India’s healthcare sector is changing rapidly with the growing use of digital technology. Tools such as artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostics, telemedicine, electronic medical records (EMR) and remote patient monitoring are making treatment faster, more accurate and more accessible. Hospitals are using digital systems to improve patient care and manage operations more smoothly. Industry leaders discuss how digital adoption is shaping their organisation, the challenges faced, and their plans for the future…
How have ICT needs evolved in the healthcare space over the past few years?
Over the past few years, healthcare information and communication technology (ICT) has undergone a fundamental shift. Clinical teams today expect seamless EMR, device-integrated workflows and instant access to patient information across the continuum of care. At the same time, patient expectations have transformed. They now look for digital convenience, transparency and personalised engagement through mobile apps, online access and reduced friction in their care journey. This has pushed ICT to enable fully integrated digital ecosystems supported by strong cybersecurity and scalable cloud-native foundations.
How are you leveraging new-age technologies such as 5G, AI, IoT, cloud and blockchain? What are their noteworthy use cases?
The adoption of new-age technologies is accelerating as the sector strives for better outcomes and operational efficiency. AI and machine learning are making a significant impact in areas such as radiology prioritisation and interpretation support; predictive analytics for clinical risk and resource forecasting; and robotic process automation (RPA)-driven billing, claims and finance processes. IoT is being used extensively for real-time medical device integration, especially in ICUs and wards, as well as continuous monitoring of clinical equipment, assets and environmental conditions. Being 100 per cent cloud-based, the technology landscape now benefits from cloud-native EMR and clinical applications; scalable analytics and data platforms; and high resilience, automated scaling and enhanced cybersecurity. 5G is emerging as a strong enabler for high-definition teleconsultations, remote diagnostics and faster mobile access to cloud systems. Blockchain, although still nascent, shows promise for secure and tamper-proof health information exchange, supply chain authenticity and clinical research data validation.
What major challenges have you experienced in adoption? How are you addressing them?
Digital transformation in healthcare comes with its own set of challenges. Interoperability and legacy systems remain key hurdles, often limiting the seamless flow of clinical data. This is being addressed through API-led architectures, the adoption of standards like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources and application rationalisation. Change management is another significant area. Clinical workflows are complex, and require stakeholder alignment. This is approached through co-design with clinicians, structured training and phased roll-outs. Cybersecurity continues to be a critical concern as healthcare remains a high-value target. The response includes zero-trust adoption, multi-factor authentication, continuous monitoring and network segmentation. Data quality continues to impact the effectiveness of AI and analytics. Strengthening data governance and centralised data platforms is key to addressing this.
What are your top digital priorities over the next two to three years?
The digital roadmap over the next few years will focus on building a smarter, more connected and more resilient healthcare ecosystem. Key priorities include EMR enhancement with advanced clinical workflows and device integration; AI-enabled transformation across clinical, operational and financial domains; cybersecurity uplift with deeper zero-trust adoption; automation at scale, combining RPA and workflow orchestration; digital patient journey modernisation through mobile-first and self-service capabilities; data modernisation, including real-time analytics and predictive intelligence; and continuous cloud optimisation for resilience, speed and cost efficiency.
Which key digital trends will shape the sector going forward?
The healthcare sector is entering a phase of accelerated digital maturity. Key trends shaping the future include AI-driven clinical assistance in diagnostics, triaging and care optimisation; connected care ecosystems, supported by IoT and remote monitoring; cloud-native healthcare platforms becoming the industry default; hyperautomation, merging robotic process automation, AI and intelligent workflows; cybersecurity resilience as an organisational priority; national digital health frameworks enabling interoperability at scale; and personalised and precision medicine powered by data science and genomics.
