Indian pharma companies lack the digital will: Indian Pharma Digital Health Report 2015

"Ironically, some of these same companies abroad are seen to be proactively using digital platforms to engage with health care professionals (HCPs) and patients," D Yellow Elephant, Managing Director, Amol Gupta said.

The firm's digital strategy lead Chandni Dalal said that the findings show the reluctance of the pharma companies to effectively engage with their stakeholders on the digi-platforms.

The duo explained that the report is an attempt "to help the pharmaceutical sector entities in India catch up on the time gap, identify the loopholes and help them incorporate digital medium in the decision making process."

It also help underline opportunities that exist and outline a roadmap for these pharma companies to engage better with the HCPs and the patient communities, given the advent of smartphones across geographical locations.

"It is high time that this potential is realized. What better way than effectively use these platforms to bridge the gap to healthcare access in a country like ours," Dalal said.

On the positive side, Indian pharma companies are venturing onto the digital highway but only 30 percent have an India-specific website.

"In the age of quantified self, Indian patients and HCPs are exhibiting an expectations market, with the advent of digital health, big data and dialogue exchange; Indian pharma has long stayed behind the curve on social media," said Gupta.