How COVID-19 has furthered the importance of digital health. How NASSCOM does CoE Focus on harnessing the power of AI and IoT to bring new opportunities to the healthcare industry?
Following the Covid 19 epidemic, the healthcare system experienced a complete digital shift. There was a huge burden on healthcare workers to cope with the unprecedented increase in the number of patients suffering from COVID-19 and related diseases. This has necessitated the adoption of digital technology-based solutions that can automate physical tasks so that the entire workforce can dedicately focus on care delivery. The need to innovate and inspire researchers to innovate new ways to increase healthcare delivery and address the challenges posed by the epidemic. For example, teleconsultation as a technology and service has existed for a long time, but it was only during the epidemic that it entered the mainstream. Similarly, many IoT / AI-based home care solutions such as self-diagnostics and full-stock monitoring solutions were launched during this time.
NASSCOM’s CoE provides a collaborative innovation platform to encourage researchers, healthcare providers and Medtech, pharma companies to work together and accelerate the adoption of technology solutions that will improve healthcare delivery and accessibility. CoE has created a unique framework in partnership with BIRAC and Healthcare Innovation Challenge (HIC), programs run by its industry use case called JanCARE Challenge that address the challenges of adopting digital technology solutions by primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare stakeholders. Our Lifesciences and Healthcare Forum (LHIF) is a collaborative platform that brings together thoughtful leaders in the life sciences segment. In addition, it sets the stage for medical device companies, regulatory bodies, public healthcare departments and technology enterprises to voice industry concerns and for the inclusive growth of the ecosystem. Enterprises such as LifeScience Companies, Medtech Enterprise are involved in a co-creation program to work closely with CoE to build a group of Deeptech solution providers, facilitating joint development and co-sales programs with curated innovators. Fields, positioning their organization as a leader in the digital health ecosystem and creating joint programs with government healthcare departments and healthcare providers for social impact.Why is the role of start-ups crucial in India, especially when it comes to healthcare? How is NASSCOM helping start-ups build an innovation ecosystem in the healthcare space and funding? Also, the reason behind not taking any equity from start-ups.
Start-ups play an important role in creating innovative solutions, efficient technologies and sometimes new market models. They challenge the status quo by developing, validating and deploying cost-effective and efficient solutions. They are willing to take risks associated with solutions that are specific to the market and are eager to customize their solution to suit the needs rather than trying to use a standardized solution.
We are working with industry, government and academia to facilitate indigenous innovation by enabling the development, validation and scaling of solutions. CoE is a joint venture between the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY). We have set up innovation centers in Bengaluru, Gurugram, Gandhinagar and Vizag with the support of the respective state governments. Through its heterogeneous network and innovation programs, CoE is enabling state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment that can be used by incubated start-ups to create prototypes of their solutions, connect enterprises or potential market opportunities for solution deployment. Access to incubation programs for start-ups at a reasonable rate, to allow them to reduce their cash burn on resources and infrastructure and to use them for product development and marketing purposes.
CoE is also paving the way for innovative solutions to help reach healthcare providers and Medtech, pharma companies. We bring investors from all over the world under one roof; Facilitate their visibility, and connect them to the investing community. We avoid taking equity from start-ups because we believe that these assets are valuable to them. We focus more on creating a neutral platform that aims to create an innovation ecosystem.
Between 2020 and 2021, many healthcare companies adopted digital solutions but how do you think this pace of digitization can be accelerated?
I believe the COVID-19 was a trigger point that accelerated the digital shift process that would have taken many years on its own. Digital solutions have helped us tackle crises not only in the healthcare space but also in other domains. Then whether it is digital payment, online education, remote working etc. Now is the time to embark on a journey of high digital innovation.
With regard to the types of health tech solutions that will drive adoption, investment and M&A – the CoE acknowledges that there are three aspects to consider. First, there are B2C digital health technologies that will pave the way for affordable care for up to 70 percent of the population in the next 3-5 years. These include telemedicine, e-pharmacy, primary care solutions, insurance tech and the online marketplace. Then there are progressive B2B digital health capabilities such as health information exchange, clinical decision support, diagnostic and imaging information, claims and denial management, decentralized clinical trials, remote patient monitoring, digital therapeutics, AI-enabled virtualization and virtualization. . Variable growth will be seen within the field. Finally, the CoE emphasizes the point that India is the second largest population on Earth, and globally we generate one of the highest volumes of patient-generated data per day. From a research standpoint, DH Solutions aims to democratize access to different clinical data and convert them into real-world evidence that will assist in drug discovery and research and create new standards of care for many Indian populations.
At NASSCOM we welcome the NHA’s move to invite technology providers to build our national digital health network and look forward to working with all parties as competent and capacity builders. With a very healthy and dynamic startup ecosystem and with high interest from doctors, providers and enterprises to experiment and validate solutions. We are hopeful that the momentum will continue.
Can you tell us about the growing role of AI, IoT and Big Data in healthcare? Why should these technologies be fast in the healthcare industry and how will it transform that segment?
AI, IoT and Big Data are no longer a strategic requirement but a responsibility for all DeepTech digital health solution providers. These three digital columns play a key role in transforming the healthcare system. From enhancing medical solutions, to enabling early diagnosis and accurate treatment to setting up smart healthcare, this trending technology has made it all easier. We have embarked on a journey towards technology-assisted healthcare – which will help doctors highlight areas that require diagnosis, monitoring and attention. IoT devices provide the necessary data that is analyzed by AI programs. For example, a diagnostic X-ray MRI scan goes through the first pass of a machine reading that points to discrepancies before going to a radiologist. Two levels of anatomy increase the accuracy of the diagnosis, enabling doctors to reduce the time and effort invested in providing the best care. As the accuracy of machine readings of diagnostics improves, we will see more reliance on machine results, especially when time is needed and we want to get instant results.
How will the Unified Health Interface (UHI) on the lines of UPI help in enhancing digital health and what specific changes is UHI going to bring in the public health space in particular?
UHI will bring more uniformity and interoperability, unlike current proprietary practices by providers. Whether patient records are stored by each provider, or the way apps communicate with providers on information sharing between providers and patients will be on a pre-determined protocol and allow seamless experiences.
As an interoperable platform, UHI will bring transparency and ease of handling a provider’s data without the burden of printout and carrying a physical diagnostic report. There will be a unique modus operandi that will help healthcare organizations, doctors and patients strengthen the digital health ecosystem.
When you look at the state of digital technology and cyber security, what worries you the most because technology always brings up data security and innovation-related issues? What are the most pressing priorities in this space that should be taken care of?
Protecting data and privacy is an essential part of digital healthcare. Data attacks on patient records and hospital systems need to be prevented not only to protect people’s privacy but also to disrupt services, which jeopardize healthcare delivery and clinical outcomes. It needs a proactive approach to protecting organizational information and data privacy. Some essential risk mitigation measures include adopting a cybersecurity framework or following HIPPA guidelines, conducting regular risk assessment audits and incident response plans. Institutional security and privacy measures require constant review and improvement.
