India’s healthcare sector is rapidly evolving, adopting digital technologies while facing challenges in automation and efficiency.
India’s healthcare industry is undergoing a major digital transformation. The report Beyond the Stethoscope, The Digital Pulse of Healthcare, by Grant Thornton Bharat and the Association of Healthcare Providers (India) (AHPI), examines hospital readiness and provides insights into progress and areas needing further attention.
Here, Net 4 India News will cover the latest developments in India’s healthcare sector, including digital transformation, hospital readiness, and emerging challenges.
Strong Digital Foundations
The report gathers perspectives from hospital executives and senior professionals, evaluating the strength of existing digital infrastructure. This includes confidence in governance, regulatory compliance, adoption of artificial intelligence, and organizational and workforce factors that shape transformation.
Approximately 95% of hospitals have implemented a Hospital Information System (HIS). This figure indicates that fundamental digitalization has largely occurred across the sector, serving as a strong indicator that most healthcare facilities possess the necessary digital foundation.
In addition to HIS, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and laboratory information systems have been adopted by around two-thirds of hospitals. Implementation of these critical systems strengthens the digital foundation, enabling better and more efficient management of patient data.
Gap Between Adoption and Automation
Despite high adoption of digital systems, low levels of automation are particularly notable. Fewer than 25% of hospitals leverage technologies such as Robotic Process Automation (RPA), meaning many processes remain manual.
This reliance on manual processes results in a significant administrative workload. Medical staff and hospital personnel continue to face high documentation and operational demands.
Moreover, only about 34% of hospitals currently operate with real-time enterprise dashboards. This leads to slower decision-making cycles and reduced operational efficiency, limiting responsiveness to patient needs.
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Transformation Priorities and Future Investments
The majority of respondents in the report, over 90%, identified documentation workload as a key driver accelerating digital transformation. This highlights critical areas that must be addressed to improve efficiency and reduce staff burden.
The report notes that Indian hospitals have made significant progress in building foundational digital capabilities. However, advances in system integration, automation, and governance practices have not kept pace with technology adoption.
With nearly 60% of hospitals planning to increase digital investment over the next year, the next phase of transformation is expected to focus less on new technology deployment. Instead, it will emphasize the effective integration of existing systems into healthcare services, ensuring responsible governance, and empowering clinicians.
System Integration and Improved Outcomes
The main goal of upcoming investments is to enable clinicians to use digital tools in ways that improve clinical outcomes. This is also expected to enhance overall operational performance.
Better system integration will allow seamless data flow between departments and platforms, reducing redundancy and improving information accuracy. This is essential for better decision-making and more coordinated patient care.
Ultimately, this transformation is not just about technology; it is about creating a more efficient, responsive, and patient-centered healthcare ecosystem. It ensures that the benefits of digitalization are fully realized by all stakeholders.
For more insights on India’s healthcare digital transformation and hospital innovations, stay tuned to Net 4 India News.
Image Source:
- First Image from: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Second Image from: oecd.org