Mr. Sanjay Jain
In the latest episode of the InnoHealth Magazine podcast, host Dr. Soumya Singh sat down with Mr. Sanjay Jain, Founder and CEO of Akhil Systems Pvt. Ltd., to explore the evolving landscape of healthcare IT in India. With over three decades of experience in healthcare digitization, Mr. Jain offered rich insights into the journey of Akhil Systems, the digital transformation of hospitals, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
A Three-Decade-Long Journey
Founded in 1994, Akhil Systems emerged out of a vision to fill the glaring gaps in healthcare automation. Mr. Jain recalled joining the company as a software developer, eventually becoming its co-leader with Rekha Murthy, his business and life partner. Their commitment to improving healthcare delivery through technology has fueled the company’s success across India and in more than 10 countries globally.
The company’s first major milestone came in 1995 with Mulchand Hospital in North India. This was followed by key partnerships with hospitals like Yashoda and Teerath Ram. An international breakthrough came in 2001 with an implementation project in Saudi Arabia—an experience that exposed Akhil Systems to sophisticated insurance and electronic medical record (EMR) requirements, far ahead of India’s at the time.
Turning Points in Health IT
A critical turning point arrived in 2004 with an ambitious project for STS Apollo Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh (now Evercare). The goal was to build a paperless hospital on par with European standards. Mr. Jain proudly shared that for the last 20 years, patients at that facility haven’t carried a single paper prescription—proof of the system’s enduring success.
Challenges of EMR Adoption
Despite technological advancements, EMR adoption remains inconsistent in India. Mr. Jain emphasized that the barrier is rarely technological—it’s often behavioral. Even when hospitals are equipped with capable software, implementation falters due to inadequate planning, insufficient training, and resistance to change among medical staff. He stressed the importance of top-down commitment and continuous support to ensure successful adoption.
“One of the biggest lessons,” Mr. Jain said, “is that mindset matters more than the system. The same EMR works wonders in one hospital and is barely used in another.”
Key Features for Successful Implementation
Akhil Systems developed unique solutions like single-window billing and multilingual pharmacy packaging to streamline patient experiences. These innovations, supported by user-friendly apps and doctor-focused tools, highlight the importance of customizing IT systems to suit local workflows and user needs.
Mr. Jain offered practical advice to hospitals considering a Health Information System (HIS) purchase:
- Start with a clear needs assessment
- Involve consultants or expert teams
- Focus on patient-centric design
- Ensure interoperability and clinical documentation standards
- Plan for seamless scalability and integration
Data Security: A Growing Concern
With increasing digitization, cybersecurity has become a critical issue. Mr. Jain admitted that this area has often been neglected but is now gaining attention following recent ransomware attacks. He stressed the importance of data encryption, secure communication protocols, regular backups, and robust firewall protections—whether data is stored on-premise or in the cloud.
“Security should be baked into the infrastructure and application from the start,” he warned, highlighting the role of standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and India’s upcoming DPDP Act.
The Future: AI, IoT, and Digital Ecosystems
Looking ahead, Mr. Jain is optimistic. He believes the next five years will be transformative for Indian healthcare, driven by:
- Wider EMR adoption under national initiatives like ABDM
- Remote patient monitoring using IoT and wearable devices
- AI-powered diagnostics that assist clinicians with early detection
- Mobile-first platforms that offer patients real-time access to their data
His company is preparing for this future with “Agastam,” a new cloud-native, microservices-based platform aimed at overcoming traditional EMR adoption challenges.
Final Thoughts
Mr. Jain’s journey is a testament to how passion, persistence, and purpose can drive meaningful change. From a developer to a leader in digital healthcare, his story mirrors India’s own transition from paper-based systems to intelligent, connected healthcare networks.
As he aptly summarized: “Digital transformation in healthcare is no longer optional. It is a necessity—and the time to act is now.”
Authors Biography
Sanjay Jain, Managing Director of Akhil Systems Pvt. Ltd., boasts three decades in healthcare IT. He transformed Akhil systems into a top global provider, implementing HIS in over 450 hospitals and earning multiple industry awards.
