Revitalising India's Healthcare Infrastructure: Leveraging the Digital Power (Panelists: Dr Guru N Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Continental Hospitals, Dr A V Gurava Reddy, Managing Director, KIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, Yedavalli Subramanyam, CEO Apollo Hospitals, International & AP, Varun Khanna, Group MD, Quality Care India Pvt Ltd, P Hari Krishna, Executive Director, Medicover Hospitals, Moderator : Kalpana Sharma, Editor - Health, Times Network)
At the Times Network India Health Summit 2025 – South Edition, a high-impact panel moderated by Kalpana Sharma, Editor – Health, Times Network, explored the theme of “Revitalising India’s Healthcare Infrastructure by Leveraging Digital Power.” The panel brought together top hospital leaders who addressed critical questions around cost efficiency, accessibility, and adapting global models to Indian needs.
Building Smart, Affordable Infrastructure
Dr. Guru N Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Continental Hospitals, spoke on the need to balance cost-effectiveness with quality care. He emphasized that infrastructure must go hand-in-hand with skilled human resources and technology.
“Quality assurance must marry quality delivery,” Dr. Reddy said. “We were once labelled 5-star or 7-star hospitals, but I’ve proven that you can maintain world-class standards while keeping costs under control—if diagnosis is fast, treatment is precise, and systems are transparent.”
Dr. Reddy pointed to the success of his model since 2013–14, stressing the importance of rapid diagnostic processes and regulatory alignment to reduce delays and unnecessary expenses.
Making Technology Work for India
On how to make healthcare technology affordable, Dr. A V Gurava Reddy, Managing Director, KIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, pointed to the importance of thoughtful optimization.
“In the West, a huge amount of money is wasted on healthcare. We can redirect those learnings to optimise our systems here,” he explained. “Affordability is possible when compromise is made without compromising on care—it has to come from the heart.”
Digital and Physical—A Symbiotic Relationship
Yedavalli Subramanyam, CEO, Apollo Hospitals (International & AP), highlighted Apollo’s pioneering efforts in digital transformation.
“India is vast. We can’t have experts in every corner—but through digital tools, we can take the expertise there,” he said. From remote ICU monitoring to telemedicine-driven emergency care, he stressed that digital infrastructure complements, not replaces, physical healthcare.
Bringing Global Experience, Rooted in India
P Hari Krishna, Executive Director, Medicover Hospitals, explained how Medicover adapted its European model for Indian realities.
“We approached this with passion. We partnered strategically—we bring India’s best doctors and clinical expertise, while the European chain supports us with technology, protocols, and audits,” he said. “Together, it’s a blend of global standards with Indian cost efficiency.”
When asked about what India needs to strengthen high-end gastroenterology care, Dr. Guru N Reddy highlighted the country’s strong foundation in medical expertise but pointed out systemic challenges.
“India is globally recognised for its physicians—ranked second only to the U.S. Indian doctors enjoy a stellar reputation worldwide,” he said. “However, we are held back by a weak healthcare system, especially in terms of accessibility.”
Despite these hurdles, Dr. Reddy expressed optimism about the country's potential.
“We have an exceptional pool of medical professionals—not just in India, but wherever they practice around the world. We’ve never shied away from embracing technology. Our doctors are constantly upskilling and adapting at a rapid pace, which positions us well for delivering high-end, minimally invasive gastro care.”
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