Digital Health Must Work Even Where Infrastructure Is Low: MediBuddy CEO

Time of India

a day ago

New Delhi: As the race to dominate India's
digital healthcare
space intensifies,
public-private partnerships
are emerging as a key differentiator in an increasingly crowded market.
Exploring synergies to augment public healthcare delivery through tech infrastructure, particularly in diagnostics, digital consultations, and
chronic care management
, will be critical, informed Satish Kannan, Co-founder and CEO
Medibuddy
.
Speaking exclusively to ETHealthworld Kannan said the company is actively aligning with national health missions and expanding across India's hinterlands, including tier 3 and 4 cities, to ensure deeper healthcare access.
'In India, it's not just about building healthcare for urban India—it's also about Bharat. We operate across 22,000+ pin codes, and our systems are designed to work even where digital literacy and infrastructure are low," he said.
Asked about players like Tata 1mg, Apollo 24/7, and PharmEasy competing in the same arena, Kannan believes that the real differentiator lies in execution. 'Yes, it's a crowded space. But the moat is not just in what we offer, it's in how reliably we deliver, how we build long-term trust, and how we support users through their entire healthcare journey,' he noted.
He dismissed the notion of healthcare as a winner takes all market. 'Our focus is on affordability, continuity of care, and personalization at scale. That's what makes a real difference.'
Underlining the role of AI as a force multiplier in driving accessible healthcare, he said, 'AI helps in triaging, symptom assessment, diagnostics, and matching users with the right specialists. It's not a replacement for doctors, it augments clinical decision-making,' he explained.
Informed that their AI-backed platforms support end-to-end services, ranging from virtual consultations across 20+ specialties to medicine delivery, diagnostics, chronic care management, mental health support, and even IPD (in-patient department) assistance.
'We have built a horizontal digital healthcare platform—something that connects consultations, diagnostics, IPD, and health checkups. This seamless integration allows us to scale affordably while maintaining quality,' said Kannan.
Emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) as India advances digital health missions like ABDM and PM-JAY, he said, 'No single entity can address India's healthcare needs alone,' he said. 'The government has the reach and trust, while private players bring innovation and execution power. It's a natural synergy.'
MediBuddy is already in talks with government stakeholders to extend its technology infrastructure, particularly in diagnostics, digital consultations, and chronic care, to public health initiatives.
Mentioning that post-pandemic, the company is seeing a sharp uptick in demand for
preventive healthcare
space, he said, 'There's growing awareness around early diagnostics, wellness solutions, and chronic care,' said Kannan. 'We don't want to be in the sick-care business alone. We want to be a partner in long-term health assurance.'
"From AI-driven care plans to real-time health monitoring, we are aiming to shift the focus from reactive to proactive healthcare, ensuring personalised engagement at every step," he added.