India@100: Building a Digital Health Innovation Ecosystem Rooted in Access, Equity, and Research

Shift from Import Dependence to Health Innovation Leadership

India must invest in R&D for med-tech, AI diagnostics, and affordable biotech designed for Indian conditions. India currently remains heavily dependent on imported medical devices, sourcing about 80%, which includes advanced imaging systems and surgical tools worth over USD 8 billion in 2023-24, a reliance that strains the healthcare system financially and poses a strategic challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly supply chains can break down. To change this, we need to invest in durable, affordable technologies designed for our environment, which includes portable dialysis units, offline AI retinal scanners, and simple yet effective diagnostics, which should be developed by and for India.

Academic–Industry Collaboration

Much of the academic research is still focused on publications with few pathways for commercial adoption. The innovation residency programs, shared intellectual property models, and industry-embedded clinical trials can bridge this gap. They ensure that all these discoveries quickly become solutions that patients can use. For instance, IISc’s Centre for Brain Research works with neurologists and technology teams to develop AI tools for early detection of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which aims for deployable screening kits.

AI-Driven Diagnostics and Personalized Care

AI has the power to revolutionize both diagnostics and personalized treatment. Advanced AI algorithms can process vast amounts of data from medical images, genomic data, and patient histories, enabling highly accurate disease detection and customized care plans. For instance, AI models have been employed to detect early signs of Parkinson’s disease by analyzing voice patterns, where subtle changes in speech are analyzed to predict the onset of the disease. In oncology, AI helps match treatments to specific genetic mutations. If AI is integrated into hospital workflows, these tools can improve precision medicine, reduce side effects, and identify rare diseases by detecting uncommon patterns across vast datasets.

Decentralized Innovation Ecosystems

According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, over 70% of the Indian population resides in rural areas, but most of the real-world pilot studies and research facilities are focused on tier-1 cities. Setting up regional health innovation hubs in tier-2 and tier-3 cities focused on local disease burdens and linked to the local universities can democratize access to innovation. Local innovation grants for community health workers and portable manufacturing units in semi-urban clusters could further accelerate adoption.

Telehealth Services

AI-driven telehealth platforms can bridge access gaps, especially in rural areas. AI-powered virtual assistants can analyze symptoms, predict potential diagnoses, and recommend next steps, enabling healthcare providers to make timely decisions. During the pandemic, such tools were vital in monitoring and triaging cases remotely. Similar systems, integrated with wearables, can help in managing chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension, ensuring early intervention and better outcomes.

Preventive and Predictive Healthcare

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects up to half of Indians over 50, with a strong link to cognitive decline. The Longitudinal Ageing Study in India-Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia (LASI-DAD) data shows that about 25% of Indians over 50 have CKD using combined tests, and nearly 50% when measured with Cystatin C alone. This dual burden could overwhelm the healthcare system in an aging society. Genomic mapping projects such as GenomeIndia can power predictive models for diseases like CKD, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions. Linked with Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) records, this could create AI “health twins,” which are secure digital profiles that predict risks and guide prevention years before symptoms appear.

Inclusive Research and Access

According to the NPJ Digital Medicine Study, digital health tools risk excluding people without smartphones, literacy, or internet access. Solutions must work offline, support multiple Indian languages, and be easy to use in low-resource settings. Clinical trials need to include rural, tribal, and marginalized communities to prevent creating solutions that only benefit urban areas. 

Workforce of the Future

NITI Aayog’s Strategy for New India @75 quotes that India lacks professionals who can bridge medicine, technology, and entrepreneurship. Dual-degree programs like MBBS with data science, innovation fellowships, and global exchange schemes can train doctors who code, engineers who understand clinical workflows, and entrepreneurs fluent in regulatory science. These multidisciplinary leaders will be key to scaling Health@100.

Public Rails fueling private innovation in digital health—ABDM

ABDM provides the backbone essential to support India’s integrated digital health infrastructure. By connecting policymakers, regulators, hospitals, laboratories, pharmacies, insurers, and health tech firms through secure, interoperable platforms, ABDM enables efficient, inclusive, and affordable healthcare delivery.

If India embraces these changes, by 2047 we could be a nation where even rural patients receive AI-predicted disease alerts before symptoms appear and the elderly live independently for longer, while Indian healthcare devices would be standard across the nation.