Jatin Mahajan, Managing Director of J Mitra & Co., India’s leading in-vitro diagnostics company, is a strong advocate of innovation, self-reliance, and growth in the MedTech sector. He was recently interviewed by Dr. Soumya Singh, Creative Editor at InnoHEALTH Magazine, on the future of diagnostics and MedTech in India.

How do you see India’s in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) and MedTech sectors evolving in the next decade, especially with growing focus on self-reliance and indigenous innovation?

India’s IVD and MedTech sectors are entering a defining decade of transformation. ADMI represents over 90 Indian diagnostic manufacturers, many of whom are now MDR-compliant and ISO 13485-certified. The industry is growing at a CAGR of more than 15% and is projected to reach USD 10 billion by 2030. The government’s PLI scheme and 21 Medical Device clusters across the country (as per DoP survey) have already attracted committed investments of ₹5,000 crore, pushing domestic value addition beyond 45%. Coupled with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), PM-ABHIM health infra rollout, and expanding R&D support under BIRAC, India is transitioning from assembly to innovation by building patented, export-ready technologies across POCT, CLIA, and ELISA platforms.

What policy interventions or regulatory reforms are most needed today to make India a global hub for affordable diagnostic technologies?

To make India a global hub for affordable diagnostics, ADMI advocates three key interventions.
First, a predictable, single-window regulatory mechanism under CDSCO to fast-track device registration and eliminate redundant testing, supported by upgraded State medical devices testing laboratories (MDTLs).

Second, PLI expansion to cover reagents, plastics, and raw materials, thereby reducing import dependence, which currently exceeds 65% for consumables.

Third, establishing a Centre of Excellence (COE) in medical device parks to foster innovation and drive the growth of health-tech startups by providing resources such as mentoring, funding, and infrastructure, along with the creation of common validation and calibration labs jointly managed by CDSCO, ICMR, and industry partners. 

Finally, integrating interoperability with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) into every diagnostic device ensures traceability, digital health linkages, and data-driven public procurement. These measures together would strengthen India’s manufacturing credibility and accelerate its rise as a MedTech innovation hub.

With AI, automation, and digital platforms entering the diagnostics space, what are the most promising technological shifts that could redefine healthcare access and efficiency?

ADMI members are at the forefront of AI-driven assay automation, connected POCT platforms, and digitally traceable results that feed directly into ABDM-linked health records. National diagnostic laboratories are adopting automated CLIA systems, data analytics dashboards, and IoT-enabled quality checks, thereby enhancing both accuracy and turnaround time. At J Mitra & Co, we aim to pioneer AI-aided analysers tailored for Tier-II/III markets, reducing result latency by 50%. With PM-ABHIM expanding sub-district laboratories, these technologies ensure that even small towns have access to metropolitan-grade testing. Together, automation, connectivity, and AI will redefine efficiency, minimize human error, and democratise quality healthcare across the country.

How can the diagnostics industry bridge the rural–urban divide in healthcare delivery, particularly in screening and early disease detection?

Bridging India’s diagnostic divide demands smart decentralisation. We must align rural Health & Wellness Centres (HWCs) with the National Essential Diagnostics List (NEDL) protocols to ensure uniform tests are available nationwide. Through public-private collaborations under PM-ABHIM, we can deploy MDR-compliant POCT devices in primary and community health setups. Shared logistics networks and common calibration labs in device parks will further lower operational costs. With ABHA-linked digital reports and tele-referral systems, patients in rural India can now access quality diagnostics comparable to those in metro cities, thereby building true healthcare equity.

You often emphasise decentralisation and democratisation of diagnostics. What does that mean in practical terms for India’s public health system?

Democratising diagnostics means ensuring that quality testing becomes a fundamental right, not a privilege. India’s diagnostic access pyramid must invert, bringing the lab closer to the patient. Through PLI-enabled local manufacturing and digital integration via ABDM, essential IVDs and POCT devices can be deployed in every block-level facility. Collaboration with ICMR and NABL will support proficiency-testing programs that maintain nationwide quality parity. Digitally connected testing hubs reduce reporting times, while cost-effective CLIA systems make high-precision diagnostics accessible to low-income populations. This decentralised model eases tertiary-care pressure, improves disease surveillance, and aligns with India’s Vision 2030 for Universal Health Coverage.

How can the sector maintain affordability without compromising quality and reliability, especially in low-resource settings?

Affordability and quality are not opposing goals and must therefore coexist. We must establish a Quality Forum with CDSCO and ICMR to standardise validation, documentation, and external quality assessment. With PLI incentives, over 40 Indian IVD firms now produce reagents and kits locally, slashing costs by 30–40% compared to imports (DoP report on Boosting the Indian Medical Devices Industry 2023). Mandatory MDR-based quality audits and NEDL-aligned tenders ensure reliable performance at scale. ADMI advocates bulk procurement models, such as NHA’s Jan Aushadhi framework, to extend affordability to government programs. By embedding local innovation within global standards, Indian diagnostics can remain both inexpensive and impeccably trustworthy.

What will it take for Indian diagnostic technologies to achieve stronger global recognition and market share, particularly in emerging economies?

We must constitute an Export Acceleration Taskforce to position India as the “Diagnostics Hub of the Global South.” India currently exports to 60+ countries, registering 20% annual growth, with rising adoption in Africa, ASEAN, and Latin America. Harmonised MDR documentation and common test-validation standards are key enablers. We must support manufacturers in achieving ISO 15189/13485 certifications and in preparing for CE-IVDR equivalency. With robust PLI-driven manufacturing bases and digitally traceable devices, Indian diagnostics can soon rival Korean and European quality benchmarks while maintaining the affordability edge.

How can the MedTech industry ensure ethical and sustainable growth while addressing challenges such as waste, over-testing, and data privacy?

ADMI would like to lead the industry’s transformation by driving it toward green, ethical, and evidence-based diagnostics. We must develop frameworks for eco-friendly disposables and responsible waste management aligned with the MoEFCC Biomedical Waste Rules 2024. We must promote rational testing, guided by ICMR’s NEDL, to avoid unnecessary screening and overdiagnosis. On data ethics, we must endorse the ABDM Health Data Management Policy, which ensures patient consent and the anonymisation of data. Device-park clusters are being encouraged to establish centralised waste-recycling units to minimise environmental impact. ADMI’s approach combines ethics, efficiency, and environmental stewardship as a model for sustainable MedTech expansion.

What role do collaborations between government, academia, and industry play in strengthening India’s diagnostics innovation pipeline?

India’s innovation momentum depends on structured collaboration. The association, along with ICMR, BIRAC, and NIPER, must work to establish common validation facilities and MedTech Innovation Fellowships that train students in MDR documentation and bio-design principles. Through the DoP’s MedTech Innovation Scheme (2025), academic prototypes can be scaled via industry mentoring and pilot production within device parks. We must facilitate joint IP filings between startups and manufacturers to accelerate the commercialisation of indigenous technologies. This collaborative model reduces development timelines by up to 50%, ensuring that India’s ideas translate swiftly into affordable, globally competitive diagnostics. 

Looking ahead, what key trends or disruptions do you think will define the future of healthcare diagnostics in India by 2030?

By 2030, I envision a fully integrated, AI-ready diagnostic ecosystem where every citizen’s ABHA ID connects to indigenous analysers and portable devices designed under the “Make in India – Serve the World” banner. Domestic firms will control over 70% of the Indian IVD market and export to 100+ countries, while India will emerge as the largest global supplier of affordable POCT systems. Routine diagnostics will evolve into predictive and continuous screening, empowered by ABDM, AI triage, and public-health digitisation. Regulatory maturity under MDR and innovation parks under PLI will anchor this growth, and in the process, prove that quality, affordability, and scalability can indeed co-exist when industry and government act in unison.

The post From Labs to Lives: Inside India’s Quest to Democratise Diagnostics appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.

In a recent episode of InnoHealth Magazine Podcast, Soumya Singh spoke with Surjeet Thakur, founder and CEO of TrioTree Technologies, about the transformative role technology is playing in healthcare. The conversation highlighted the evolving challenges and opportunities in healthcare accessibility, digitization, and patient care, particularly in India.

The Need for Healthcare Technology in India

Surjeet Thakur’s journey into healthcare technology was rooted in a long-standing passion for both technology and healthcare. With a background in computer science, he initially worked in the IT department of Max Healthcare and later moved to American Hospital Dubai. It was during these years that he began to notice significant gaps in the digitization of healthcare systems, particularly the lack of effective Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems in India.

The problem was clear: many healthcare systems were still using paper records, which led to inefficiencies, errors, and delays in patient care. Surjeet believed that technology could play a crucial role in solving these problems, not just by automating administrative tasks but also by improving the quality of patient care and access to medical information.

Overcoming Resistance to Change in Healthcare

One of the biggest challenges in the adoption of healthcare technology, as Surjeet pointed out, is the resistance from healthcare professionals, particularly doctors and nurses. For many clinicians, technology is seen as an additional burden rather than a helpful tool.

Surjeet explained that it’s less about the technology itself and more about changing the mindset and behavior of healthcare providers. “Doctors will always remain at the center of healthcare delivery, and this is where the challenge begins,” he said. Convincing medical staff to adopt new systems requires showing them how technology can make their jobs easier by streamlining processes like patient record management and reducing the time spent searching for information.

The key is understanding that technology is not just an IT issue but a healthcare issue. If doctors and nurses are onboarded properly, with a focus on how it will ultimately improve patient care, the transition can be smoother.

The Role of Government in Healthcare Digitalization

India’s government has taken important steps to address some of these challenges through initiatives like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This initiative aims to centralize Electronic Health Records (EHRs), providing healthcare providers with easy access to patient data across the public and private sectors. The goal is to make healthcare more efficient and to improve the overall quality of care.

Surjeet emphasized that the vast size and diversity of India make healthcare digitalization both a challenge and an opportunity. “We need to ensure there is a central repository for all citizens’ EHRs,” he said. With this system in place, the government can gain valuable insights into the health trends of the population, allowing them to allocate resources more effectively and address public health challenges like chronic diseases, mental health, and preventive care.

However, implementing such a system in a country with diverse healthcare facilities, ranging from large private hospitals to smaller rural clinics, requires careful planning and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Data Security and Privacy: Protecting Patient Information

As more healthcare services move online and patient records become digitized, protecting patient data becomes a critical concern. Surjeet pointed out the importance of both data security and privacy. Data security ensures that patient information is protected from unauthorized access, while privacy ensures that only authorized individuals have access to specific details.

The Indian government has addressed some of these concerns through the Data Protection and Privacy (DPDP) Act, which imposes significant fines on organizations that fail to protect patient data. Surjeet also shared how healthcare technology companies take patient confidentiality seriously, instilling a culture of data protection within their teams.

“We ensure that patient data is secure, and only the right people have access to the right information,” Surjeet explained. “This is crucial not only for compliance but also for maintaining trust in the healthcare system.”

The Potential of AI, Cloud Computing, and Remote Care

As technology continues to evolve, new tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are beginning to play a significant role in healthcare. Surjeet highlighted the growing importance of telemedicine and remote patient care, especially in a country like India, where there is a shortage of skilled healthcare professionals in rural areas.

Telemedicine has been around for decades, but its adoption has increased rapidly in recent years, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the help of digital tools, patients can now receive consultations from doctors remotely, reducing the need for travel and minimizing waiting times.

Surjeet shared how wearable devices like the Apple Watch are being used to monitor chronic conditions like diabetes. “As a diabetic, I use an Apple Watch to track my vitals, and the data syncs directly with my health record,” he said. This kind of remote monitoring allows for continuous care outside of traditional hospital settings, which can lead to better outcomes and fewer hospital visits.

What’s Next for Healthcare in India?

Looking forward, Surjeet is optimistic about the potential for technology to address India’s healthcare challenges. With a population of over 1.4 billion people, the need for accessible and affordable healthcare is more urgent than ever. While technology alone cannot solve all of India’s healthcare issues, it can certainly play a central role in improving efficiency, reducing costs, and making healthcare more equitable.

Surjeet pointed out that healthcare systems need to evolve from being hospital-centric to patient-centric. “Care has to come out of the hospitals and into the hands of the patients,” he said, emphasizing the role of technology in empowering individuals to manage their own health more effectively.

He also stressed that the future of healthcare in India will depend on leveraging technology to bridge the gap between the country’s diverse healthcare needs and its available infrastructure. By adopting innovations like AI, remote patient care, and centralized EHRs, India can build a more sustainable healthcare system that serves everyone, from urban centers to rural villages.

A Call for Awareness and Collaboration

The conversation with Surjeet Thakur highlights that while there are many challenges in healthcare technology, there are also significant opportunities for improvement. From enhancing data security to making healthcare more accessible through telemedicine and AI, the future of healthcare in India is undoubtedly tied to technology.

The key to success will be continued collaboration between healthcare providers, technology companies, and the government to ensure that digital health solutions are implemented effectively and equitably. As we move forward, it is important to stay aware of the potential benefits that these technologies bring to the table and to embrace the changes that are coming to improve healthcare for all.

Authors Biography

Surjeet Thakur is co-founder and CEO of Trio Tree technologies. He is Passionate Healthcare IT Evangelist having worked in Large Scale Implementations and a thought leader in Healthcare IT ecosystem.

The post How Technology is Shaping the Future of Healthcare: Insights from Surjeet Thakur appeared first on InnoHEALTH magazine.