In an era where healthcare is rapidly transforming, diagnostics has emerged as far more than a supporting function it has become the foundation of modern medicine. This central theme unfolded in a recent episode of the InnoHealth Magazine Podcast, where host Dr. Soumya Singh engaged in a deep, nuanced conversation with Dr. Shelly Mahajan, Lab Director & Clinical Head – Genomics at Mahajan Imaging & Labs.

The discussion moved beyond innovation buzzwords to examine the real-world impact of genomics, artificial intelligence, standardization, ethics, and most importantly patient trust.

Diagnostics Moves From the Background to the Frontline

For decades, diagnostics functioned quietly in the background of healthcare. Patients rarely interacted with diagnosticians, and lab reports were often viewed as secondary confirmations of a clinician’s judgment. According to Dr. Mahajan, that perception has fundamentally changed.

“Diagnostics is no longer about confirming illness. It is about predicting disease, preventing it, and managing a person’s entire health journey.”

This shift reflects a broader transformation in healthcare itself. Preventive screenings, wellness monitoring, and early risk assessment now rely heavily on diagnostics. Individuals today engage with testing not only when they are sick, but also when they want to stay healthy making diagnostics a part of everyday life rather than episodic care.

Molecular Diagnostics and the Democratization of Precision

One of the most powerful drivers of this change has been molecular diagnostics. What was once considered niche or highly specialized is now increasingly accessible to routine patients. Dr. Mahajan highlighted how PCR and genomic testing have become household terms, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, we can predict susceptibility to disease by testing DNA from a simple blood or saliva sample and that has completely changed how early we can intervene.”

Molecular diagnostics has revolutionized disease detection across oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. The ability to diagnose earlier, predict risk, and tailor treatment plans has pushed healthcare closer to the ideal of personalized medicine—where therapy is shaped around the individual rather than the average patient.

Artificial Intelligence: Acceleration With Accountability

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a powerful force within diagnostics, improving efficiency, speed, and accuracy in radiology and pathology. AI-powered tools can now screen pathology slides, assist radiologists in detecting early cancers, and reduce diagnostic delays—particularly in regions with limited access to specialists.

However, Dr. Mahajan was unequivocal in her caution: AI is a tool, not a decision-maker.

“AI can screen faster and reduce errors, but it cannot replace clinical judgment. Without human oversight, even the smartest algorithm can misdiagnose.”

She emphasized that AI systems are only as good as the data on which they are trained. A lack of diversity or quality in training datasets can introduce bias, leading to skewed results that directly impact patient care. Continuous validation, transparency, and regulatory oversight are therefore critical to safe AI adoption.

Standardization: The Backbone of Credibility

One of the most pressing concerns raised in the conversation was the lack of uniformity across diagnostic laboratories. Variations in reference ranges, methodologies, and reporting standards often leave patients confused and clinicians uncertain.

Dr. Mahajan stressed that accreditation, adherence to international quality standards, regular audits, calibrated equipment, and continuous staff training are not optional—they are fundamental. Without standardization, diagnostics risks becoming volume-driven rather than value-driven, leading to over-testing, patient anxiety, and unnecessary healthcare costs.

Over-Testing and the Need for Value-Based Diagnostics

While access to diagnostics has improved, it has also created a paradox: more testing does not always mean better care. Over-testing can result in false positives, misdiagnosis, and emotional distress for patients.

Dr. Mahajan advocated for stronger collaboration between clinicians and diagnosticians, evidence-based testing protocols, and better patient education. The goal, she explained, is smarter diagnostics, not more diagnostics.

“We need to move away from volume-based diagnosis and focus on tests that actually add value to a patient’s treatment journey.”

Transparency, Ethics, and Rebuilding Patient Trust

Addressing recent controversies around lab practices and data integrity, Dr. Mahajan underscored that trust is fragile—and once lost, difficult to rebuild. Transparency, she argued, is the most powerful tool laboratories have.

She noted a positive cultural shift: patients now actively want to speak with diagnosticians, discuss reports, and understand their health data. This growing engagement reflects a new era where patients expect not just accuracy, but accountability and empathy.

The Road Ahead: Technology With a Human Core

Looking forward, Dr. Mahajan expressed optimism about emerging breakthroughs such as multi-omics diagnostics, AI-assisted tools for rural healthcare, and continuous monitoring through wearables. These innovations promise earlier detection, ultra-personalized treatment, and improved access.

Yet the podcast made one truth abundantly clear: technology alone cannot define the future of diagnostics.

The future will belong to systems that combine scientific excellence, ethical practice, rigorous quality standards, and human judgment—where every report carries not just data, but responsibility.

As this episode of the InnoHealth Magazine Podcast demonstrates, diagnostics is no longer just about tests. It is about trust, transparency, and putting patients at the heart of innovation. 

The post Diagnostics at the Frontline of Modern Healthcare: From Disease Detection to Prevention appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

प्रशांत टंडन, टाटा 1mg के सह-संस्थापक और सीईओ हैं, जो भारत का सबसे बड़ा डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म है। वह 2009 से भारतीय डिजिटल हेल्थकेयर के अग्रणी उद्यमियों में से एक रहे हैं। उन्होंने 1mg और हेल्थकार्ट जैसी उद्योग-परिभाषित कंपनियों की सह-स्थापना की और उनका नेतृत्व किया है। इस विशेष बातचीत में, डॉ. सौम्या सिंह, क्रिएटिव एडिटर, उनसे डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स और ई-फार्मेसी की परिवर्तनकारी भूमिका पर चर्चा कर रही हैं।

1. ई-फार्मेसी का विकास और दवाओं की पहुँच में बदलाव

ई-फार्मेसी ने हाल के वर्षों में जबरदस्त वृद्धि दर्ज की है। डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स ने दवाओं तक पहुँच और डिलीवरी की प्रक्रिया में क्रांतिकारी बदलाव किए हैं। उन्होंने स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं को सुलभ, किफायती, सुविधाजनक और आरामदायक बनाया है। उपभोक्ता मोबाइल ऐप या वेबसाइट पर प्रिस्क्रिप्शन अपलोड करके आसानी से दवा मंगवा सकते हैं। यह सुविधा विशेष रूप से ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में रहने वाले लोगों, बुजुर्गों और नियमित दवा रीफिल की आवश्यकता वाले मरीजों के लिए सहायक है।

इन प्लेटफॉर्म्स के जरिए विभिन्न भौगोलिक क्षेत्रों में दवाओं की उपलब्धता सुनिश्चित होती है। साथ ही लैब टेस्ट और टेली-कंसल्टेशन जैसी सेवाएँ भी शामिल की जा रही हैं। दवा वितरण पूरी तरह से डिजिटल रूप से ट्रैक और ट्रेस किया जाता है, जिससे सुरक्षा और पारदर्शिता बढ़ती है। मरीजों को दवाओं की कीमत, उपलब्धता और विकल्पों की जानकारी भी आसानी से मिलती है।

2. उपभोक्ताओं को सशक्त बनाने में डिजिटल प्लेटफॉर्म्स की भूमिका

डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स उपभोक्ताओं को दवाओं से जुड़ी जानकारी, लक्षण जांच (symptom checkers), शैक्षणिक सामग्री, और विशेषज्ञ परामर्श उपलब्ध कराते हैं। मरीज अपॉइंटमेंट बुक कर सकते हैं, अपने स्वास्थ्य डेटा का प्रबंधन कर सकते हैं और दवा/चेकअप रिमाइंडर प्राप्त कर सकते हैं।

वेयरेबल टेक्नोलॉजी के इंटीग्रेशन से उपभोक्ता अपने वाइटल साइन और एक्टिविटी लेवल मॉनिटर कर सकते हैं। साथ ही, लेख, वीडियो और वेबिनार जैसी सामग्री उन्हें जागरूक बनाती है। कम्युनिटी फोरम और सपोर्ट ग्रुप्स मरीजों को अनुभव साझा करने और समर्थन पाने का अवसर देते हैं, जिससे निवारक स्वास्थ्य प्रबंधन को बढ़ावा मिलता है।

3. एंटीमाइक्रोबियल रेजिस्टेंस (AMR) और डिजिटल हेल्थ

AMR एक वैश्विक चुनौती है। डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स जिम्मेदार एंटीबायोटिक उपयोग को सुनिश्चित करने में अहम भूमिका निभा रहे हैं।

• हर दवा वितरण का डिजिटल रिकॉर्ड होता है।
• प्लेटफॉर्म्स यह सुनिश्चित करते हैं कि एंटीबायोटिक केवल प्रिस्क्रिप्शन पर ही उपलब्ध हों।
• उपभोक्ताओं को AMR के खतरों और दवा का पूरा कोर्स पूरा करने की महत्ता पर शिक्षित किया जाता है।
• डॉक्टरों को डिसीजन सपोर्ट टूल्स उपलब्ध कराए जाते हैं, ताकि एंटीबायोटिक सही तरीके से लिखी जाएं।
• डेटा एनालिटिक्स के माध्यम से गलत उपयोग के पैटर्न पहचाने और नियंत्रित किए जाते हैं।

4. ई-फार्मेसी में आर्टिफिशियल इंटेलिजेंस (AI) का प्रयोग

AI ने ई-फार्मेसी की सेवाओं को और बेहतर बनाया है:

• मरीजों के हेल्थ प्रोफाइल और पूर्व व्यवहार पर आधारित पर्सनलाइज्ड सिफारिशें।
• AI चैटबॉट्स के जरिए तुरंत ग्राहक सेवा।
• इन्वेंटरी मैनेजमेंट में प्रेडिक्टिव एनालिटिक्स से मांग का सटीक पूर्वानुमान।
• ड्रग इंटरैक्शन चेक्स के जरिए सुरक्षित दवा संयोजन।
• डेटा साइंस मॉडल्स से हाथ से लिखे प्रिस्क्रिप्शन को डिजिटाइज करना।

5. ऑनलाइन दवा बिक्री पर नियामक चुनौतियाँ

भारत में ई-फार्मेसी अभी Drugs & Cosmetics Act 1945, IT Act और अन्य नियमों के तहत काम करती है। हालांकि, अब एक एकीकृत और आधुनिक कानून की ज़रूरत है। प्रस्तावित Drugs and Medical Devices Act में ऑनलाइन बिक्री को विशेष रूप से शामिल किया गया है।

6. नकली दवाओं की रोकथाम

ई-फार्मेसी नकली दवाओं से निपटने में बेहतर स्थिति में है क्योंकि:

• पूरी सप्लाई चेन एंड-टू-एंड ट्रैसेबल है।
• केवल प्रमाणित निर्माताओं और अधिकृत वितरकों से ही दवाएँ खरीदी जाती हैं।
• बारकोड और ट्रैकिंग सिस्टम्स से हर स्टॉक की निगरानी होती है।
• नियमित ऑडिट और क्वालिटी चेक्स किए जाते हैं।

7. ई-फार्मा इंडस्ट्री की चुनौतियाँ

मुख्य चुनौतियाँ:

• अलग-अलग कानूनों और विभागों के बीच समन्वय की कमी।
• लेवल प्लेइंग फील्ड का अभाव – ओपन मार्केट में बिना प्रिस्क्रिप्शन दवाएँ मिल जाती हैं।
• डेटा प्राइवेसी और सिक्योरिटी की बढ़ती आवश्यकताएँ।

डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स इन चुनौतियों को सुरक्षित आईटी इंफ्रास्ट्रक्चर, ब्लॉकचेन, AI और रेगुलेटरी सहयोग से हल कर रहे हैं।

8. अगली डिजिटल क्रांति

भविष्य की डिजिटल हेल्थक्रांति में AI, मशीन लर्निंग और IoMT (Internet of Medical Things) का एकीकरण होगा। यह तेज़ और सटीक डायग्नोस्टिक्स, पर्सनलाइज्ड ट्रीटमेंट, और इंटरऑपरेबिलिटी सुनिश्चित करेगा।

9. पर्सनलाइज्ड मेडिसिन और टेलीमेडिसिन

डिजिटल प्लेटफॉर्म्स जेनेटिक, पर्यावरणीय और जीवनशैली डेटा पर आधारित व्यक्तिगत इलाज मुहैया कराएंगे। टेलीमेडिसिन के जरिए मरीजों को वर्चुअल केयर, रिमोट मॉनिटरिंग और घरेलू स्वास्थ्य सेवाएँ उपलब्ध होंगी।

10. डेटा प्राइवेसी और सिक्योरिटी

• एन्क्रिप्शन, मल्टी-फैक्टर ऑथेंटिकेशन और सिक्योर स्टोरेज।
• नियमित सिक्योरिटी ऑडिट।
• डेटा हैंडलिंग में पारदर्शिता और कर्मचारियों का प्रशिक्षण।

11. सहयोग और साझेदारियाँ

• फार्मास्युटिकल कंपनियों के साथ सहयोग से सप्लाई चेन और बेहतर।
• टेक्नोलॉजी कंपनियों के साथ AI आधारित सेवाएँ।
• शैक्षणिक संस्थानों के साथ शोध साझेदारी।

12. भविष्य की दृष्टि

भारत के पास अवसर है कि वह ग्लोबल साउथ के लिए मॉडल बनाए। भविष्य की ई-फार्मेसी केवल दवा वितरण तक सीमित न होकर टेलीमेडिसिन, डायग्नोस्टिक्स, पर्सनल हेल्थ गाइडेंस और इंटीग्रेटेड हेल्थ मैनेजमेंट प्लेटफॉर्म्स के रूप में विकसित होगी।

डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स व्यक्तिगत, सुलभ, पारदर्शी और मरीज-केंद्रित स्वास्थ्य सेवा सुनिश्चित करेंगे, जिससे न केवल भारत बल्कि दुनिया के कई हिस्सों में स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं में क्रांति आएगी।

The post स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं में क्रांति: ई-फार्मेसी और डिजिटल हेल्थ प्लेटफॉर्म्स का भविष्य appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

In a world where healthcare is rapidly evolving, leaders like Dr. Vivek Mittal are pushing the boundaries of innovation. In a recent episode of the InnoHEALTH Podcast, Dr. Mittal shared his perspectives on the future of healthcare, emphasizing the role of technology, collaboration, and patient-centric care in driving meaningful change. As a respected figure in the medical community, Dr. Mittal’s insights provide a valuable glimpse into the transformation underway in healthcare.

The Role of Technology in Revolutionizing Healthcare

Dr. Mittal began the discussion by highlighting the transformative impact of technology on healthcare delivery. He gave emphasis on advancements such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital health tools that are reshaping how healthcare is accessed and administered. According to Dr. Mittal, technology is not just an enabler but a catalyst for better patient outcomes and more efficient healthcare systems.

He emphasized the importance of integrating these technologies into everyday practice, ensuring that both healthcare providers and patients can benefit from the latest innovations. However, he also stressed the need for a balanced approach, where technology enhances rather than replaces the human touch in healthcare.

Patient-Centric Care: A Paradigm Shift

A recurring theme in Dr. Mittal’s conversation was the shift towards patient-centric care. He believes that the future of healthcare lies in putting patients at the center of all decision-making processes. This approach, he argues, leads to more personalized and effective treatment plans, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Dr. Mittal discussed the importance of involving patients in their own care, empowering them with knowledge and tools to manage their health. He also highlighted the role of healthcare professionals in facilitating this shift, advocating for continuous education and training to ensure they can meet the evolving needs of their patients.

Collaboration Across Sectors

In addition to technology and patient-centric care, Dr. Mittal underscored the significance of collaboration across various sectors of healthcare. He noted that the complex challenges facing the industry today cannot be solved by any single entity. Instead, he called for greater cooperation between healthcare providers, technology companies, policymakers, and other stakeholders.

Dr. Mittal shared examples of successful collaborations that have led to groundbreaking innovations in healthcare. He emphasized that by working together, different sectors can leverage their unique strengths to create more effective and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Challenges and Opportunities in Healthcare

While the conversation was largely focused on the opportunities for innovation, Dr. Mittal also acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead. He discussed issues such as the digital divide, regulatory hurdles, and the need for more equitable access to healthcare. He further stressed the importance of addressing these challenges head-on, ensuring that the benefits of healthcare innovation are accessible to all, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location.

He further pointed out that while technology offers immense potential, it must be implemented thoughtfully and ethically. Dr. Mittal cautioned against the over-reliance on technology, emphasizing the need to maintain a patient-first mindset in all healthcare innovations.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Healthcare

As the podcast drew to a close, Dr. Mittal shared his vision for the future of healthcare. He expressed optimism about the continued advancements in medical technology, particularly in areas like AI, genomics, and precision medicine. Dr. Mittal believes that these innovations will pave the way for more targeted and effective treatments, ultimately transforming the healthcare landscape.

However, he also reiterated the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to healthcare. For Dr. Mittal, the future of healthcare is one where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously, creating a system that is not only efficient but also compassionate.

Author’s Biography

Dr.Vivek Mittal is a Co-Founder and Director of Yugasa Software Labs Pvt Ltd. He has an extensive experience of taking projects and products from idea stage to deployment stage at scale.Dr.Vivek has traveled to 12 countries for work and spearheaded the development of ugasaBot in 2019 as a flagship product of Yugasa Software Labs.

The post Driving Healthcare Innovation: Embracing Technology, Patient-Centric Care, and Collaborative Solutions appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

Captain Indira Rani’s professional trajectory is marked by diversity and impact. With notable tenures at esteemed institutions such as the Military Hospital, AFMC, Escorts Heart Institute, and Medanta Medicity, she is currently the Chief of Nursing at Jaypee Hospital. She has now embarked on a journey towards a Ph.D. in Health Economics. Her multifaceted career has been instrumental in advancing healthcare delivery and education, positioning her as a respected leader in her field.

Nursing and Gender Dynamics

Addressing the imbalance in nursing staff gender distribution, Captain Rani recalls the late ’80s debates on male nurses’ emerging roles. She highlights that while male nurses bring technical skills and administrative prowess, they often lack the empathetic, patient-centric approach traditionally seen in female nurses. This discrepancy affects patient care and influences staffing decisions in hospitals across Delhi, where male nurses are frequently directed towards administrative roles rather than clinical bedside care.

Innovations in Hospital Commissioning

Captain Rani has been instrumental in the commissioning of new hospitals, such as Medanta Medicity and Jaypee Hospital. She discusses her strategic approach in integrating nursing services into these institutions from the ground up, emphasising the importance of nurse involvement in hospital design to ensure operational efficiency and optimal patient care locations. Her role often bridges multiple disciplines, requiring collaboration with architects and technology providers to ensure that every aspect of patient care is considered.

Technological Advancements in Healthcare

A significant focus of the discussion was focussed on the impact of technological innovations in healthcare settings. Captain Rani praised the Hospital Information System (HIS) as a game changer, enhancing everything from patient admission processes to billing and inventory management. However, she notes the challenges in training and integrating technology into nursing education, suggesting that curricular revisions are essential to prepare nursing professionals for a technologically advanced healthcare environment.

The Future of Nursing and Technology

Looking forward, Captain Rani envisions a healthcare system increasingly supported by artificial intelligence and other digital tools that can reduce the administrative burden on nurses, allowing more time for patient care. Innovations like remote vital signs monitoring and automated narcotics management could revolutionise how nurses interact with patients and manage their workloads.

Advice to Aspiring Nurses

In her parting words, Captain Rani offers advice to new entrants in the nursing field: embrace the challenges, continually update your knowledge, and develop both clinical and technological skills. She stresses that nursing is a noble and secure profession that is continually evolving alongside medical advancements.

Our enlightening conversation with Captain Indira Rani not only highlights the challenges faced in healthcare but also the dynamic solutions that leadership and technology offer. Her experiences and insights are invaluable to anyone interested in the future of healthcare, especially in nursing leadership and innovation.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) enables a machine to mimic human brain functions, albeit faster, more consistently and more accurately. AI has already brought a metamorphosis into the operation of many industries. It is now bringing the same revolution in the field of healthcare, propelled by the increased availability of authentic digitalized healthcare data. AI integrates advanced analytics and machine learning to interpret and analyze data to give concrete and reliable output, and that too in a fraction of a minute!

AI is becoming omnipresent now, and in the field of healthcare, it has a variety of applications. For example, AI-based applications are assisting doctors in writing medical notes by voice recognition. Many applications are being developed to elicit patient history and make comprehensive patient documents by collating laboratory reports and radiological images. AI is also being used by medical insurance companies to scrutinise patient claims; AI applications are being implemented in hospital operations for supply chain management and bedside management.  AI in healthcare can be classified into various categories based on its applications and functionalities:

1. Operational:

AI impacts the operations of healthcare organizations in several ways.

Workflow optimization: AI can streamline hospital operations, manage patient data, schedule appointments, and optimize patient flow, resulting in improved efficiency.

Supply chain management: AI can be utilized in predicting demand, managing inventory, and eventually, even automating procurement processes to supplement the hospital’s procurement processes.

2. Diagnostic:

AI has the maximum contribution in the field of diagnostics due to the availability of a large quantum of digitalized data. Some of the applications are:

Medical imaging: AI algorithms analyze medical images, such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, to identify abnormalities and detect diseases more accurately and quickly. This category of AI tools has the largest number of clearances from the US FDA.

Early disease detection: AI solutions can identify patterns in large datasets to recognize early signs of ailments, including cancer, diabetes, and neurological disorders.

3. Curative:

This is an area in which AI is still being tested. AI can be applied in:

Personalized medicine: AI-driven tools analyze patients’ genetic, clinical, and lifestyle data to develop tailored treatment plans and recommend appropriate therapies.

Predictive analytics: AI can quickly analyze enormous amounts of complex data and hence can be utilized to predict disease outbreaks, patient outcomes, and the likelihood of complications through pattern identification.

4. Augmenter:

The following are some of the recent applications of AI in this category:

Virtual health assistants: AI-powered chatbots and voice assistants can provide personalized health recommendations, medication reminders, and symptom assessments, supporting patients in managing their health better.

Mental health: AI solutions can analyze patients’ speech, text, or behavior patterns to detect mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, enabling early intervention and treatment.

Most of the growth of AI in healthcare has been in the field of diagnostics. The advantage that AI-based applications bring to the field of medical diagnostics is multi-fold. Firstly, it makes the diagnostic facility widely accessible and more affordable by assisting the healthcare personnel in delivering quick and accurate results. Secondly, AI can take care of all the mundane tasks like inventory management and back-end paperwork so that the paramedical/nursing staff is free for active patient care. Thirdly, AI can help in optimal resource utilization and improve the efficiency of every diagnostic modality. 

Fourthly, AI can process data and medical images at a faster rate and identify patterns and diseases which might be missed by the human eye. With these advantages of AI, the quality of healthcare improves drastically, and patient mortality and morbidity can be reduced to a great extent. Last but not the least, with the help of AI applications, the issue of deficiency of trained paramedical manpower in rural areas can be addressed effectively.

With the help of AI applications, the issue of deficiency of trained paramedical manpower in rural areas can be addressed effectively.

Diagnostic AI Startups in India:

India has witnessed a surge in AI-based healthcare solutions in recent years, driven by a growing need for accessible and cost-effective medical services. While system-wide adoptions may still have a long way to go, several notable AI implementations in the Indian healthcare sector are:

1. SigTuple: It is a Bengaluru-based start-up that uses AI to analyze pathological images and lab reports to assist doctors in diagnosing patients. SigTuple’s pioneering product, Manthana, is a diagnostic intelligence platform that helps pathologists quickly and accurately identify diseases.

2. Niramai: Another Bengaluru-based start-up, Niramai uses AI to help in the early detection of breast cancer. Niramai’s solution is an AI-powered platform, Thermalytix, which uses thermal images to detect breast cancer in its initial stages, thereby providing a non-invasive diagnostic modality.

3. Qure.ai: A Mumbai-based start-up, Qure.ai uses AI to assist radiologists in diagnosing and interpreting medical images. The company’s flagship product, qXR, uses deep learning algorithms to analyze X-ray images and identify potential abnormalities.

4. Oncostem: A Bengaluru-based start-up, Oncostem has developed innovative prognostic tests that evaluate the aggressiveness of tumors based on in-depth knowledge of tumor biology to determine the unique characteristics of cancer recurrence risk. These functional tests aid physicians in curating a customized treatment plan. 

5. Artelus: Artelus is another Bengaluru-based start-up that saves lives by quickly screening for diseases like tuberculosis, breast and lung cancer, and Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), where early detection makes a world of difference. For instance, DRISTi, its deep learning-based AI-powered algorithm, reads digital images to detect and identify early signs of DR during a simple eye check-up without a hospital setup.

6. Tricog: Tricog is yet another Bengaluru-based start-up which believes that remote cardiac diagnosis is an effective way to empower healthcare providers. With robust AI technology backed by human expertise, Tricog is a forerunner in its chosen medical technology space, with its InstaECG and InstaECHO, which are solving life-threatening cardiovascular conditions by identifying them in time and accurately.

AI in Diagnostics is not just restricted to startups. Many leading hospitals are also employing AI applications for diagnosis in their day-to-day operations. A relevant example is that of the Madurai-based Aravind Eye Hospital. It has partnered with Google and developed a Machine Learning (ML) algorithm which is being used for the detection of Diabetic Retinopathy. Another example is Chennai-based Sankara Eye Foundation, which has partnered with Singapore-based Lebencare and developed Netra.ai. Netra.ai is a cloud-based AI solution used for the diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy. 

Today we see that AI applications are already helping Radiologists / Pathologists / Cardiologists, and multiple other Doctors in diagnosing and treating diseases early and in a better way. AI solutions are supposed to look deeper than what the human eye can see. Consequently, they promise to usher in a new era of improved medical diagnostics that will benefit all stakeholders in healthcare.

As Mahatma Gandhi said, “A correct diagnosis is three fourth the remedy.”

“Composed by: Anumeha is Chief Customer Officer at Qure.ai, a deep-tech startup in healthcare. She has worked across business growth, operations, disability inclusion and chronic disease rehabilitation in the past.

“Shweta Jaiswal is a senior Healthcare Professional with over 18 years of experience as an Anaesthetist & Intensivist. She has worked across India in various tertiary care hospitals. Her field of expertise is Cardiac & Neuro Anaesthesia and Cardiac Critical Care & Transplant Critical Care.

“DVR Seshadri is a Professor of Practice in the Marketing Area at the Indian School of Business. His areas of interest are healthcare, business-to-business marketing, and climate change.”

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