Health Tech Leaders Meet to Advance Innovative Solutions for Pressing Healthcare Challenges in India

Health technology in particular, digital health technology is having a remarkable influence on healthcare access, delivery, and outcomes throughout India and the world. Its potential to transform public health for the better is truly limitless.

It was therefore exciting to witness experts in this wide-ranging yet highly specialized field share their immense knowledge at the 2017 HITLAB Innovators Summit: India, held February 16-17, at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The event was developed by HITLAB®, a healthcare innovation lab that helps leading organizations ideate, create, evaluate, and diffuse technology-based solutions to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare worldwide.

Participants were inspired by the engaging talks, panels, and networking opportunities focused on “Empathy-Driven Digital Health Innovation: Improving Health Outcomes by Understanding the Needs of the End-User.” For example, the heads of Fortis, TCS, IBM, and Boston Scientific offered evidence on immensely relevant content that will have real impact for digital health innovators and effectors everywhere.

Boston Scientific was the Visionary Sponsor of the Summit, in compliance with its policies. Its Director of Corporate Research, Ron Lancaster, described the conference this way: “The HITLAB Summit excelled in many ways, especially the diverse and talented group of industry, academic, government representatives, physicians, and entrepreneurs that participated.  I really enjoyed the networking and interactions.”

The highlight of the Summit was the HITLAB World Cup: India, which challenged innovators to design original solutions for pressing healthcare challenges. Sponsored this year by Health quad, with mentor ship support from Quadria Capital, the competition featured five outstanding finalists: Health Vectors, eKincare, Apcegen, Zeolr Technologies, and Wide Heart Solutions.Health Vectors was the grand prize winner, while eKincare was the runner-up.

“It was truly a humbling experience winning the 2017 HITLAB World Cup: India and being part of a prestigious program,” said Dr. Subhasish Sircar, Founder and CEO of Health Vectors.  “Health Vectors is now squarely focused on explosive growth in hospitals, insurance companies, and corporate verticals. Recognition by, and collaboration with, HITLAB will go a long way toward establishing the key relationships globally that are essential for such growth.”

Lancaster was impressed by the quality of the digital health concepts presented by the entrepreneurs competing in the World Cup.  As a judge, it was very difficult to select one over another as they all were innovative, well presented, and will bring tangible and positive changes in the care of patients around the world.”

Dr. Pinak Shrikhande, Principal at Health quad, who co-judged the competition, felt, “The Summit has been a great success for the start-up community. It was truly inspiring and encouraging to see participation from healthcare innovators and start-ups across the country, bringing together healthcare investors, researchers, and opinion leaders on a common platform. We saw exciting innovations in the digital healthcare space which could help propel and accelerate the supply of affordable, convenient, and quality healthcare services, across the population spectrum. Healthquad continues to back such companies focused on trans formative and disruptive models.”

HITLAB remains determined to address healthcare challenges in India and throughout the world. Its HITLAB World Cup: India and HITLAB Innovators Summit: India are carefully constructed to advance digital health innovation in the region. The annual events provide outstanding opportunities to increase healthcare productivity, affordability, and accessibility. Most importantly, the exceptional solutions that emerge go a long way toward improving health outcomes and, in turn, lives.