Those Not into Digital Health Will Cease to Exist Before the End of the Decade

Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, co-chair of the Global Digital Health Summit and former advisor to the Union Health Minister of India, asserts that the healthcare industry must embrace digital transformation—or risk extinction. While healthcare has been slow to adopt digital technologies, it is now undergoing a dramatic shift driven by the demands of informed patients, the erosion of trust in traditional systems, and the benefits of transparency.

According to Dr. Gupta, digital health is no longer optional but essential for survival. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital therapeutics (DTx), and SaMD (Software as a Medical Device) are revolutionizing diagnosis and treatment. Patients, who are accustomed to digital solutions in other sectors, now expect the same level of innovation in healthcare. This shift is being accelerated by government initiatives like India’s ABDM (Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), which pushes for the widespread adoption of digital tools across healthcare providers.

However, Dr. Gupta highlights key barriers to this transformation: closed mindsets, lack of awareness, and the absence of a cohesive digital health ecosystem. He emphasizes that doctors who leverage technology will outperform those who don’t. The message is clear: those in healthcare must adapt quickly or face being left behind in a rapidly evolving landscape.

The Global Digital Health Summit aims to fast-track this adoption, bringing together global and Indian leaders to demonstrate the transformative power of digital health. Dr. Gupta’s vision for the future is bold: by 2026, healthcare will move from reactive to proactive, from general to personalized, and from hospital-based to tech-enabled, holistic care.

His advice to the healthcare industry? Start your digital health journey now—before it’s too late.