precise, automated action within complex financial ecosystems,” said Aashima Gupta, global director of Healthcare Strategy and Solutions at Google Cloud. “By embedding Gemini’s agentic capabilities directly into Waystar’s workflows, we are moving past automation toward a self-learning revenue cycle.”

Waystar and Google Cloud first partnered in early 2024 to apply generative and agentic AI technologies to healthcare payment operations. In 2025, Waystar introduced generative AI capabilities for denial prevention and recovery through its AltitudeAI platform. According to the company, the system has helped prevent more than $15 billion in denied claims within a year and reduced the time spent on denial appeals and recovery by 90%.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, ShunzymeX uses a proprietary protease to enable streamlined purification of microbial-expressed biologics.

FUJIFILM Biotechnologies has unveiled ShunzymeX, a precision purification technology aimed at simplifying downstream processing for complex biologics and accelerating readiness for GMP manufacturing. The company is presenting the technology this week at the Festival of Biologics in San Diego.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, ShunzymeX uses a proprietary protease to enable streamlined purification of microbial-expressed biologics. The platform allows the addition of an affinity tag to a target protein, enabling purification using an off-the-shelf affinity resin. After purification, the protease cleaves the tag without leaving residual sequences on the native protein.

According to the company, the technology addresses longstanding challenges in microbial downstream purification. Variability in protein size and sequence often limits the availability of suitable affinity resins, resulting in extended development timelines, lower yields, and reduced purity when traditional methods are used. By introducing a standardized affinity step, ShunzymeX is designed to shorten process development timelines and support faster progression toward investigational new drug (IND)-enabling milestones and GMP manufacturing.

The company stated that the platform is compatible with multiple expression systems and is scalable directly to cGMP production.

John Stewart, senior vice president of Global Process Development at FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, said the technology builds on the company’s three decades of experience in microbial innovation and process development. “Together, we believe this innovation will help create a faster path for our customers to commercialization,” he said.

Kenneth Holbourn, senior director and technical project leader group at the company, will present the technology in a session titled “Accelerating and Streamlining Microbial Process Development with a Novel Technology” on March 4 at 2:50 p.m. PT during the conference.

The partnership between FUJIFILM Biotechnologies and the University of Edinburgh began in 2019 with joint funding from UK Research and Innovation and support from Edinburgh Innovations. Professor Susan Rosser, academic lead for the collaboration, said the co-developed technology demonstrates how academic-industry partnerships can address manufacturing challenges in biologics and vaccine development.

ShunzymeX can also be paired with SymphonX™, the company’s automated downstream processing platform designed to integrate multiple unit operations into a single system.

The SUGAM portal, introduced as an e-governance platform, currently facilitates regulatory approvals related to drug, cosmetic, and medical device manufacturing, sale licenses, and import-export clearances.

In a move to modernise India’s drug regulatory infrastructure, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) will replace its decade-old SUGAM portal with a new open-architecture digital platform. 

The transition follows final approval from the Department of Expenditure, Government of India.

The SUGAM portal, introduced as an e-governance platform, currently facilitates regulatory approvals related to drug, cosmetic, and medical device manufacturing, sale licenses, and import-export clearances. According to officials, the system has completed its operational lifecycle.

Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi, Drug Controller General of India (DCGI), said the new platform will be designed as a fully integrated system covering the entire regulatory value chain. “The SUGAM portal is 10 years old and has lived its life. We are now moving towards a new platform built on open architecture,” he said, adding that CDSCO plans to launch the platform within 18 months from the start of development.

The proposed system will digitally integrate central and state-level approvals, sale license processes, laboratories, pharmacopoeial bodies, and research institutions. Key institutions, including the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, National Institute of Biologicals, and Indian Council of Medical Research, are expected to be connected through the unified platform.

“The aim is to bring every aspect of the regulatory value chain in the country under one platform. All stakeholders who carry responsibility, small or big, should be able to be part of the system. At the click of a button, one should be able to access every relevant piece of information,” Dr. Raghuvanshi said.

He noted that CDSCO has already achieved over 97% digitisation across its regulatory processes. The new platform is expected to strengthen interoperability, transparency, and data-driven decision-making.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) is currently under preparation, and tenders are expected to be floated shortly. CDSCO indicated that the open-architecture framework will allow broader participation from qualified developers, beyond government-affiliated entities, in building the system.

The initiative includes discounted pricing and implementation support aimed at increasing AI adoption among independent rural facilities.

Pivot Point Consulting has partnered with the Microsoft Rural Health Resiliency Program to expand access to Microsoft Dragon Copilot, an enterprise-grade AI solution designed for rural hospitals across the United States.

The initiative includes discounted pricing and implementation support aimed at increasing AI adoption among independent rural facilities.

Under the program, Microsoft is offering a 60% discount off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price to eligible independent Critical Access Hospitals, Rural Emergency Hospitals, and Rural Community Hospitals. The offer is available through the Rural Health Resiliency Program.

Dragon Copilot provides AI-driven capabilities, including ambient clinical listening, automated documentation, and real-time visit summarization. The solution is designed to integrate with existing clinical systems and workflows, with the goal of reducing administrative burden for clinicians.

Laura Kreofsky, director of Rural Health Resiliency at Microsoft, said the solution is intended to deliver advanced AI tools at a cost accessible to rural providers. “Dragon Copilot brings ambient listening, automated documentation, and workflow intelligence to rural clinicians, backed by the strength of Microsoft’s secure cloud platform,” she said.

Pivot Point Consulting will support rural hospitals in implementing the technology. The firm will provide free Dragon Copilot readiness assessments, workflow engineering, and governance design, along with educational initiatives including webinars and virtual demonstration sessions.

Zack Tisch, partner (Portfolio Solutions) at Pivot Point Consulting, said the collaboration focuses on helping rural clinicians address administrative workload challenges. He noted that the combination of ambient listening, automated documentation, and workflow automation is structured to support measurable operational improvements.

Rural hospitals participating in the program can request a no-cost readiness assessment through Pivot Point Consulting. Facilities not yet enrolled in Microsoft’s Rural Health Resiliency Program must register to access the discounted offer and related services.

SuperDial’s voice AI technology will be integrated with Omega Healthcare’s Agentic AI platform, combining automational capabilities with RCM expertise to enhance efficiency and accelerate claim-related processes for healthcare providers

Superdial, a global healthtech company focusing on voice AI-automation, has announced a partnership with Omega Healthcare to expand the use of artificial intelligence–driven voice automation across healthcare revenue cycle operations.

The partnership seeks to enable healthcare organization streamline administrative workflows, particularly in key areas such as payer communications, claims follow-ups, and other repetitive revenue cycle management (RCM) tasks.

Under the partnership, SuperDial’s voice AI technology will be integrated with Omega Healthcare’s Agentic AI platform, combining automational capabilities with revenue cycle management (RCM) expertise to enhance efficiency and accelerate claim-related processes for healthcare providers.

Super Dial develops Voice AI agents designed to automate high-friction phone calls for healthcare organisations. The company’s and SOC 2 Type 2-compliant voice AI agents manage outbound calls from healthcare providers and billing teams to insurance companies.

In addition, these agents are designed to navigate complex phone menus, remain on hold when required, and conduct live conversations with payer representatives, which is expected to help healthcare staff avoid time-consuming and repetitive manual interactions.

Further, the AI agents also support key revenue cycle and administrative tasks such as benefits verification, prior authorizations, claim follow-ups, provider data validation, credentialing, and enrollment.

Commenting on the new partnership, Sam Schwager, CEO of SuperDial. “By partnering with Omega Healthcare, we can bring end-to-end voice AI agents to more organizations faster, combining deep workflow integration with key capabilities like IVR tree navigation, phone number lookups, and embedding RCM context at call time.”

Reflecting similar thoughts, Anurag Mehta, CEO and Co-Founder of Omega Healthcare, said, “Omega Healthcare typically develops its own AI technology solutions; however, we found significant value and a ‘time to market’ advantage by working with SuperDial. Together, we are rapidly expanding the use of voice automation to help our customers receive critical payer information faster, reduce operational strain on billing teams, and reimagine revenue cycle workflows to ultimately deliver breakthrough results.”

Founded in 2003, Omega Healthcare is an AI-driven healthcare solution company that works with organisations across the healthcare ecosystem to optimize revenue operations. Through its flagship Omega Digital Platform, which combines AI capabilities with human expertise, the company delivers technology-enabled solutions to enhance operational efficiency.

Built at a cost of around INR 200 crore, the hospital will provide advanced services across key medical specialities, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, and high-end surgical care.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has inaugurated the KDSG Super Speciality Hospital in the Dadri area of Greater Noida.

The new hospital is co-founded by former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev and will operate as a 300-bed healthcare facility.

Built at a cost of around INR 200 crore, the hospital will provide advanced services across key medical specialities, including cardiology, oncology, neurology, and high-end surgical care.

The facility is also expected to strengthen healthcare services across the NCR region and generate nearly 1,000 employment opportunities in the region.

Speaking at the inauguration, CM Adityanath said, “Every citizen in a prosperous nation has the right to good healthcare. While the government is making efforts, participation of the private sector is necessary to ensure better medical facilities for everyone.”

Further talking about the Ayushman Bharat and its progress in UP, the CM said, “Through the Ayushman Bharat scheme, the government has ensured cashless treatment of up to INR 5 lakh for poor and needy citizens without any discrimination, bringing relief to millions. Until 2014, only six AIIMS were operational in the country. Today, under the initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 23 AIIMS are functioning across India.”

He further noted, “More than 60 crore people are receiving medical care under Ayushman Bharat. Uttar Pradesh is the leading state in the country with the highest number of Golden Cards issued. Over 5.6 crore Golden Cards have been distributed in the state so far. This has also created healthy competition in the healthcare sector, which is encouraging the growth of super-speciality facilities. At the same time, efforts are being made to reduce the significant gap between government-set treatment rates and the arbitrary rates charged by the private sector.”

The CM also emphasized that those not covered under Ayushman Bharat can receive assistance through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, further adding that about INR 1,300 crore had been deployed in the past year to help patients access treatment in hospitals across the state.

Recently, the CM has also visited Japan to explore investment opportunities in the state across key areas, including medical device manufacturing, aimed at further strengthening the state’s healthcare ecosystem and deepening economic collaboration.

With the new funding, TruDoc intends to deepen its presence in the GCC and further develop its hospital-at-home critical care program, which the company says is the largest deployment of its kind in the region.

Healthtech startup TruDoc has secured USD 15 Mn in Pre-Series B funding to accelerate the expansion of its virtual-first healthcare platform across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The investment, supported by the Al Nahyan family, the Al-Ketbi family, and Pulsar Capital, will strengthen TruDoc’s ability to deliver hospital-grade care beyond traditional medical facilities.

Founded in 2011 and headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, TruDoc has built a digital healthcare model focused on continuous, technology-enabled care. The platform integrates telemedicine consultations, chronic disease management programs, remote patient monitoring, pharmacy-at-home services, diagnostics, and in-home clinical care.

Dr Ahmed Mansour, CEO, Private Department of Sheik Mohamed Bin Khaled Al Nahyan, said, “TruDoc represents a fundamentally different approach: one that scales access and efficiency while maintaining clinical integrity. This model is well aligned with the UAE’s long-term priorities and the future of healthcare delivery across the Middle East. Believing in the TruDoc model to lead this market innovation and increase the ultimate efficiency of the healthcare industry.”

Over time, the company has expanded across markets, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, while collaborating with insurers, employers, and healthcare providers.

With the new funding, TruDoc intends to deepen its presence in the GCC and further develop its hospital-at-home critical care program, which the company says is the largest deployment of its kind in the region.

The initiative enables patients with serious conditions to receive hospital-level treatment from home through a combination of remote monitoring, medical devices, and coordinated clinical support.

Vish Narain, Executive Chairman at TruDoc, said, “For centuries, healthcare has been organised around buildings, patients moving toward facilities, systems optimised for episodic care. That architecture no longer reflects how people live, age, or manage chronic disease. What TruDoc is building is healthcare as infrastructure: continuous, accountable, and designed to operate beyond four walls, at population scale.”

The company’s broader strategy revolves around a “care operating system” that connects digital consultations, diagnostics, and home-based services into a unified platform. By doing so, TruDoc aims to reduce reliance on physical hospital infrastructure while allowing healthcare systems to manage rising demand more efficiently.

The model also seeks to improve medication adherence, enable earlier clinical intervention, and lower unnecessary hospital admissions.

Asad Khan, CEO at TruDoc, said, “The question is no longer whether high-quality care can be delivered outside hospitals; it’s how fast healthcare systems can adapt to that reality. TruDoc has shown that hospital-grade, high-acuity care can be delivered safely and effectively in homes, at scale. This capital allows us to expand that model across the GCC while staying relentlessly focused on clinical excellence and patient trust.”

Cent combines advanced imaging technologies with more than 120 biomarkers and artificial intelligence-based analysis to screen for over 300 potential health conditions in a single visit.

The Bangalore-based health startup Cent, founded by Practo co-founder Shashank ND, has raised USD 5 Mn in seed funding from OneFlow Holdings and venture firm South Park Commons to expand its AI-driven early disease detection platform in India.

Founded by Shashank ND and Arpit Garg, Cent aims to identify risks associated with cancer, cardiac, neurological and metabolic conditions at an early stage. The startup operates through a direct-to-consumer model and offers advanced screening scans designed to detect diseases before symptoms develop.

Cent combines advanced imaging technologies with more than 120 biomarkers and artificial intelligence-based analysis to screen for over 300 potential health conditions in a single visit.

Its proprietary protocol, called CCNM (Cardiac, Cancer, Neurological and Metabolic), integrates whole-body MRI, low-dose CT scans, DEXA scans, ECG testing and blood and urine biomarkers to generate organ-level risk assessments.

“India has built world-class treatment capability, but our healthcare system is still oriented around diseases that have already declared themselves. In the preventive space, we need dedicated infrastructure, the right technology, the right protocols, the right capital, built specifically for detection. That is the gap Cent is designed to close,” said Shashank ND, founder and chair, Cent.

“Five years ago, this level of integrated screening was not technically feasible. The convergence of advanced MRI, AI-assisted radiology, and multi-omics analysis now allows us to screen for 300+ conditions in a single visit and a faster scan time,” said Arpit Garg, co-founder and chief AI and research officer at Cent.

The startup has been operational since the first quarter of FY26 and has completed more than 1,500 scans so far. Cent said that around 26 per cent of these screenings revealed clinically meaningful findings, while about 3-4 per cent identified critical conditions requiring immediate medical attention, often among asymptomatic individuals.

“The bottleneck in early detection has never been intent; it has been the operating model. If you depend on symptom-led referrals and multi-purpose centres, you can’t scale rigour. By designing around one protocol and one workflow, we can drive utilisation, consistency and cost discipline,” said Anshul Khandelwal, co-founder and chief business officer at Cent.

The startup is currently reporting rapid growth and says it is expanding its engineering capabilities and healthcare partnerships following the funding from OneFlow and South Park Commons.

Cent plans to establish specialised early detection centres, beginning with facilities in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, before expanding into cities such as Pune and Hyderabad.

The startup has set a long-term goal of enabling 10 million scans and contributing to saving one million lives by 2035 by making early disease detection a routine part of healthcare in India.

The medical summaries can be delivered as voice messages in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali, allowing patients to replay instructions related to diagnosis, medication, or treatment plans.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has unveiled MedSum, an AI-powered clinical assistant designed to convert doctor-patient conversations into structured clinical documentation and multilingual summaries.

The tool aims to reduce administrative workload for clinicians while improving the clarity of medical information delivered to patients.

The system has been developed by the School of Artificial Intelligence at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Faridabad campus in collaboration with Amrita Hospitals and Amrita Technologies.

During consultations, MedSum listens to the discussion between the doctor and the patient in real time and generates structured medical records, prescriptions, and patient summaries through a clinician-facing dashboard.

Beyond documentation, the platform focuses on improving patient understanding of medical advice. After a consultation, MedSum can produce simplified summaries of the discussion in the patient’s preferred language.

These summaries can also be delivered as voice messages in several Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali, allowing patients to replay instructions related to diagnosis, medication, or treatment plans.

This feature is particularly useful for elderly patients or individuals who may not be comfortable with English-language medical records.

“Documentation can consume a significant part of a doctor’s day and often impacts the quality of patient interaction. MedSum helps us focus more on clinical care while ensuring accurate records,” said Dr Sachin Gupta, Dermatologist, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.

MedSum is already being used across several departments at Amrita Hospitals, including gynaecology, oncology, neurosurgery, and paediatric neurology. The system operates through a combination of tools that include a doctor dashboard, a patient application, and an administrative console that allows hospitals to manage documentation workflows.

Prof. Kamal Bijlani, Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, said the system was built with Indian healthcare requirements in mind. “MedSum runs on BharatGen, India’s own large language model, and has been validated in real clinical settings. Our focus has been to deliver reliable documentation and accessible patient communication at scale,” he said.

The platform operates on the Param-17B BharatGen model, part of India’s family of indigenous large language models designed for Indian languages and contexts. By relying on domestic AI infrastructure, the system represents one of the early healthcare applications built entirely on India’s sovereign AI ecosystem.

The collaboration is designed to eliminate digital downtime in high-pressure medical environments where even brief system disruptions can affect patient outcomes.

Ankura Hospitals, Hyderabad, has partnered with BharathCloud, a Hyderabad-based cloud services provider, to deploy resilient, AI-ready cloud infrastructure aimed at ensuring uninterrupted clinical systems and digital continuity in Hyderabad’s emergency healthcare ecosystem.

The collaboration is designed to eliminate digital downtime in high-pressure medical environments where even brief system disruptions can affect patient outcomes.

Healthcare facilities today rely heavily on electronic medical records, imaging systems, telehealth platforms, and real-time data exchange, all of which require high availability and strong cybersecurity safeguards.

In such settings, resilient cloud infrastructure helps hospitals maintain operational continuity during network interruptions, heavy data loads, or system failures.

BharathCloud’s indigenous AI-ready platform provides a sovereign cloud foundation designed to support healthcare innovation while maintaining security and regulatory compliance.

The platform includes infrastructure-as-a-service, platform-as-a-service, and AI-driven capabilities that allow healthcare organizations to deploy digital applications while ensuring high reliability and disaster-recovery readiness.

Its enterprise-grade infrastructure includes multi-location backups, high-performance computing environments, and compliance frameworks aligned with standards such as ISO 27001, TPN, and HIPAA.

Highlighting the operational demands faced by hospitals, Padma Reddy Sama, Co-founder of BharathCloud, noted, “Hospitals and emergency services operate in time-sensitive environments where system availability is non-negotiable. Our focus is on delivering secure, AI-enabled cloud infrastructure with built-in resilience and digital continuity, ensuring essential services remain operational without interruption.”

Kishore Kumar, Chief Technical Architect and Founding Member at BharathCloud, emphasized, “The true value of a resilient cloud backbone lies in its ability to support emergency teams, working silently in the background so critical services can function without any downtime. Ensuring this level of continuity is becoming essential as the city's healthcare ecosystem expands and the demand for real-time coordination increases.”

Sai Prasad, Head of IT Services at Ankura Hospitals, said, “BharathCloud's resilient and dependable digital infrastructure enables uninterrupted access to our critical clinical and emergency systems, even during peak loads. This reliability strengthens our ability to deliver consistent, high-quality patient care while enhancing overall patient experience.”

As virtual wards, hospital-in-the-home programs, and tele-ICU models scale globally, RPM will be the connective tissue that makes continuous, intelligent, home-based clinical oversight possible.

A 58-year-old diabetic patient in Patna is discharged after a cardiac episode. He goes home to three flights of stairs, a prescription he half-understands, and no follow-up appointment. Three weeks later, he is back in the emergency ward, sicker, and costing the system three times what early intervention would have. This is not an edge case. This is Tuesday in most Indian hospitals.

India has 77 million people living with diabetes, 220 million with hypertension, and a doctor-to-patient ratio that falls dangerously below WHO recommendations across most of the country. The system was built for acute crises. It was never designed for the chronic, continuous, invisible work of keeping people well after they leave the ward.

RPM by the Numbers: The Global & Indian Snapshot

For healthcare leaders who need the macro picture before the micro strategy.

The global RPM market is in its scaling phase. North America built the infrastructure, Europe stress-tested the clinical models, and the Asia Pacific is now where the growth story is being written. India is the third-largest country globally by number of RPM startups, with 190 active companies, behind only the United States (1,317) and the United Kingdom (227). The numbers below are the competitive landscape that the digital health leaders are operating in today.

Global Market & Growth

• The global RPM market is projected to grow at a double-digit CAGR through 2030, driven by chronic disease burden, ageing populations, and the accelerating shift toward value-based care.
• North America currently dominates, accounting for 53.4% of global RPM market revenue in 2024, but its growth rate is slowing as the market matures.
• Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region globally, expected to register the highest CAGR through the forecast period, with India, China, Japan, and South Korea as the primary growth engines.
• Cardiology remains the largest indication segment globally, reflecting where the clinical evidence for RPM is strongest and reimbursement pathways most established.
• The patient end-user segment is expected to register the highest CAGR of 13.3%, indicating that home-based, self-managed monitoring is the dominant direction of travel.
• The software segment within RPM is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 14.8%

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region globally, expected to register the highest CAGR through the forecast period, with India, China, Japan, and South Korea as the primary growth engines.

Clinical & Financial Impact

• RPM reduces 30-day hospital readmissions by up to 50% for cardiac patients, one of the most cited and replicated findings in digital health literature.
• The US Veterans Health Administration's RPM program, one of the largest ever deployed, achieved 41% fewer hospital admissions and a 70% reduction in inpatient days of care.
• RPM leads to a 9.6% reduction in overall hospitalisations through better monitoring and earlier intervention.
• At Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Centre, RPM implementation reduced distress codes by 65% and ICU patient transfers by 48%
• The average cost per readmission is estimated at USD 15,200, making even modest reductions in readmission rates highly cost-effective against RPM investment

India-Specific Signals

• India's RPM market is projected to grow at a strong CAGR from 2025 to 2030, accelerated by the expansion of Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, rising smartphone penetration (700+ million users), and the rapid scaling of home healthcare services
• Private hospitals in Indian metros, such as Apollo Hospitals, Manipal Hospitals, and Fortis Healthcare, are leading RPM adoption, primarily for chronic disease management, and tier-2 and tier-3 hospitals, such as SSM Hospital, Karnataka, through its collaboration with RPM startup LifeSigns Healthtech and Nanavati Max Hospital (Mumbai), are actively piloting RPM for post-surgical monitoring.
• Home care and telemedicine providers are integrating RPM into continuity care pathways, creating a new category of hybrid care delivery.
• The National Health Authority is evaluating chronic-care bundled payment models that incorporate connected monitoring devices, and Aditya Birla Health Insurance's Activ Health platform, which tracks and rewards wearable health data, represents the closest existing model to RPM-linked insurance in the Indian market.
• Conditions driving Indian RPM demand most acutely: diabetes (77 million patients), hypertension (220 million patients), cardiac disease, post-surgical recovery, and geriatric care.
• India's RPM hardware export potential is growing, with domestic manufacturers developing cloud-connected, affordable devices, blood glucose monitors, BP monitors, pulse oximeters, and smart weighing scales, designed for emerging market price points but increasingly competitive in global markets.

Private hospitals in Indian metros, such as Apollo Hospitals, Manipal Hospitals, and Fortis Healthcare, are leading RPM adoption, primarily for chronic disease management, and tier-2 and tier-3 hospitals, such as SSM Hospital, Karnataka, through its collaboration with RPM startup LifeSigns Healthtech and Nanavati Max Hospital (Mumbai), are actively piloting RPM for post-surgical monitoring.

Technology & Infrastructure Adoption

• Wearable biosensors, Bluetooth and cellular-enabled monitoring devices, and AI-powered analytics platforms are the three fastest-growing technology layers within RPM globally.
• Integration with Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is now considered table-stakes for enterprise RPM deployments; standalone monitoring platforms without EHR connectivity are losing ground rapidly.
• Blockchain-based data security architectures and federated learning frameworks are emerging as the next frontier for privacy-preserving RPM at scale.
• Disease-specific RPM platforms, purpose-built for COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and diabetes, are outperforming generic monitoring solutions on both clinical outcomes and patient adherence metrics.

Disease-specific RPM platforms, purpose-built for COPD, heart failure, sleep apnea, and diabetes, are outperforming generic monitoring solutions on both clinical outcomes and patient adherence metrics.

RPM: What India can Teach, & What it can Learn

What India can learn from more mature RPM markets, particularly the US and Western Europe, is the value of structured implementation. The Veterans Health Administration model is instructive: success came not from the devices themselves, but from a care model explicitly designed around centralised nurse-led coordination, protocol-driven escalation, and physician oversight only when thresholds were crossed.

India's hospitals, particularly tier-2 and tier-3 facilities, can leapfrog by adopting this tiered care model from the start rather than bolting it onto existing workflows.

But India has something to export too. Its experience deploying telehealth and RPM across resource-constrained settings, including rural telemedicine and community health worker networks, offers lessons in frugal innovation that healthcare systems in developed markets are only beginning to explore. The Indian market's push toward lightweight, cloud-connected, multilingual RPM platforms adapted for low-bandwidth environments is producing design thinking that is genuinely transferable.

RPM Implementation Challenges: The Gap Between Promise & Practice

Despite the clear clinical case, RPM programs have some challenges as well. Data overload is the most documented challenge. Clinicians are drowning in data they cannot contextualise, and the cognitive burden is real. Studies document physicians working additional hours outside clinical time just to review RPM data, a model that is neither sustainable nor safe.

Equally problematic is unclear clinical ownership. When RPM data comes in, it is often ambiguous who is responsible for reviewing it, escalating it, or acting on it. This ambiguity creates workflow fragmentation, liability concerns, and, critically, delayed responses to genuine deterioration. Poor integration with existing EHR systems compounds this further; data siloed in separate platforms does not reach the clinician at the right moment.

Patient-side barriers are also significant. Device usability varies widely across populations. Patients who lack digital literacy, language access, or reliable internet connectivity are frequently the same patients who carry the highest clinical risk. Without deliberate design for equity, RPM programs risk widening health disparities rather than closing them.

The Path Forward: Building RPM Around Care

The central lesson from the most successful RPM deployments worldwide is this: technology is never the primary variable. Care models are. RPM delivers transformative value when it is paired with a deliberately designed care infrastructure, tiered escalation, protocol-driven response, clear clinical ownership, and team-based coordination.

For healthcare leaders, the immediate priority is building that care model before deploying the technology.

• Define escalation protocols.
• Establish who reviews what, and when.
• Train clinical teams not just on device operation but on data interpretation.

For founders, the clearest signal from the market is that integration wins.

• RPM platforms that embed seamlessly into EHR workflows, support role-based dashboards, and reduce, not increase, clinician cognitive load will outcompete those that don't.
• The next frontier is biochemical monitoring: lab-on-a-patch technologies that detect biochemical markers before vital signs even change, enabling an entirely new tier of early intervention.

RPM will not solve healthcare's systemic pressures alone. But as virtual wards, hospital-in-the-home programs, and tele-ICU models scale globally, it will be the connective tissue that makes continuous, intelligent, home-based clinical oversight possible. The quiet revolution is already underway. The organisations that shape it deliberately will define the next era of care delivery.

Prior to this role, Dr Vaswani was associated with Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Centre for over five years.

Dr Gamy Vaswani has been appointed Chief Executive Officer at Shree Hospitals in Mumbai. She shared the development in a LinkedIn post, marking the beginning of her new role at the hospital.

Announcing the appointment, Dr Vaswani wrote, "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Chief Executive Officer at Shree Hospitals, a premier upcoming 100-bedded multispecialty hospital in Mumbai!"

She further added, "It is a privilege to take on this role, and I am excited to work with the board, especially Dr Jay Mehta, to continue delivering exceptional healthcare to the city."

Prior to this role, Dr Vaswani was associated with Sir H.N. Reliance Foundation Hospital & Research Centre for over five years. Most recently, she served as Chief of Clinical Strategy RFH and Reliance Healthcare Initiatives. Earlier, she served as Additional Director, Medical Services, Strategy and New Projects

Her earlier responsibilities also included leading clinical services operations, PnL and medico marketing at Morpheus IVF. She also served as Associate Vice President and Account Delivery Lead at IKS Health.

Dr Vaswani’s professional background spans hospital management, clinical strategy and healthcare operations across multiple organisations.

Shree Hospital was established in 1988 by Dr Shrihari Dhorepatil, MS, General & Laparoscopic Surgeon, and Dr Mrs Bharati Dhorepatil, DNB, DGO, Gynecologist & Infertility Specialist, to serve the medicare needs of citizens staying in the eastern parts across the Bund Garden Bridge in Pune.

The hospital began with six beds and initially focused on general surgical, gynecological and obstetric patients. Within the next two years, additional consultants joined, and multispecialty outpatient services were introduced. Over time, the nursing home expanded into a multispecialty hospital with 40 beds.

The hospital currently offers departments including surgery, gynecology, orthopedics, obstetrics and menorrhagia, gynaec surgery, pediatrics, medicine, cancer surgery, urology, nephrology and ophthalmology.

The newly developed AI tool is designed to analyze digital images of tumor biopsy slides and evaluate microscopic tissue patterns associated with how tumors respond to different treatments.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Health Sciences University have developed an artificial intelligence–based tool aimed at predicting which chemotherapy regimen may be more effective for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

The newly developed AI tool is designed to analyze digital images of tumor biopsy slides and evaluate microscopic tissue patterns associated with how tumors respond to different treatments.

As per reports, pancreatic cancer treatment typically involves choosing between two commonly used chemotherapy combinations, FOLFIRINOX and Gemcitabine-based therapies. Currently, oncologists often select treatment based on clinical judgement because there are limited biomarkers available to predict which regimen will work best for individual patients.

The AI system seeks to assist clinicians in selecting first-line chemotherapy options for patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

According to the researchers, the model was trained by analyzing tissue characteristics in samples from 25,000 pancreatic cancer patients who had received one of the two chemotherapy regimens.

By leveraging computational histology, the system’s AI capabilities evaluated more than 30,000 microscopic features in digitized pathology slides.

By correlating these features with treatment outcomes, the model identified patterns that may indicate whether a patient is more likely to respond to one chemotherapy regimen over another.

Furthermore, when the researchers tested the tool by using data from a large clinical trial involving the two pancreatic cancer treatment regimens, the system was able to predict each patient’s response to the treatment received.

The researchers further noted that the platform could potentially be applied to other solid tumor types and to compare different treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

Commenting on the new New AI tool, Andrew Hendifar, MD, medical director of Pancreatic Cancer at Cedars-Sinai Cancer said, “Unlike most biomarker tests, where you need an extra sample of tissue or blood, this test requires only a scanned image of the patient’s existing biopsy slide, You just send the image electronically and quickly receive a result with the treatment preference. And you don’t just learn which treatment is preferred. You learn how much more effective it is likely to be.”

“If the chance that a particular treatment will benefit a patient is 50-50, which is quite common in cancer therapy, then this may serve as a powerful tool to aid physician and patient decision-making. And we can train the digital tool not just to choose between two available treatments, but to choose between multiple available treatments,” he added.

The Spectral CT 7500 is an advanced imaging platform developed by Philips and is designed to capture detailed spectral information during routine CT scans.

Advanced Center for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC), a key unit of the Tata Memorial Center, in collaboration with Global health technology company Philips, has introduced the next-generation Spectral CT 7500 Imaging system aimed at improving early cancer detection and diagnostic precision in India.

The collaboration seeks to integrate advanced imaging technology designed to support clinicians in identifying complex diseases earlier and making more informed treatment decisions.

The Spectral CT 7500 is an advanced imaging platform designed to capture detailed spectral information during routine CT scans without increasing radiation exposure.

By obtaining deeper insights from a single scan, the technology is expected reduce the need for repeat imaging as well as shorten the diagnostic timelines for patients.

Additionally, the system can conduct comprehensive full-body scans in approximately two seconds, enabling clinicians to gather detailed diagnostic information during standard examinations, potentially improving workflow efficiency.

Furthermore, the introduction of Spectral CT is expected support multiple clinical specialties, including oncology, cardiology, neurology, and emergency care, areas where rapid and confident assessment is critical to improving outcomes.

Commenting on the new partnership, Bharath Sesha, Managing Director, Philips Indian Subcontinent, said, “Our collaboration with Tata Memorial Cancer Center demonstrates how technology can support clinicians in making faster, more accurate decisions, while enhancing patient safety and workflow efficiency. By embedding Spectral CT into routine practice, we aim to help healthcare teams reduce delays, minimise unnecessary scans, and improve access to timely diagnosis, supporting India’s broader goal of strengthening diagnostic infrastructure and improving outcomes.”

Sharing his views, Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, Director, ACTREC, Tata Memorial Center, said, “Accurate and timely diagnosis is the cornerstone of effective cancer care. The commissioning of advanced Spectral CT at ACTREC reflects our commitment to integrating cutting-edge technology into clinical practice for the direct benefit of our patients. By enabling deeper diagnostic insights from a single scan while improving efficiency, this platform will help clinicians make faster, more informed treatment decisions. We dedicate this technology to the service of our patients and reaffirm our mission to advance cancer care through innovation that is precise, compassionate, and future-ready.”

The platform is designed to reduce administrative workload across patient access and clinical workflows by automating scheduling, verification, documentation, and medical coding while integrating directly with electronic health record (EHR) systems.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has launched Amazon Connect Health, describing it as its first purpose-built agentic AI solution for healthcare providers and patients. The platform is designed to reduce administrative workload across patient access and clinical workflows by automating scheduling, verification, documentation, and medical coding while integrating directly with electronic health record (EHR) systems.

The launch targets operational inefficiencies that health systems face in patient communication and care coordination. AWS said staff in large health systems spend up to 80% of call handle time compiling patient information across fragmented tools. It also cited data showing that 89% of patients who switched providers did so due to care navigation challenges such as scheduling difficulties, long wait times, and access barriers.

Agentic AI Built for Healthcare Providers and Patients

Amazon Connect Health combines AWS’s AI-powered contact center technology with real-time EHR connectivity. The system enables patients to interact using natural language to request appointments, verify identity and insurance details, and confirm availability during a single engagement. Health systems can configure workflows and define when interactions are escalated to human staff for complex or sensitive cases.

AWS said the solution is available around the clock and is designed to reduce call abandonment while improving appointment conversion rates.

Early deployments indicate operational impact. UC San Diego Health, which manages 3.2 million patient interactions annually, reported saving one minute per call, diverting 630 hours per week from patient verification tasks to direct patient assistance, and reducing call abandonment rates by 30%, with some departments reporting reductions of up to 60%.

AI Support Before, During, and After Visits

Building Trust Through Transparency

AWS stated that Amazon Connect Health incorporates evidence mapping that links AI-generated outputs to source transcripts, medical records, and billing guidelines. The models are trained using healthcare-specific datasets and undergo multi-step safety and accuracy evaluations, including clinician-in-the-loop reviews. AWS also noted that it supports healthcare organizations with more than 130 HIPAA-eligible services and global compliance certifications.

Amazon Connect Health expands AWS’s applied AI portfolio into end-to-end healthcare administrative and clinical operations.

The platform extends beyond scheduling into clinical workflows. Before appointments, it reviews a patient’s medical history across care settings and generates summarized insights covering active conditions and recent clinical events.

During visits, with patient consent, the system transcribes clinician–patient conversations and drafts clinical notes in real time. Each note is linked to the corresponding portion of the transcript through evidence mapping. After visits, it generates patient-friendly summaries and suggests medical codes for billing, with supporting documentation attached to facilitate auditing and review.

One Medical has deployed ambient documentation capabilities across more than one million visits and is expanding into AI-supported coding. AWS also referenced its work with the National Health Service and Montefiore Health System in addressing care delivery bottlenecks.

The healthcare industry is undergoing a significant transformation due to artificial intelligence, particularly in diagnostic care. AI-driven solutions are helping close gaps in medical knowledge, infrastructure, and diagnostic efficiency in India. The use of AI-powered medical imaging, which is transforming the analysis of radiology scans and pathology samples, is one of the most important advancements.

AI-powered radiology India and AI-powered pathology India are, therefore, becoming important parts of the nation's digital healthcare revolution. In this article, we shall delve into how AI is transforming medical imaging and diagnostics in India.

AI-Powered Radiology & AI-Powered Pathology in India: Why it Matters

The lack of qualified specialists poses a serious problem for India's diagnostic healthcare system. The increasing volume of imaging tests and laboratory samples frequently overwhelms radiologists and pathologists. In this regard, AI-powered medical imaging is enhancing diagnosis accuracy while assisting healthcare practitioners in handling growing workloads.

Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in radiology can examine medical images to find patterns associated with conditions like lung cancer, stroke, fractures, and tuberculosis. These systems can swiftly detect anomalies because they employ deep learning models that have been trained on thousands of medical photos. AI can help radiologists in high-volume institutions by indicating worrisome findings for additional examination and prioritizing critical patients.

Pathology is undergoing a digital revolution at the same time. In traditional pathology, slides are examined under a microscope, which can take a lot of time. Digital pathology platforms combined with AI enable scanned slides to be analyzed automatically. AI tools are trained AI models trained on thousands of pathology images that can analyze tumor indicators, identify malignant cells, and guide pathologists find anomalies.

In recent times, AI diagnostic tools have been actively developed by a number of Indian medtech firms. For example, Qure.ai has developed AI systems that examine CT and chest X-rays to identify brain damage, lung nodules, and tuberculosis.

Another example is SigTuple, which helps labs diagnose illnesses more effectively by utilizing AI-based digital pathology and blood analysis technologies. In a similar vein, Niramai Health Analytix screens for breast cancer early using AI and thermal imaging.

These examples demonstrate how AI in radiology India and AI pathology India solutions are addressing diagnostic challenges and expanding access to healthcare services.

Advantages of AI-Powered Radiology & Pathology

The adoption of AI-powered medical imaging brings several important advantages to the healthcare ecosystem, which include -

1. Increased Diagnostic Precision

Improved diagnostic accuracy is one of the biggest advantages of AI-powered medical imaging. AI algorithms can analyze large amounts of image data to find minute patterns or anomalies that can be challenging for the human eye to spot. This capacity aids medical professionals in early disease detection, especially for illnesses such as cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases.

2. Faster Reporting & Diagnosis

Diagnostic images may be processed by AI systems in a matter of seconds, greatly cutting down on the amount of time needed for analysis. This facilitates quicker diagnosis and report generation, enabling medical professionals to make timely clinical decisions. As a result, rather than concentrating on routine screens, radiologists and pathologists can concentrate more on challenging situations.

3. Enhanced Clinical Effectiveness

AI-powered medical imaging greatly increases overall operational efficiency when included in hospital workflows. Using automated analytic technologies in diagnostics enables clinicians to handle high volumes of imaging tests and pathology samples without compromising diagnostic quality, which is particularly beneficial for hospitals and diagnostic providers with a large patient burden.

4. Support for Clinicians

AI-enabled radiology and pathology technologies can serve as decision-support aids in nations like India, where the number of specialized radiologists and pathologists is low. AI technologies help experts by highlighting questionable results, giving priority to urgent cases, and easing task demands.

5. Increasing Access via Remote Diagnostics

By allowing medical professionals to exchange imaging data via cloud-based systems, AI-powered platforms facilitate telemedicine and remote diagnostics. Smaller towns and rural hospitals can submit scans and pathology slides for expert assessment and AI-assisted analysis. This greatly increases the access of underprivileged areas to high-quality diagnostic services.

Challenges & Future Outlook

Despite its potential, there are a number of obstacles preventing AI-powered medical imaging from being widely used in India. The availability of high-quality medical datasets for AI model training is one of the primary issues. Algorithm performance may be impacted by differences in imaging standards and data formats among hospitals. Further clinical validation and regulatory approval are also essential concerns. Before AI technologies are extensively employed in clinical practice, they must pass stringent testing to guarantee accuracy, dependability, and safety.

Similarly, cybersecurity and data privacy are other major obstacles. Since AI-powered medical imaging technologies largely depend on patient data, healthcare institutions must provide robust data protection frameworks and adhere to privacy legislation.

Furthermore, to ensure the effective implementation of AI solutions, collaboration between technology developers, healthcare providers, and legislators is crucial. Integrating AI into existing clinical workflows requires training, infrastructure investment, and supportive regulatory frameworks.

Looking ahead, the demand for AI-powered medical imaging in India is expected to grow rapidly. Due to the rising prevalence of chronic illnesses, the need for advanced diagnostic technologies has significantly increased.

AI has the potential to help healthcare systems manage this growing demand by improving diagnostic speed and accuracy.

At the same time, the healthcare sector is also undergoing a digital infrastructure transition. Hospitals are using picture archiving and communication systems (PACS), cloud-based imaging systems, and electronic health records. Large datasets produced by these digital platforms can be utilized to develop and implement medical imaging algorithms using artificial intelligence.

AI-powered-radiology and pathology are expected to become an integral part of contemporary diagnostic procedures as digital health infrastructure continues to grow in India. AI-powered diagnostics have the potential to greatly enhance healthcare outcomes, efficiency, and accessibility nationwide with sustained technology advancement, regulatory support, and cross-sector cooperation.

Biswas brings more than 25 years of experience within the GSK ecosystem. He joined GSK in 1999 as a management trainee in India and has since held several senior finance roles across multiple geographies.

GSK Pharma India has announced a leadership transition in its finance function, appointing Ronojit Biswas as Whole-Time Director and Chief Financial Officer starting April 1, 2026. Current CFO Juby Chandy will step down in March to assume responsibility for APAC Finance within the broader GSK organization.

Biswas brings more than 25 years of experience within the GSK ecosystem. He joined GSK in 1999 as a management trainee in India and has since held several senior finance roles across multiple geographies.

Over the course of his career, he has worked in markets including India, Vietnam, Singapore, Brazil and the United Kingdom, gaining exposure to both regional operations and global corporate functions.

Before his latest appointment, Biswas served as Senior Finance Director for Global Product Strategy, based in Singapore. In earlier roles, he worked as Chief Financial Officer for GSK’s businesses in Brazil and Vietnam and also served as Regional Controller for the company’s international region.

His academic background includes a Postgraduate Program in Management with a specialization in Finance from the Management Development Institute in Gurgaon, along with a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from St. Xavier’s College in Kolkata.

GSK Pharma India, part of the global GSK group, focuses on developing and marketing prescription medicines and vaccines across key therapeutic areas. The company operates within India’s regulated pharmaceutical market while aligning with the global governance, compliance and operational frameworks of its parent organization.

The system uses AI-powered voice and workflow automation to communicate directly with patients, confirm appointments, coordinate referrals, and complete tasks without constant human oversight.

UnityAI, a Nashville-based startup, has raised USD 8.5 Mn in Series A funding to expand its agentic AI platform designed to automate healthcare operational workflows such as patient scheduling, outreach, and staffing coordination.

The funding round was led by Third Prime, with participation from Nashville Capital Network, Whistler Capital Partners, Company Ventures, Max Ventures, and other existing investors. With this latest round, UnityAI has now raised a total of USD 15 Mn since its founding.

UnityAI has developed what it describes as an “agentic AI workforce,” a system of autonomous software agents that can plan and execute operational tasks. In healthcare settings, these AI agents manage workflows including appointment scheduling, patient follow-ups, referral coordination, insurance verification, patient intake, and inbound call handling. The company also applies the technology to staffing operations such as shift planning, PTO management, and workforce capacity optimization.

UnityAI’s platform attempts to address healthcare operational challenges by automating the “last mile” of patient engagement, where many operational breakdowns occur.

The system uses AI-powered voice and workflow automation to communicate directly with patients, confirm appointments, coordinate referrals, and complete tasks without constant human oversight.

“What holds healthcare back rarely happens inside the exam room, but instead is everything that determines whether a patient gets there at all,” said UnityAI Co-founder and CEO Edmund Jackson.

“When the right patient meets the right clinician at the right time, consistently and reliably, care works the way it’s meant to. That’s the coordination our agents deliver – continuously optimizing how patients and providers come together,” he added.

The company says its agentic AI system is already operating at scale. UnityAI reports that its agents handle more than 300,000 patient interactions each month across hundreds of healthcare sites, including specialty care groups such as Tennessee Oncology and behavioral health provider Peregrine Health.

Through its partnership with Peregrine, the companies have deployed a virtual care navigator named Emma that helps guide patients through engagement and care coordination processes.

“Crossing the ‘last mile’ – actually engaging a person through voice AI to complete a task – has shifted us from simply optimizing workflows to operating them autonomously,” Jackson noted.

Investor Wes Barton, general partner at Third Prime, said the company has demonstrated the ability to deploy agentic AI systems reliably in real healthcare environments. “UnityAI keeps work moving in environments that are unpredictable, high-volume, and constantly changing,” Barton said.

The new funding will be used to expand UnityAI’s go-to-market efforts and further develop its agentic AI technology.

The health system confirmed Monday that clinics can again access patient records after its Epic electronic health record (EHR) system was taken offline during the cyberattack in late February.

The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has reopened its clinics across Mississippi, more than a week after a ransomware attack forced the academic medical center to shut down outpatient services and restrict access to critical systems.

The health system confirmed Monday that clinics can again access patient records after its Epic electronic health record (EHR) system was taken offline during the cyberattack in late February. UMMC said it will resume normal operations and begin contacting patients to reschedule canceled appointments. Clinics will also operate under extended hours to accommodate delayed visits.

UMMC initially closed its clinics statewide last week after the attack disrupted operations. However, its hospitals and emergency departments in Jackson, Grenada, Madison County, and Holmes County remained open throughout the incident.

The cyberattack restricted access not only to the Epic EHR system but also to phone and email systems. UMMC said it worked with a third-party vendor to maintain communication with patients during the outage.

For inpatient care, the health system implemented downtime procedures, including documenting patient care and issuing medical orders on paper. Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC’s vice chancellor for health affairs, said in a statement that the organization had “stopped the bleeding,” but added that the full scope of the intrusion was still under investigation.

UMMC is working with federal authorities, including the FBI, and external cybersecurity experts to assess and respond to the incident. The medical center operates seven hospitals and is Mississippi’s only academic medical center.

Ransomware attacks, which block access to systems until a ransom is paid, continue to pose operational and clinical risks for healthcare organizations. Such incidents can delay procedures, disrupt emergency care, and expose sensitive patient data.

Recovery timelines vary widely. According to a 2024 survey by cybersecurity firm Sophos, only 22% of healthcare organizations fully recovered from a ransomware attack in less than a week, while nearly 40% required more than a month to restore operations.

UMMC has not disclosed whether any patient data was compromised or whether a ransom demand was made.

The new feature enables provider front-office teams to automate and manage multiple phone calls simultaneously within Tennr’s system, according to the company.

Health tech startup Tennr has added voice artificial intelligence capabilities to its referral automation platform, targeting time-intensive routine phone calls that slow down the pre-visit process for specialty care providers.

The new feature enables provider front-office teams to automate and manage multiple phone calls simultaneously within Tennr’s system, according to the company. These calls include payer benefits investigations, documentation follow-ups, patient welcome and order confirmations, and resupply outreach tied to active referrals. Executives said the embedded voice AI tool allows providers to increase patient throughput without proportionally increasing headcount.

Founded in 2021, Tennr focuses on automating the manual and fragmented patient referral process. Referrals from primary care physicians often arrive via fax, email, or electronic portals and require extensive documentation review and follow-up. Industry professionals frequently describe gaps in this process as the “black hole problem,” where patients fall out of the system due to a lack of visibility and coordination.

Tennr built proprietary language models to read referrals, extract relevant clinical and administrative information, and route cases appropriately. Its vision-language model, RaeLM, is trained on 100 million anonymized healthcare documents, 2.3 billion data fields, and 8,000 criteria sets, according to the company. RaeLM evaluates documentation against payer requirements to flag potential denials and reduce submission errors.

The company says it processes more than 10 million documents per month and works with over 150 healthcare organizations.

CEO Trey Holterman said voice was added after identifying phone-based workflows as a major bottleneck. “We can tell when a patient is missing valid insurance information within two minutes of receiving that order or referral,” Holterman said. “But going out and getting that information relied on manual processes. It was a logical next step to bring in automated phone calls integrated directly into that workflow.”

Tennr raised $101 million in a Series C funding round in June to expand its platform. Since then, it has added products focused on eligibility benefits, billing qualification, communication coordination, authorization review and patient experience. The company has also expanded into orthopedics, cardiology and fertility and appointed physician leader William Morris, M.D., as chief medical officer to support specialty growth.

Holterman said embedding voice AI into existing workflows, rather than offering it as a standalone solution, is central to the company’s approach to solving referral inefficiencies.

The strategy includes a new 700-bed hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad, upgrades to ICU units and broader distribution of specialised care to improve access and reduce hospital congestion.

The Maharashtra government has announced a 10-year healthcare infrastructure roadmap focused on expanding hospital facilities, increasing ICU capacity and improving emergency care networks across the state.

The plan aims to ease pressure on Pune and Mumbai’s tertiary hospitals while improving access to specialised treatment in other districts.

The discussion gained prominence in the state legislature after concerns were raised over shortages of ICU beds in Pune’s public hospitals. While officials maintained that the current bed capacity broadly aligns with national standards relative to the city’s population, they acknowledged that tertiary hospitals in Pune often serve patients from several surrounding districts. This inflow significantly increases pressure on emergency and critical care units.

To address the issue, the government has confirmed plans to build a 700-bed hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial and residential hub in the Pune Metropolitan Region.

Authorities have also indicated that ICU wards, emergency departments and key clinical facilities in existing government hospitals will undergo systematic upgrades under the broader healthcare infrastructure programme.

Beyond bed capacity, infrastructure reliability has also become a point of concern. Independent assessments have reported operational challenges in maintaining essential critical care conditions, including temperature-controlled environments and uninterrupted medical utilities.

In some cases, patients have reportedly been moved between wards within hospital campuses to maintain appropriate treatment conditions. Such incidents highlight the need for more resilient hospital facilities and modernised infrastructure capable of supporting advanced clinical care.

Healthcare planners say that expanding critical care infrastructure alone will not solve the problem if services remain concentrated in a few urban centres. Experts have therefore emphasised the importance of geographically distributed hospital facilities across the Pune Metropolitan Region and other districts.

Decentralised clusters of specialised hospitals could help reduce patient congestion in major tertiary institutions while improving access to treatment for peri-urban and rural populations.

In addition to public sector investments, private healthcare providers have been expanding their presence in Pune. Several national hospital chains have announced plans to develop new multi-speciality campuses and super-speciality facilities in the region.

These developments are expected to complement government efforts to expand hospital facilities and strengthen critical care networks.

The technology integrates real-time brain-sensing capabilities to automatically adjust stimulation levels based on neural activity.

KIMS Hospitals has introduced Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) in India, becoming one of the first centres in the country to implement the sensing-enabled, closed-loop system for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

The technology integrates real-time brain-sensing capabilities to automatically adjust stimulation levels based on neural activity.

The adaptive system builds on the previously developed Percept™ platform and incorporates BrainSense™ technology. Unlike conventional deep-brain stimulation (DBS) devices that deliver constant electrical stimulation, aDBS continuously monitors local field potentials in the beta frequency range and modulates therapy accordingly.

Parkinson’s disease patients treated with traditional DBS often require manual adjustments to address fluctuations in tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. The adaptive system introduces a dynamic feedback loop, increasing or decreasing stimulation in response to changes in brain signals. Physicians continue to define stimulation thresholds and safety parameters.

Dr. Guruprasad Hosurkar, Director and Lead Consultant in Neurology and Head of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Programme at KIMS Hospitals, said the system reduces the need for manual device adjustments and may lower overall stimulation exposure. According to clinical data cited by the hospital, total stimulation usage could decrease by nearly 50%, potentially extending battery life and reducing long-term device replacement costs. Reduced excess stimulation may also lower the risk of stimulation-related side effects.

Adaptive DBS first received regulatory approval in the United States and was later introduced in select global centres, including Japan. India approved earlier this year, enabling domestic implementation.

Dr. Raghuram Gopalakrishnan, Director and Senior Consultant, Head of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, stated that the hospital will initially upgrade select existing DBS patients to the adaptive platform through software updates and advanced programming. In the first phase, four to five eligible patients are expected to transition in early March.

He added that the system incorporates artificial intelligence algorithms that analyse neuronal waveforms and adjust stimulation parameters in real time.

Dr. Nitish Shetty, Managing Director of KIMS Hospitals, Bengaluru, said the introduction of adaptive closed-loop DBS strengthens the hospital’s neurological treatment capabilities by aligning with global neuromodulation standards.

Short Summary:

KIMS Hospitals has introduced Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) in India for Parkinson’s disease. The closed-loop system uses real-time brain sensing to automatically adjust stimulation levels based on symptom fluctuations.

The leadership change comes as the health insurer shifts toward a new business model that excludes after-market discounts, known as rebates.

Cigna on Tuesday announced that long-time Chief Executive Officer David Cordani will retire and transition to executive chair of the board effective July 1. He will be succeeded by company insider Brian Evanko, currently president and chief operating officer.

The leadership change comes as the health insurer shifts toward a new business model that excludes after-market discounts, known as rebates. The company has said the transition is expected to pressure margins over the next two years.

Evanko, 49, has spent three decades at Cigna and currently oversees its insurance segment, Cigna Healthcare, and health services division Evernorth. Cordani, 60, joined the company in 1991 and has served as CEO since 2009.

The announcement surprised some analysts. Shares of Cigna fell more than 5% following the news. Julie Utterback, analyst at Morningstar, said the company had been “a relatively steady part of the MCO industry,” adding that a CEO transition introduces uncertainty at a time when the sector has seen limited disruption compared to peers.

Last month, Cigna issued a softer profit forecast for 2026 but reaffirmed that outlook on Tuesday alongside the leadership announcement.

During Cordani’s tenure, Cigna acquired pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts for $54 billion in 2018 and divested its Medicare Advantage business to Health Care Service Corporation last year. The company has also scaled back its Affordable Care Act exchange presence, shifting focus toward pharmacy benefits and employer-sponsored health plans.

Analysts described Evanko as a natural successor. Michael Wiederhorn, analyst at Oppenheimer, said the move suggests Cigna is unlikely to pursue transformational changes following several near-merger discussions with Humana over the past decade.

Barclays analyst Andrew Mok noted that Evanko will be among the youngest CEOs in healthcare services, while also one of the most tenured. Mark Andraos, partner at Regency Wealth Management, said the reaffirmed guidance indicates that the leadership change is not expected to alter the company’s growth targets or strategic direction.

The change represents a significant shift in how maternity services are reported, tracked, and reimbursed across the U.S. healthcare system.

The American Medical Association (AMA) will eliminate decades-old bundled billing codes for pregnancy care and replace them with a more granular, itemized coding structure effective Jan. 1, 2027. The change represents a significant shift in how maternity services are reported, tracked, and reimbursed across the U.S. healthcare system.

Historically, common procedural terminology (CPT) codes for maternity care have relied on “global” codes that bundle services provided during antepartum care, labor and delivery, and postpartum follow-up into a single payment structure. The AMA will delete these global codes and instead introduce a combination of evaluation and management codes, along with new categories that capture specific stages of pregnancy, including labor management.

The update follows growing pressure from specialty societies, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which argued that the existing framework does not reflect the complexity of modern obstetric practice. Over the past three decades, maternity care delivery has evolved to involve multidisciplinary teams, including certified nurse midwives, laborists and postpartum specialists. Care is also increasingly delivered across multiple facilities, particularly for high-risk pregnancies requiring transfers from rural hospitals to advanced centers.

Dr. John Horton of Emory Healthcare said the underlying maternity coding structure has remained largely unchanged since the mid-1990s, despite substantial shifts in clinical practice.

The AMA convened a workgroup two years ago to review maternity CPT codes. The revised framework will be formally presented to insurers in a webinar this week. According to panel members, the early release is intended to give payers and vendors additional time to adjust billing and reporting systems ahead of the 2027 rollout.

The overhaul has drawn mixed reactions. While supporters argue that the changes could improve reporting accuracy and better capture care transitions, some observers note that moving away from bundled payments may represent a step back from value-based care models and could affect utilization patterns.

The AMA stated that the new coding system is not designed to increase revenue for obstetricians, nurse-midwives or other maternity specialists, but to better align documentation with current clinical practice.

Prior to joining Manipal Hospitals, he was associated with Sahyadri Hospitals where he served in leadership roles.

Manipal Hospitals has appointed Col Dr Sunil Rao as Regional Head Medical Services for the North and West Cluster. In this role, he will oversee medical administration across the cluster.

Col Dr Sunil Rao brings extensive experience in healthcare leadership and hospital administration. Over the course of his professional career, he has been associated with organisations including Sahyadri Hospitals, Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth Medical College Hospital and Research Centre Pimpri Pune, and Gujarat Cancer Society.

During his tenure across these institutions, he held several senior leadership roles focused on hospital operations, medical administration and multi-location healthcare management. His work has included driving clinical quality, operational efficiency and patient outcomes.

Prior to joining Manipal Hospitals, he was associated with Sahyadri Hospitals where he served in leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer, Group Chief Operating Officer and Director Medical Services, and Group Medical Director.

He has also served as Chief Executive Officer at Dr D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre Pimpri Pune, and at Gujarat Cancer Society.

Earlier in his career, he held the position of Senior Vice President at Columbia Asia Hospitals  where he was responsible for profit and loss management for six hospitals.

Cijo George brings nearly two decades of experience in machine learning, AI platforms, and product-led engineering, building production-grade AI systems and working on machine learning approaches for distributed systems.

Practo has appointed Cijo George as Vice President of AI to lead artificial intelligence initiatives across its digital healthcare platform, strengthening AI integration in care navigation, provider tools, and overall platform intelligence.

Founded in 2008, Practo operates as a digital health platform that connects patients with doctors, clinics, diagnostic centres, and hospitals. Over the past 17 years, the company has built a substantial repository of longitudinal healthcare data spanning patient journeys, provider performance, and treatment outcomes.

As global healthcare systems increasingly rely on artificial intelligence to enhance clinical decision-making and operational efficiency, digital platforms such as Practo are investing in AI leadership to convert data depth into actionable insights.

“For the last 17 years, we have been building deep healthcare intelligence across patients, doctors, clinics, and outcomes,” said Shashank ND, Co-founder and CEO, Practo.

“AI unlocks the full potential of this data, helping patients get better outcomes and enabling doctors with insights that can genuinely improve care delivery. Cijo brings exceptional depth in building real-world AI platforms, and his belief in using AI to drive meaningful impact strongly resonates with our purpose. We’re excited to have him on board and look forward to building the next phase of Practo’s AI journey together.”

Cijo George brings nearly two decades of experience in machine learning, AI platforms, and product-led engineering. Before joining Practo, he held senior leadership roles at Observe.AI, where he contributed to building production-grade AI systems deployed by global enterprises.

Earlier, he led Platform and AI initiatives at Belong.co, focusing on search and personalisation technologies, and was part of the Advanced Technology Group at NetApp, working on machine learning approaches for distributed systems. He holds a Master’s degree in High Performance Computing from the Indian Institute of Science.

“What drew me to Practo is the opportunity to apply AI in ways that can directly improve how patients experience care and how doctors deliver it,” said Cijo George, Vice President of AI, Practo.

“Practo operates at unmatched scale and has built deep, longitudinal healthcare data across patients, providers, and outcomes over many years. Combined with its position as a neutral platform across the ecosystem, this creates a powerful foundation to build AI systems that can meaningfully improve health outcomes at scale, and I’m excited to contribute to that journey.”

In his new role as Vice President of AI, Cijo George will oversee Practo’s AI charter and collaborate closely with product, engineering, and clinical teams. His mandate includes integrating AI more deeply into how patients discover and access care, and how providers deliver care with greater accuracy, reliability, and consistency at scale.

By monitoring pulmonary artery pressure, the system seeks to enable clinicians to identify worsening heart failure before clinical symptoms worsen or require hospitalisation, which is expected to reduce hospital readmissions.

Global healthcare giant Abbott has announced the availability of its Next-generation CardioMEMS Hero device, designed for remote monitoring of patients with chronic heart disease.

The device has recently received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It enables patients to capture pressure readings and securely send them to their care teams for clinical review.

The CardioMEMS HERO reader is part of the broader CardioMEMS HF System and is designed to work with an implanted CardioMEMS PA sensor.

The sensor measures changes in pulmonary artery pressures, which can indicate shifts in a patient's heart failure status.

Additionally, the updated system includes integrated connectivity features intended to support ease of use and reliable data transmission.

By monitoring pulmonary artery pressure, the system seeks to enable clinicians to identify worsening heart failure before clinical symptoms worsen or require hospitalisation, which is expected to reduce hospital readmissions.

The clinical trial of the device reported significant results by reducing the risk of heart failure hospitalizations and cardiovascular death.

Further, the new device is expected to enhance data acquisition and patient interactions with care teams while improving patient experience.

Commenting on the new development, Finn Gustafsson, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and divisional Vice president of Abbott’s heart failure business, said, “Abbott’s CardioMEMS HERO reader is modernizing a proven and effective remote patient management system, making it even more convenient for patients to use a device that has shown a 57% reduction in heart failure hospitalizations. With this new reader, people can work with their doctors to proactively manage their condition outside of the doctor’s office even more efficiently, increasing convenience and the patient experience."

By offering a government-backed digital tool at no cost, the initiative is expected to support wider adoption of digital health practices among smaller healthcare facilities and India’s primary care network.

The Government of India has introduced the e-Sushrut@Clinic, a free digital platform intended to support the digital transformation of small and mid-sized clinics across the nation.

The initiative was developed under the Ayushman Bharat Mission (ABDM)and rolled out by the National Health Authority (NHA) in collaboration with the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC).

The platform is designed to digitize patient records, manage appointments, and facilitate seamless out-patient workflows while enabling integration with broader health infrastructure.

The platform is further expected to improve continuity of care by enabling clinics to create and operate interoperable health records across hospitals, diagnostic service providers, and clinics linked to ABDM.

Further, the platform is accessible through a standard web browser and seeks to reduce the need for significant upfront investment in software or hardware.

By offering a government-backed digital tool at no cost, the initiative is expected to support wider adoption of digital health practices among smaller healthcare facilities and India’s primary care network.

In addition to clinical workflow management, the platform includes additional features such as dashboards and administrative tools to support efficient clinic operations and data-driven decision-making.

The initiative is also intended to contribute to improved health data aggregation to inform policy planning.

The launch forms a part of India’s ongoing effort to expand digital healthcare adoption and strengthen interoperability across providers.

The initiative is built on an earlier MoU signed by the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) to roll out e-Sushrut@Clinic.

ASMS will also receive a defined share of net project revenues generated through business development

Avio Smart Market Stack (ASMS), formerly Bartronics India, has signed a Share Subscription-cum-Shareholders’ Agreement with Hyderabad-based Huwel Lifesciences aimed at enhancing public tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics opportunities across India.

The agreement is built on an earlier MoU signed between the two companies in September, 2025. Under the partnership agreement, ASMS will acquire a minority stake in Huwel and support the business development and project execution in the TB diagnostics.

Through the partnership, ASMS seeks to expand its footprint in healthcare and diagnostic-linked opportunities.

Additionally, ASMS will also receive a defined share of net project revenues generated through business development.

Further, Huwel’s flagship TB diagnostic platform, the Quantiplus MTB FAST, has been in the spotlight for its cost advantage.

Recent assessments indicate the platform can deliver a molecular TB diagnostic accurately and offers a comparatively lower per-test cost.

The solution is designed to operate on “open” RT-PCR machines, allowing integration with a large base of PCR machines that were installed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is expected to minimize the need for proprietary hardware or significant additional capital expenditure and support the expansion of TB testing capacity in public health programmes.

Commenting on the development, Vidhyasagar Reddy, managing director, Avio Smart Market Stack, said, “The Health Technology Assessment provides important validation for cost-efficient molecular testing within a nationally significant programme. Through this strategic collaboration, we are aligning with scalable public health solutions while building our presence in the life sciences segment.”

The move aims to expand MedGenome’s integrated diagnostics footprint across western India and strengthen its multi-omics–driven care model.

MedGenome has announced a majority investment in Medcare Management Services Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based radiology and nuclear medicine company.

The move aims to expand MedGenome’s integrated diagnostics footprint across western India and strengthen its multi-omics–driven care model.

Founded in 2012, Medcare operates four imaging centres across Mumbai (Chembur, Goregaon, Andheri) and Navi Mumbai. Its services include PET-CT, CT, mammography, nuclear medicine scans, and theragnostics. The company has established a referral network of over 50 hospitals and physicians in the region.

The partnership merges Medcare’s expertise in nuclear medicine and advanced imaging with MedGenome’s strengths in genomics and data-driven diagnostics. This integration is intended to support early detection, disease stratification, and treatment planning, particularly in oncology and other complex conditions.

Medcare’s promoters will continue to manage operations and lead growth initiatives in collaboration with MedGenome. Representatives of Novo Holdings, an investor in MedGenome, highlighted that the investment is a strategic step toward building a comprehensive diagnostics ecosystem in India, combining imaging, pathology, and multi-omics capabilities for earlier and more precise diagnoses.

MedGenome leadership emphasized the importance of diagnostics as the starting point in disease management. Integrating Medcare’s capabilities strengthens its ability to provide end-to-end solutions across the patient journey. PET-CT imaging, when complemented with genomic testing, can improve early cancer detection, guide targeted therapies, and enhance monitoring outcomes.

The acquisition aligns with MedGenome’s broader strategy to evolve into a fully integrated diagnostics provider, combining radiology, pathology, and genomics on a single platform. The company plans to scale technology-driven, patient-centric diagnostic services while expanding access to precision healthcare across India.

The investment will increase the company’s capacity from over 450 beds to 1,000 beds and double its footprint in dedicated centres by March 2027.

KITES Senior Care, a division of Lifebridge Group and an out-of-hospital elder-care provider, has announced an INR 40 crore investment plan to expand its specialised geriatric infrastructure across India. 

The investment will increase the company’s capacity from over 450 beds to 1,000 beds and double its footprint in dedicated centres by March 2027.

Currently, KITES operates specialised centres in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, and Kochi, providing post-hospital rehabilitation, dementia care, palliative care, and long-term assisted living. The expansion will extend access to clinically supervised geriatric services in urban and emerging markets, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Pune, where such services remain limited.

The company has previously deployed INR 30 crore to establish its existing facilities. The additional INR 40 crore will support India-wide expansion, enhance clinical staffing, specialist training, and standardised care protocols to maintain high-quality service as the network grows.

India is experiencing a demographic ageing shift, driven by longer life expectancy, rising chronic disease prevalence, reduced family caregiving availability, and increased migration of adult children. These factors are driving demand for accountable, medically supervised elder-care services offering continuity and visibility for families.

The Indian geriatric healthcare market was valued at approximately USD 42.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach around USD 97.3 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of nearly 9%. India’s senior population (aged 60+) is expected to rise from around 100 million in 2011 to nearly 230 million by 2036, representing one in seven Indians.

“India’s ageing transition has created a clear need for specialised clinical infrastructure in elder care. Families today expect safe, supervised, and continuous care for seniors. Our planned expansion addresses this demand. The Rs. 40 crore investment will allow us to grow responsibly while maintaining care standards and clinical continuity,” said Dr. Reema Nadig, co-founder, director, and group COO of Lifebridge Group.

KITES Senior Care is part of the Lifebridge Group, India’s integrated senior wellness ecosystem, which also includes Serene Communities (senior living) and seniorshield (AgeTech). The group is backed by Dr. Ranjan Pai’s Manipal Education & Medical Group (MEMG) family office.

Oracle’s new program seeks to address these challenges through an EHR-agnostic architecture, simplifying integration for healthcare technology customers.

Oracle Health has launched a new three-tier validation framework for medical devices, aimed at standardizing connectivity, functionality, and workflow alignment to enable secure integration within healthcare organizations.

Validated devices will also have the opportunity to be listed in the Oracle Healthcare Marketplace.

Medical devices often produce inconsistent data, which can disrupt clinical workflows, create operational inefficiencies, and limit the adoption of innovative care models. Oracle’s new program seeks to address these challenges through an EHR-agnostic architecture, simplifying integration for healthcare technology customers. The framework allows evaluation of device connectivity, nomenclature alignment, and workflow integration across different electronic health record systems.

“Oracle Health Device Validation provides the assurance hospitals need to choose our technology,” said Michael Hawn, senior vice president of data services and cloud hosting at Bio IntelliSense.

The program currently supports validation across multiple device categories, including bedside integration, event management, maternal and fetal monitoring, infusion suites, laboratory devices, and mobile vitals collection. It also covers discrete data, continuous and spot-check monitoring, alarms, waveforms, infusion management, smart pump programming, and real-time location services. Oracle noted that ongoing validation supports data transmission security and compliance with interoperability standards.

“Through this validation program, we're building trusted relationships with device vendors, streamlining interoperability, and opening the door for continued collaboration and innovation that gives our customers confidence and improves patient care,” said Seema Verma, general manager of Oracle Health and Life Sciences.

Device vendors have already highlighted the program’s benefits. Peter Richardson, associate director of connected care at Baxter, said, “Our collaboration with Oracle has helped us drive meaningful and agile progress in our technology integration.”

With pandemic-era Acute Hospital Care at Home waivers extended through 2030, the demand for validated, interoperable devices is expected to grow, reinforcing Oracle Health’s role in supporting secure and efficient connected care delivery.

The deal, effective 1 April 2026, aims to broaden access to critical treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD), anemia management, and transplant care. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals has entered into a distribution agreement with Roche to supply select therapies in the nephrology and transplant medicine portfolio across India.

The deal, effective 1 April 2026, aims to broaden access to critical treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD), anemia management, and transplant care. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Under the agreement, Emcure will distribute Roche’s established brands, including Cellcept, a leading immunosuppressant supporting organ transplants globally since 1995, and Mircera and Neorecormon, therapies for anemia in CKD patients. Mircera, a long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), allows dosing once every 2–4 weeks.

Emcure, a recognized leader in anemia management, has an established presence in the nephrology and CKD segments through its subsidiaries. Roche’s portfolio complements Emcure’s existing offerings, creating a strategic alignment aimed at expanding access to these medicines across India.

Commenting on the agreement, Satish Mehta, Managing Director & CEO, Emcure Pharmaceuticals, said, “This partnership with Roche is a natural extension of Emcure’s commitment to improving outcomes in anemia and renal care. Roche’s globally trusted innovations strongly complement our existing portfolio and reach. Together, we aim to expand access to these critical therapies and support physicians in delivering optimal care to patients across India.”

Rajji Mehdwan, Managing Director & CEO, Roche India & Neighbouring Markets, added, “We are pleased to partner with Emcure Pharmaceuticals, a company with deep expertise and leadership in anemia management and nephrology. Through Emcure’s strong distribution network and clinical engagement, these medicines can reach a larger number of patients who can benefit from Roche’s long-standing innovations in transplant and CKD care.”

The collaboration is expected to enhance patient access to proven therapies while supporting improved anemia management and long-term outcomes for individuals with CKD and transplant needs in India.

By - Surjeet Thakur, CIO, Sri Shankara Cancer Hospital & Research Centre & Co-Founder and CEO of TrioTree Technologies

India’s Union Budget 2026–27 marks a decisive moment for the country’s healthcare trajectory. While healthcare may not dominate headline numbers, the Budget’s people-centric development framework, strong public investment push, and focus on services, skilling, and digital governance collectively set the stage for a transformational five-year period for Indian healthcare. The coming years will determine whether India can move from incremental improvement to building a resilient, equitable, and future-ready health system.

A Stronger Foundation for Public Health Infrastructure

One of the most significant signals from Budget 2026 is the continued emphasis on public capital expenditure and strengthening district-level infrastructure. Health spending of over ₹1 lakh crore, alongside investments in urban development, transport, and digital systems, reinforces the idea that healthcare outcomes are deeply tied to broader infrastructure growth.

The establishment of Emergency and Trauma Care Centres in district hospitals and the expansion of public health institutions reflect a recognition that access, not just affordability, remains India’s primary healthcare challenge. Over the next five years, this focus can help bridge long-standing regional disparities, particularly in Tier II, Tier III cities, and underserved districts, if implementation remains consistent.

Human Capital: The Backbone of the Next Phase

Perhaps the most future-oriented aspect of the Budget is its emphasis on building a robust care ecosystem. The plan to train 1.5 lakh multi-skilled caregivers and upgrade institutions for allied health professionals directly addresses India’s chronic shortage of trained healthcare workers.

Over the next five years, India has an opportunity to reposition healthcare employment as a structured, aspirational career path. However, this also brings responsibility: ensuring standardised training, fair compensation, and ethical deployment of this workforce, especially in elder care, mental health, and chronic disease management.

Medical Value Tourism & India’s Global Health Role

Budget 2026 outlines a renewed push to establish five Medical Value Tourism hubs in partnership with states and the private sector. This positions India not just as a low-cost destination, but as a trusted global healthcare provider.

If executed well, medical tourism can drive investment in advanced clinical infrastructure, technology adoption, and international accreditation. Yet the responsibility lies in ensuring that global ambitions do not divert resources away from domestic public healthcare needs. The next five years must balance global competitiveness with local accountability.

Digital Health, AI, & Trust-Based Governance

The Budget’s broader push toward cutting-edge technologies, including AI-enabled governance and integrated digital systems, has deep implications for healthcare delivery. From digitised patient records to AI-assisted diagnostics and supply-chain efficiencies, technology can redefine care access and quality.

However, the next phase will demand careful stewardship. Data privacy, interoperability, ethical AI use, and cybersecurity must evolve alongside digital adoption. Trust-based governance, another core pillar of Budget 2026, will be critical in ensuring that technology enhances care without eroding public confidence.

Expanding the Care Economy & Mental Health Focus

The Budget’s people-centric development agenda explicitly recognises mental health, disability care, and geriatric services as integral to national growth. The establishment of NIMHANS-2 and upgrades to national mental health institutes signal a long-overdue prioritisation of mental well-being.

Over the next five years, India has the chance to mainstream mental health into preventive and primary care. The responsibility, however, will be to move beyond infrastructure creation toward reducing stigma, integrating mental health into insurance coverage, and building community-level support systems.

Affordability, Access, & Preventive Care

Budget 2026 also extends customs duty exemptions on select cancer drugs and supports a simplified, technology-driven regulatory environment. These measures can improve affordability and encourage innovation.

Yet India’s healthcare future cannot rely solely on treatment-centric models. The next five years must prioritise preventive healthcare, early screening, lifestyle disease management, and community health education, especially as non-communicable diseases continue to rise.

Wrapping it up 

The vision laid out in Budget 2026 positions healthcare as both an economic enabler and a social responsibility. Public investment, private participation, and state-level execution will all shape outcomes. But success will ultimately depend on collaboration between government, healthcare providers, technology innovators, and communities.

The next five years present a rare convergence of opportunity and intent. If India can translate Budget 2026’s commitments into measurable outcomes, it can build a healthcare system that is not only larger, but fairer, smarter, and more resilient. The responsibility now lies in execution, with equity, transparency, and long-term impact at the core.

Optune Pax delivers low-intensity alternating electric fields through adhesive arrays placed on the abdomen, which disrupt critical proteins involved in mitosis, impair the formation of the mitotic spindle and lead to cancer cell death.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Optune Pax, a wearable device developed by Novocure, for adults with locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Used alongside gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, the device employs tumour-treating fields (TTFields) to interfere with cancer cell division and extend survival.

The approval of Optune Pax has been based on findings from the Phase 3 PANOVA-3 trial, which enrolled 571 patients and compared standard chemotherapy alone with chemotherapy plus TTFields therapy.

In the intent-to-treat population, median overall survival reached 16.2 months in the Optune Pax arm versus 14.2 months in the control group. The combination also extended median time to pain progression to 15.2 months, compared with 9.1 months for chemotherapy alone. In a modified per-protocol analysis, overall survival increased to 18.3 months with the device, versus 15.1 months without it.

“The approval of Optune Pax marks the first new treatment in nearly 30 years for patients fighting locally advanced pancreatic cancer,” said Novocure CEO Frank Leonard. “Our technology represents a fundamentally different approach, a biophysical one, that targets the electrical properties of cancer cells.”

Optune Pax delivers low-intensity alternating electric fields through adhesive arrays placed on the abdomen. These tumour-treating fields disrupt critical proteins involved in mitosis, including tubulin and septin, impairing the formation of the mitotic spindle and leading to cancer cell death.

Because the electrical frequencies are calibrated to affect rapidly dividing cells, healthy tissues are largely spared. Patients carry a portable field generator in a dedicated bag and are trained to manage battery replacement, array changes, and device maintenance.

Safety data from PANOVA-3 showed that the most frequent device-related events were localized skin reactions beneath the arrays, reported in about three-quarters of participants, with severe reactions occurring in fewer than 8 per cent.

Novocure has previously secured FDA approvals for TTFields in glioblastoma and mesothelioma, and continues to investigate the technology across other solid tumours.

Prior to this appointment, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Marengo Asia Healthcare.

Apex Group of Hospitals has named Dr Trupti Patel as its Group Chief Operating Officer.

Dr Patel shared the update on LinkedIn, writing, “I am pleased to take on the role of Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO) at Apex Group of Hospitals.”

Prior to this appointment, she served as Chief Operating Officer at Marengo Asia Healthcare. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has been associated with Marengo Asia Healthcare in a full-time capacity since August 2023 in Gujarat, India, handling responsibilities including P and L Management and Business Analysis.

Before that, she was associated with Shalby Limited in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. During her tenure at Shalby Limited, she served as Deputy Chief Administrative Officer and earlier as Unit Head.

Apex Group of Hospitals is a network of multispecialty healthcare centers in Gujarat, offering advanced medical services across disciplines like gastroenterology, oncology, neurology, urology, and orthopedics.

The proposed centre will focus on genomics and Next Generation Sequencing while working to strengthen genomic infrastructure in the country.

A new genomics Center of Excellence named BioSphere is set to be established at Andhra Pradesh MedTech Zone in Vizag following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Bio Valley, 4baseCare and Define Bio.

The partners stated that the initiative is intended to support the development of India’s genomics ecosystem.

The proposed centre will focus on genomics and Next Generation Sequencing while working to strengthen genomic infrastructure in the country.

It is designed to enable diagnostics, therapeutic decisions and personalised treatments. In addition, the facility will generate datasets representing India’s genetic diversity and integrate them with global genomic datasets.

According to the partners, the centre will aid in the development of diagnostics, risk prediction models and therapies aligned with Indian genomic variations, while adhering to scientific benchmarks and ensuring interoperability.

It will also encourage collaboration between clinicians, academic institutions, industry partners and data based start ups, and provide training support for scientists and entrepreneurs engaged in data driven research and product development.

Population scale genomic insights emerging from the centre are expected to contribute to public health policy and preventive strategies at a national level, with emphasis on accessibility, affordability and long term healthcare impact in India.

Hitesh Goswami, CEO and Co founder of 4baseCare, said, “This collaboration with Bio Valley, 4baseCare and Define Bio represents a significant step in strengthening India’s innovation-led Biotech ecosystem at AMTZ. By bringing together advanced genomics expertise, incubation support, and translational research capabilities, we aim to accelerate the development of impactful precision medicine solutions. Partnerships like these reinforce our commitment to nurturing cutting-edge healthcare innovation from Andhra Pradesh and enabling globally relevant breakthroughs from India.”

As part of the initiative, an incubation centre will be set up within CoE BioSphere to support genomics based start ups. It will offer sequencing services, access to data and mentorship for product development.

The partners stated that CoE BioSphere is envisioned as a hub for genomics driven healthcare and biotechnology developments at AMTZ.

Dr K. Suseela Branham, CEO, Bio Valley, said, “Building India’s Next-Generation Genomic Ecosystem: This strategic partnership advances data-driven precision Healthcare solutions and Genomic innovation, marking a major achievement for personalized Medical solutions in India.”

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Bio Valley, 4baseCare and Define Bio have signed an MoU to establish BioSphere, a genomics Center of Excellence at AMTZ Vizag.

The facility will focus on genomics, Next Generation Sequencing, diagnostics and population scale data generation.

The collaboration marks Medi Assist’s expansion into Thailand as part of its broader international growth strategy.

Medi Assist Healthcare Services has entered into a strategic partnership with LawtonAsia, a Thailand-based insurance broker, to deploy its AI-driven international health and travel insurance platform in the Southeast Asian market. The implementation process has begun, with a full-scale launch expected in the coming weeks.

The collaboration marks Medi Assist’s expansion into Thailand as part of its broader international growth strategy. LawtonAsia operates as an independent insurance broker in the country, providing medical insurance, employee benefits, general insurance, and reinsurance services.

Under the agreement, LawtonAsia will integrate Medi Assist’s AI-powered platform into its operations to improve claims processing efficiency and enhance member experience. The technology is designed to reduce turnaround times, increase transparency, and provide members with real-time visibility into their benefits. The system also enables corporate clients to manage flexible benefit structures within their insurance programs.

Jerome Kelly, CEO of LawtonAsia, said the agreement followed months of discussions and was finalized after a visit to Medi Assist’s offices in India. “This is a major upgrade for LawtonAsia and will allow the company to use best-in-class AI systems to manage medical insurance claims and provide greater control for clients,” he said.

Nikhil Chopra, chief business officer at Medi Assist, said the partnership supports the company’s international expansion plans. “By bringing our AI-driven platform into their operations, we're enabling faster claims processing, greater transparency, and more intelligent decision-making,” he said.

The implementation phase is currently in progress in Thailand, with testing underway to ensure operational readiness. Both companies stated that efforts are focused on maintaining service continuity during the transition ahead of the official launch.

Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.

Sukhu reviewed the proposed site for the cancer care center and said the facility would bring quality healthcare services closer to residents.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday announced that a modern cancer hospital, along with nursing and dental colleges, will be developed at the Hamirpur Medical College complex at an estimated cost of INR 1,000 crore.

The announcement was made during his inspection of ongoing construction works at Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College. Sukhu reviewed the proposed site for the cancer care center and said the facility would bring quality healthcare services closer to residents.

According to an official statement, Himachal Pradesh reports one of the highest numbers of cancer cases in the country after the northeastern states. The proposed dedicated cancer hospital in Hamirpur is expected to expand access to oncology services within the state.

The chief minister said 11 new specialist departments have been approved for the Hamirpur Cancer Hospital. These include medical oncology, surgical oncology, pain relief and supportive care, nuclear medicine, anaesthesia and critical care, and pathology. Additional departments will cover paediatric oncology, radiology and imaging, gynaecologic oncology, radiation therapy, and stem cell and bone marrow transplants.

By consolidating these services at one location, the government aims to reduce the need for patients to travel outside Himachal Pradesh for advanced cancer treatment. Sukhu said this would help save both time and expenses for patients and their families.

Highlighting the rising incidence of cancer cases, the chief minister emphasized the importance of systematic screening, prevention, monitoring, recording, and timely diagnosis.

During his interaction with doctors at the medical college, Sukhu noted that several medical colleges in the state have increasingly become referral institutions. He stressed the need for systemic improvements to ensure comprehensive healthcare services are available within Himachal Pradesh, according to the statement.

The acquisition follows a strategic partnership formed in June 2023, when Evernorth took a minority stake in CarepathRx to expand specialty pharmacy access for hospitals and health systems.

Evernorth Health Services, the health services division of The Cigna Group, has completed its acquisition of hospital pharmacy CarepathRx, according to a company spokesperson. The transaction was finalized last year but was not formally announced.

The completed sale is reflected on CarepathRx’s website, which states that the company “has joined Evernorth Health Services.” The acquisition follows a strategic partnership formed in June 2023, when Evernorth took a minority stake in CarepathRx to expand specialty pharmacy access for hospitals and health systems.

“As part of our work to enhance and expand the ways we support patients living with specialty conditions and the clinicians who treat them, we completed the acquisition of CarepathRx last year,” a spokesperson said. “CarepathRx supports a range of home and ambulatory infusion solutions to hospitals and health systems.”

CarepathRx dispenses specialty medications to hospitals and health systems and provides home and ambulatory infusion services. The deal strengthens Evernorth’s presence in specialty pharmacy and infusion care, sectors that have drawn increasing attention from regulators and policymakers.

The acquisition was first reported by Stat. Questions about the transaction surfaced last summer when Oregon regulators began reviewing its potential market impact.

According to a report from the Oregon Health Authority, officials determined that the deal would not significantly affect market concentration. “Although Evernorth’s market share for its pharmacy business is high, the acquisition of CarepathRx does not materially increase Evernorth’s position in the market,” regulators wrote.

Evernorth is the parent company of pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts and specialty pharmacy provider Accredo. The Cigna Group also operates a national insurer, Cigna Healthcare.

The transaction comes amid heightened scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers and vertically integrated healthcare companies, particularly those combining insurance, pharmacy benefit management, and specialty pharmacy services under one corporate structure.

The partnership agreement establishes a collaborative framework aimed at enhancing clinical capabilities, boosting sustainability initiatives, and supporting the adoption of digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery.

Dubai Health has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to strengthen healthcare innovation and accelerate digital transformation across its integrated health system.

The partnership agreement etablishes a a collaborative framework aimed at enhancing clinical capabilities, boosting sustainability initiatives, while supporting the adoption of digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery.

Reportedly, the MoU was signed by Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi, Deputy CEO and Chief Academic Officer of Dubai Health, and Prosun Niyogi, Vice President and General Manager, Surgery Emerging Markets at Johnson & Johnson MedTech, in the presence of senior clinical leadership.

The partnership is structured around three key areas, the first pilillar protizes professional education and workforce development through customized training programs and train-the-trainer initiatives aimed at strengthening clinical expertise.

The second emphasizes sustainability, with initiatives intended to expand hospital recycling programs and promote environmentally responsible practices.

The third pillar aims to support the adoption of digital ecosystems, including surgical video capture, secure clinical content sharing, collaborative case planning, and telepresence-enabled remote education and clinical collaboration.

Commenting on the new partnership, Dr. Hanan Al Suwaidi said, “This strategic partnership with Johnson & Johnson MedTech reflects our commitment to healthcare excellence through purpose-driven partnerships. Guided by our vision to advance health for humanity, we are building a framework that will enhance professional education, promote sustainability, and support digital innovation across our integrated academic health system.”

Reiterating similar thoughts, Prosun Niyogi said, “Dubai Health's 'Patient First' promise reflects the same principle that guides everything we do at Johnson & Johnson MedTech: putting the needs of patients above all else. This partnership allows us to pioneer new models of professional education, advance sustainable healthcare practices, and connect clinicians through digital innovation- all in service of one goal: removing limitations to a full life and changing the trajectory of health for communities across the UAE and beyond.”

The government has committed more than INR 3000 crore to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has inaugurated the advanced 3 Tesla MRI machine at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla to strengthen diagnostic services and upgrade the state’s healthcare infrastructure.

The advanced imaging equipment has been installed at a cost of approximately INR 23 crore and is expected to enhance diagnostic accuracy.

Speaking at the inauguration, Sukhu stated that the state government is focused on prioritizing healthcare modernization and investing in advanced medical technologies.

He added that the government has committed more than INR 3000 crore to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Himachal Pradesh.

He further noted that similar 3 Tesla MRI technology is currently used at premier institutions such as the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and the state aims to provide comparable facilities at its government medical colleges.

This move is expected to enable patients in Himachal Pradesh to access advanced diagnostics, reducing the need to travel outside the state for specialized care.

Moreover, as part of its broader healthcare upgrade effort, the government is introducing advanced medical technologies across government medical colleges at Tanda, Shimla, Hamirpur, and Nerchowk, along with the upcoming medical facility at Chamiyana.

In addition, plans are underway to strengthen the Orthopaedics Department at IGMC and introduce robotic orthopaedic and spine surgeries. The government also intends to establish specialized intensive care units (ICUs) for medicine, paediatrics, and respiratory diseases.

Discussions around the IPO remain at a preliminary stage, and key details such as issue size, structure and timing may change depending on market conditions and investor appetite.

Covaxin maker, Bharat Biotech, has begun exploring plans to raise around USD 500 Mn through an IPO, according to reports, which would mark a major milestone for the Hyderabad-based vaccine developer that rose to global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Genome Valley, Hyderabad, Bharat Biotech has evolved into one of India’s leading vaccine manufacturers. The company gained international recognition for developing Covaxin in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology during the pandemic.

Discussions around the IPO remain at a preliminary stage, and key details such as issue size, structure and timing may change depending on market conditions and investor appetite.

Promoted by Dr Krishna Ella, Founder and Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, the company is currently entirely promoter-owned, with the promoter family holding 100% equity as of July 31, 2025. A USD 500 Mn IPO would provide a public valuation benchmark for a business that has so far operated outside capital markets scrutiny.

Bharat Biotech has distributed over 9 billion vaccine doses worldwide and maintains a portfolio spanning more than 19 vaccines and four biotherapeutics. Its offerings cover diseases including hepatitis B, typhoid, rotavirus, Japanese encephalitis, influenza H1N1, rabies, cholera, chikungunya and Zika.

The company also developed the world’s first tetanus-toxoid conjugated vaccine for typhoid and has secured over 145 global patents, with registrations in more than 125 countries and World Health Organisation pre-qualification for several products.

Financially, the company has reported revenue growth to INR 1,462.9 Cr in FY25 from INR 1,323.2 Cr in FY24, while operating margins improved to 28.2% from 8.8% a year earlier. While oral polio vaccine once contributed significantly to revenue, volumes of typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV), rotavirus (RV) and Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccines have expanded steadily, diversifying the revenue mix.

Government procurement agencies, including the Government of India and UNICEF, remain key customers. However, tender-based institutional sales expose the business to pricing pressure and revenue variability. Elevated inventory levels in FY25, partly linked to expansion at Sapigen Biologix in Bhubaneswar, have increased working capital intensity, though inventory days are expected to moderate as production stabilises in FY26.

The company has also expanded internationally, recently signing a technology transfer agreement with Spain-based Biofabri, part of the Zendal group, to produce and supply MTBVAC tuberculosis vaccines to over 70 countries across Africa and Southeast Asia.

Separately, its group company Biovet received regulatory approval for Biolumpivaxin, a lumpy skin disease vaccine for dairy cattle developed with ICAR.

The plant will manufacture APIs and speciality intermediates with a production capacity of around 2,000 kilolitres. The facility will be developed in phases and is targeted to be operational by FY2028-29.

Minister for Human Resources Development of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh, has laid the foundation stone for an INR 2300 Cr Pharma unit in Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant expansion of Blue Jet Healthcare’s speciality manufacturing footprint.

The greenfield facility by Blue Jet Healthcare, coming up at Rambilli Industrial Park in Anakapalli district near Visakhapatnam, is expected to enhance India’s position in high-value speciality intermediates and contract manufacturing.

Blue Jet Healthcare, founded in 1968 as Jet Chemicals and now headquartered in Maharashtra, has evolved into an integrated Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO). The company supplies contrast media intermediates, APIs, pharmaceutical intermediates and high-intensity sweeteners to regulated markets including the United States and Europe.

The new unit, spread across over 102 acres in Phase II of the Rambilli Industrial Park, represents an investment of approximately INR 2300 Cr. The facility will be developed in phases and is targeted to be operational by FY2028-29.

Once commissioned, it is projected to generate 1,750 direct jobs and around 250 indirect employment opportunities, contributing significantly to the industrial growth of the Visakhapatnam economic region.

The plant will manufacture APIs and speciality intermediates with a production capacity of around 2,000 kilolitres. Importantly, it will integrate advanced environmental safeguards, including an Effluent Treatment Plant with marine discharge connectivity and Zero Liquid Discharge technologies.

According to company details, the system is designed to recover 90-95 per cent of wastewater while reducing energy consumption by nearly 70 per cent, aligning with global ESG and compliance expectations as pharmaceutical supply chains diversify beyond single geographies.

The Rambilli cluster is being positioned as a strategic hub for chemicals and pharmaceutical manufacturing along India’s eastern coast, leveraging port connectivity and industrial infrastructure developed by the state.

The project also aligns with Andhra Pradesh’s broader objective of transforming the Visakhapatnam Economic Region into a high-growth industrial corridor, with pharmaceuticals, medical devices and petrochemicals identified as priority sectors.

The AI-focused MOU will involve the Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine, along with other University of Toronto AI researchers working alongside counterparts at the IISc.

The University of Toronto and the Indian Institute of Science have formalized a collaboration to advance artificial intelligence research and education, with a focus on building predictive health-care systems that can improve early diagnosis, enhance clinical decision-making and expand equitable access to medical services.

The collaboration builds on deepening academic and diplomatic engagement between Canada and India. The announcement follows the Canada-India Joint Statement issued in October 2025, which emphasized expanded cooperation in strategic and innovation sectors.

The AI-focused MOU will involve the Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine, along with other University of Toronto AI researchers working alongside counterparts at the Indian Institute of Science, widely regarded as one of India’s leading research universities.

Together, they plan to develop artificial intelligence tools capable of analyzing complex clinical and population-level data to build predictive health-care systems designed for diverse and resource-limited settings.

“The University of Toronto is proud to contribute to the economic and talent priorities of our two countries, building on our deeply valued partnerships across India,” U of T President Melanie Woodin said. “By bringing together the perspectives and skills of students, researchers, health care experts and entrepreneurs in Canada and India, we can advance solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

Beyond entrepreneurship, the University of Toronto has maintained academic collaborations with several Indian institutions and corporate partners, including joint research in sustainable urban development and smart technologies.

The new partnership with the Indian Institute of Science adds a dedicated focus on artificial intelligence and predictive health-care systems, signalling a long-term commitment to advancing digital health innovation across borders.

Announced in Mumbai by U of T President Melanie Woodin at an event attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and India’s Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary, the agreement reflects broader efforts to strengthen economic and research ties between the two countries.

Goyal disclosed the raise in a post on X, stating that the capital came through a friends-and-family round backed by founder peers and early Zomato investors.

Weeks after stepping down as CEO of Zomato and its parent Eternal, Deepinder Goyal has raised $54 million for Temple, a wearable technology startup focused on monitoring brain activity in elite athletes. The funding round values Temple at approximately $190 million post-money.

Goyal disclosed the raise in a post on X, stating that the capital came through a friends-and-family round backed by founder peers and early Zomato investors. More than 30 employees also participated in the round at the same valuation. Regulatory filings reviewed by TechCrunch indicate that Goyal is leading the investment, followed by Steadview Capital.

Other investors include Peak XV Partners, InfoEdge Ventures, and Dharana Capital, along with angel investors such as Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Kunal Shah, and Nithin Kamath.

Temple is developing a high-performance wearable designed to sit on the wearer’s temple and continuously track cerebral blood flow. In a January conversation with podcaster Raj Shamani, Goyal described the device as a sensor aimed at capturing metrics not currently measured by existing wearables.

The startup is entering a competitive global wearables market dominated by companies such as Whoop, Oura, and Garmin, which focus on sleep, recovery, and athletic performance tracking.

Goyal stepped down in January, handing over leadership of Zomato and Eternal to Albinder Dhindsa, who leads the quick-commerce unit Blinkit. The move marked a shift after nearly two decades at the helm of the food delivery platform he co-founded in 2008.

Temple is part of a broader pivot in Goyal’s investment focus toward high-risk technology ventures. In October 2025, he committed $25 million of personal capital to Continue Research, a venture exploring lifespan extension. He is also a co-founder of aviation startup LAT Aerospace, which recently expanded into defense technology through the acquisition of early-stage firm Sharang Shakti.

Goyal declined to comment further on Temple’s roadmap or commercialization timeline.

A key focus of his discussions was the Medical Device Park being developed in the YEIDA region, which he described as a golden opportunity for Japanese companies.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath began his Japan visit with meetings involving CEOs of leading Japanese firms, inviting them to explore investment opportunities in the state across logistics, warehousing, multi-modal transport infrastructure and medical device manufacturing.

A key focus of his discussions was the Medical Device Park being developed in the YEIDA region, which he described as a golden opportunity for Japanese companies.

Presenting Uttar Pradesh as a hub for global supply chains and high-value manufacturing, the Chief Minister said the project offers a conducive ecosystem supported by modern infrastructure, connectivity, policy support and a single-window clearance system.

"Uttar Pradesh not only provides land and infrastructure to investors but also offers policy stability, a skilled workforce, and a government known for swift decision-making," he said.

As part of his engagements, the Chief Minister met Shigeki Tanabe, Business In-Charge of Konoike Transport, to discuss prospects in logistics parks, warehousing and multi-modal transport infrastructure.

He emphasised that the geographical and industrial landscape of Uttar Pradesh presents opportunities for investors.

He also held discussions with Kazuki Shimizu, Managing Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Infrastructure Projects Business Unit, Mitsui & Co., along with senior members of his team, regarding investment possibilities in the state.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on a two-day visit to Japan (February 25–26, 2026), engaged directly with industry leaders and positioned the state as a preferred investment destination in Asia.

The visit is aimed at deepening economic collaboration, attracting Japanese investments across logistics, infrastructure, and medical device manufacturing, and showcasing Uttar Pradesh’s evolving industrial ecosystem as globally competitive and policy-driven.

In parallel, the agency is targeting fraudulent billing by durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a series of initiatives aimed at strengthening oversight and curbing healthcare fraud, including withholding $259.5 million in Medicaid funding from Minnesota over program integrity concerns.

According to the agency, it notified Minnesota officials in January of its intent to hold back the funds while the state addresses federal concerns tied to Medicaid claims. Of the withheld amount, $243.8 million was flagged as “unsupported or potentially fraudulent” claims, while $15.4 million was associated with claims for individuals lacking satisfactory immigration status.

CMS said its review identified unexpectedly high spending and rising costs in several service areas, including personal care services and home health. If the state fails to demonstrate sufficient program integrity improvements or validate the claims, CMS indicated it could defer up to $1 billion in additional funding over the next year.

The announcement comes as the administration intensifies scrutiny of fraud, waste, and abuse across federal health programs. CMS stated it continues to oversee Minnesota’s corrective action plan to address the underlying causes of improper payments.

In parallel, the agency is targeting fraudulent billing by durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers. CMS reported that a six-month moratorium on new Medicare enrollment for certain DME providers prevented approximately $1.5 billion in fraudulent billings. During that period, the agency implemented additional safeguards and said it plans to publish a list of providers or suppliers whose Medicare participation has been revoked, along with the reasons for revocation.

CMS also announced it is seeking public feedback on additional fraud prevention strategies for potential inclusion in future rulemaking under the Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (CRUSH) initiative. The agency is requesting input across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and Affordable Care Act marketplace plans, including both enhancements to existing programs and new regulatory approaches.

CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., said in a statement that the agency is shifting toward a more proactive approach to prevent fraudulent activity before payments are made.

The new offering, Walgreens Weight Management, operates through the company’s virtual healthcare platform and connects adults aged 18 to 64 with licensed physicians and nurse practitioners via online video visits.

Walgreens has launched a virtual weight management platform designed for self-pay patients seeking access to GLP-1 medications, with pricing starting at $149 per month and no subscription fee.

The new offering, Walgreens Weight Management, operates through the company’s virtual healthcare platform and connects adults aged 18 to 64 with licensed physicians and nurse practitioners via online video visits. During the consultation, clinicians assess eligibility for weight-loss treatment and may prescribe FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs if appropriate. Follow-up visits for dose adjustments or side-effect management are available on demand at $49 per session.

Through the program, patients can access select doses of Wegovy using Walgreens’ Rx Savings Finder tool. Tablet doses of 1.5 mg or 4 mg are available starting at $149 per month, while injectable doses of 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg are priced at $199 per month. The service is available in most U.S. states.

The platform is targeted at overweight and obese adults who plan to pay out-of-pocket for GLP-1 therapy. According to the company, the initiative expands its virtual care capabilities to include structured weight management services integrated with its pharmacy network.

Demand for GLP-1 medications continues to rise. A 2025 report by RAND Corporation found that nearly 12% of U.S. adults reported having used a GLP-1 medication, while 14% expressed interest in taking one. Adults aged 50 to 64 represented the largest user group, with higher uptake among women aged 30 to 49 compared to men in the same age bracket.

Walgreens joins digital health platforms such as DarioHealth, Noom, GoodRx and Wheel in offering GLP-1 access through virtual channels.

The Autoscope system is designed to combine automated microscopy with artificial intelligence to enable standardized and scalable diagnostic workflows.

The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, has signed an agreement with Ayukriyam Innovations to extend its support towards the project, “Autoscope: A Fully Automated Whole Slide Imaging and AI-Driven Diagnostic System.”

The initiative seeks to develop an AI-powered whole slide imaging diagnostic system to strengthen pathology infrastructure and enable faster, more accurate disease diagnosis

The Autoscope system is designed to combine automated microscopy with artificial intelligence to enable standardized and scalable diagnostic workflows. By automating the slide scanning and analysis, the platform is expected to improve diagnostic efficiency while reducing manual intervention.

The platform also seeks to address gaps in pathology infrastructure by enhancing efficiency, improving diagnostic accuracy, and accessibility of diagnostic services.

By leveraging indigenous R&D and AI-enabled image analytics, the AI tool aims to reduce dependence on imported high-end imaging systems while supporting the growth of indigenous developed medical innovations.

Under the agreement, TDB will extend support to set up a dedicated manufacturing facility, produce multiple product batches, and conduct comprehensive field performance evaluations.

The project is expected to facilitate the commercialization of an indigenously developed deep-tech platform, strengthen India’s diagnostic ecosystem, and contribute to affordable and accessible healthcare solutions.

Commenting on the initiative, Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, stated, “Indigenous development of advanced diagnostic platforms integrating imaging and artificial intelligence is vital for strengthening India’s healthcare infrastructure. Through this support, TDB aims to accelerate the translation of laboratory innovation into market-ready solutions, reduce import dependence, and promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat in the medical technology sector.”

The center is expected to strengthen the company’s AI-powered clinical intelligence platform and enhance healthcare decision-making capabilities for stakeholders worldwide.

US-based Clinical intelligence solutions provider Cohere Health has launched a new Global Capability Center (GCC) in Hyderabad aimed at expanding its global innovation footprint.

The new facility is designed to advance innovation in AI-enabled clinical intelligence and support the company’s broader mission of enhancing healthcare access, efficiency, and outcomes worldwide.

The center is expected to further strengthen the company’s AI-powered clinical intelligence platform and enhance healthcare decision-making capabilities for stakeholders worldwide.

The Hyderabad GCC will function as a strategic hub to support Cohere Health’s global operations, enabling closer collaboration between its India-based teams and counterparts in the United States

This integration is expected to accelerate product innovation, platform scalability, and enhance the deployment of the intelligent clinical solution.

Further, the company states that the new center will help in scaling its clinically trained AI-driven solutions designed to improve care delivery, streamline payer-provider interactions, and enhance patient outcomes.

Additionally, the company plans to develop the Hyderabad facility into a center of excellence focused on clinical intelligence, artificial intelligence innovation, and product development.

The GCC will also deploy teams across artificial intelligence and machine learning engineering, analytics, product development, and clinical operations aimed at strengthening the scalability, performance, and clinical impact of Cohere Health’s technology platform.

Commenting on the new expansion initiative, Siva Namasivayam, CEO & co-founder of Cohere Health, said, “We’re excited about bringing together the best of AI-powered clinical intelligence with the remarkable talent and passion India has to offer. As we scale globally, the GCC is instrumental: driving better decision-making and payer-provider interactions and ultimately improving patient care access and outcomes.”

The foundation of contemporary healthcare systems is clinical documentation, which aids in diagnosis, treatment planning, reimbursement, and legal compliance. The increasing use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) has led to a large increase in documentation requirements, resulting in a significant administrative and clinical burden.

Doctors frequently spend a lot of time documenting patient interactions, which limits their time for face-to-face communication and increases their risk of burnout. Traditional documentation techniques, such as Manual entry, dictation, and human scribes, often affect cost, scalability, and efficiency.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered medical scribes have emerged as a transformative solution to address these challenges. These systems capture and structure clinical conversations into accurate medical notes in real time or near real time.

In this article, we shall explore the technological framework, benefits, implementation challenges, ethical considerations, and future implications of AI-powered medical scribes.

What is AI-powered Medical Scribing?

An AI-powered Medical Scribe leverages AI technologies, including machine learning, natural language processing (NLP), and audio recognition technique which can automatically collect and create clinical documentation from doctor-patient interactions. These technologies reduce the need for manual recordkeeping by listening to talks during consultations and converting spoken information into organized medical notes. In contrast to traditional human scribes, AI scribes perform digitally and can work in real time or after the consultation. Many organizations use ambient AI, which works in the background without interrupting clinical workflows. They compile important clinical information into standardized formats like SOAP notes, including symptoms, diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatment plans. Additionally, these systems integrate with EHRs, enabling doctors to easily examine, update, and approve notes while gradually increasing accuracy through feedback and learning.

Impact of AI-Powered Medical Scribes

AI-powered medical scribes provide significant benefits to the healthcare system, some of which include -

Reduced Physicians Workload

By automating the process of recording and transcribing clinical talks, AI medical scribes drastically reduce the time needed for manual data entry. This frees up professionals to concentrate more on patient care, diagnosis, and treatment than on paperwork.

Reduced Clinician Burnout

One of the main causes of physician burnout is due to administrative overburden. AI scribes help doctors operate more effectively and comfortably by managing repetitive documentation duties, lowering cognitive load, and enhancing work-life balance.

Enhanced Accuracy of Documentation

Advanced algorithms areoften used by AI-powered systems to gather comprehensive clinical data and arrange it into structured formats, which guarantees more thorough, accurate, and standardized medical records and reduces the possibility of human mistakes, missing data, and inconsistencies.

Increased Clinical Efficiency

Physicians can complete notes more quickly and efficiently with automated documentation. This increases workflow effectiveness, decreases record-completion delays, and enables healthcare practitioners to handle more patients without sacrificing service quality.

Improved Communication Between Patients & Physicians

During consultations, doctors can keep greater eye contact and discuss with patients when AI handles documentation in the background. This increases engagement, builds patient trust, and raises the standard of the patient experience as a whole.

Seamless RCM & Billing Process

AI-powered scribing creates timely and accurate clinical documentation, which supports accurate medical coding and billing procedures. This facilitates revenue cycle management processes, increases payment accuracy, and lowers claim denials for healthcare businesses.

Cost Savings

By reducing the need for human scribes, AI medical scribes cut hiring, training, and workforce management costs. This eventually increases operational effectiveness and offers a scalable, affordable documentation solution.

Support Digital Healthcare & Telemedicine

Virtual consultations may be effectively recorded and captured by AI-powered documentation technologies, guaranteeing proper record-keeping in telehealth settings. This enhances patient care coordination and continuity and supports the expanding use of remote care.

Challenges & Considerations

Despite the benefits, AI-powered medical scribes have several drawbacks, such as privacy and security issues since the systems handle sensitive data; therefore healthcare system must adopt robust security measures and ensure data protection laws are followed. Further, reliability and accuracy are critical concern especially if the hospitals use legacy technology, which creates difficulty in the integration of the current health IT system. Similarly, transparency and patient consent become crucial ethical factors while using AI in clinical consultation. To guarantee clinical accuracy, safety, and regulatory compliance, doctors must examine and validate notes generated by AI, and patients should be fully informed about its use.

Another concern is potential bias in AI systems, which may affect documentation accuracy across diverse populations. Addressing these issues requires continuous monitoring, validation, and improvement of AI models.

While challenges related to privacy, accuracy, and adoption remain, ongoing technological advancements are actively addressing these concerns. Platforms like Google, Abridge, and Suki AI are creating sophisticated AI-powered documentation solutions that make use of deep integration with EHR and safe, clinically trained models. These platforms leverage technologies such as ambient AI, real-time transcription, and clinically optimized language models to generate structured notes, simultaneously ensuring compliance with healthcare privacy standards. As healthcare organizations continue to embrace digital transformation, AI-powered medical scribes are expected to become a core component for transforming clinical workflows.

In a separate address, Ambani also announced that Reliance will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over the next seven years.

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Reliance Industries Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh D. Ambani announced Jio Arogya AI, describing it as a system that will provide “first medical guidance in under five minutes in local languages on any phone.''

Ambani outlined a series of AI native products being developed by Reliance Intelligence. These include

• Jio Shikshak is described as an AI teaching assistant in 22 languages.
• Jio Frames, which he said will be an AI-glass device and next-generation AI devices, will make intelligence truly ambient, as effortless and natural as human conversation.
• Jio Krishi is an app that converts satellite imagery and precision weather data into simple voice-first advice for 140 million farmers, helping improve their everyday lives.
• Jio Bharat IQ, a voice-first AI companion helping Indians learn, earn, and access government services at Bharat-scale, from villages to fully connected homes.
• Jio Arogya AI is an AI-based clinic system designed for primary healthcare screening.

Reliance presented Jio Arogya AI as an AI-based clinic system designed for primary healthcare screening. The company said the system can screen key health parameters within minutes, analyse potential risks, and recommend specialist referrals when needed.

It includes an AI diagnostic kiosk described as a smart mirror, which can scan eyes and skin to generate an initial health assessment. Patients can also interact with a voice-based AI doctor that communicates in multiple major Indian languages.

According to Reliance, the system categorises patients by risk level and prioritises urgent cases for doctor referrals, adding that ''treatment always remains under a doctor’s supervision.”

The system also includes portable X-ray and electrocardiography services, online consultations and medicine ordering.

In a separate address, Ambani also announced that Reliance will invest Rs 10 lakh crore over the next seven years.

“This is not a speculative investment. It is not a purchasing valuation. This is patient, disciplined, nation-building capital designed to create durable economic value and strategic resilience for decades to come,” he said.

He added that construction has begun on multi-gigawatt, AI-ready data centres in Jamnagar, with over 120 megawatts expected to come online in the second half of 2026 and a path to gigawatt-scale compute for training and large-scale inference.

Speaking about network integration, Ambani said, “India cannot afford to rent intelligence. Therefore, we will reduce the cost of intelligence as dramatically as we did the cost of data.”

“An edge compute layer deeply integrated with Jio’s network will make intelligence responsive, low-latency, and affordable, close to where Indians live, learn, and work,” he added.

AI doctor systems could provide full primary care, disease management, mental health therapy, physical therapy, and health and nutrition coaching.

Vinod Khosla, founder of Khosla Ventures, has proposed integrating AI doctor systems into the Aadhaar ecosystem.

He said AI doctor systems are “entirely possible today” and could provide full primary care, disease management, mental health therapy, physical therapy, and health and nutrition coaching.

“I fundamentally believe services like AI-based doctors and AI-based personal tutors should be part of the Aadhaar system. There’s no reason we can’t offer these services to every Indian on the same identity-based system,” he said.

He further proposed creating a non-governmental organisation to design, build, operate and eventually transfer such systems into the Aadhaar ecosystem.

Khosla said such integration is “relatively simple to do,” and added that “there’s very little a human doctor can do that this AI can’t do today,” excluding tasks that require a doctor’s physical presence.

“None of this is available at this level, even in the US or most Western countries. Moreover, it is possible here at almost no cost,” he said.