Exploring Career Options In Health Technology In India

The convergence of technology and healthcare is affecting the way medicine is delivered in India. The world of healthcare is adopting innovative digital technology at break-neck speed. Telemedicine, digital health, and AI-assisted diagnostics have created a sprawling space of opportunity for job seekers looking for a stimulating and rewarding job in a rapidly-growing sector. Here is a quick overview of some of the job paths available.

Health Informatics Specialist

Health informatics can be defined as the application of science and art of data assessment and management with respect to health information using digital tools. Health informatics specialists work with EHRs, patient information repositories, analytics platforms, to optimize care effectiveness. Hospitals, insurance companies, and health-tech startups need health informatics specialists to help with integrating services and making sense of health care data.

Required Background: Degree in Health Informatics, Computer Science or Public Health. If a degree is in the latter two areas, a good understanding of medical terms and data systems is helpful.

Biomedical engineering is primarily concerned with the design, manufacture and maintenance of medical devices, and biomedical engineers in India are in high demand as the demand for low-cost, locally-made medical devices increases along with innovation in prosthetics, diagnostic devices and complementary devices that detect human digital health.

Required Background: B.Tech or M.Tech in biomedical engineering or a relevant field with some biology and some engineering exposure.

Healthcare’s digital transformation has produced massive amounts of health data. Clinical data analysts help organizations make sense of data to improve treatment for patients, and workflow efficiency to enhance patient experience. They analyze trends, assess treatment performance, and support clinical trials.

Required Background: Bachelor’s in statistics, data science, or life sciences and experience using analytical software such as SAS, R or Python.

4. Digital Health Entrepreneurship

Many professionals are forging their own careers and embarking on entrepreneurial journeys by launching startups in the area of fitness applications, mental health platforms, or remote monitoring. India is making progress towards creating an ecosystem that supports digital health innovation through government policies like the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM).

Backgrounds Required: There is no specific background entrepreneurs need to have; we see individuals from medicine, engineering, or business backgrounds relying heavily on ideation and collaboration across disciplines.

Dr. Sandip Patel started in the field of entrepreneurship from scratch. Most people wouldn’t risk their future for a startup dream. But in 2017, Dr. Sandip Patel and his father did just that.

They sold three properties — all meant for his father’s retirement — to fund an idea that started in a small corner of Rajkot. Today, that idea has grown into Docthub, a healthcare career platform helping thousands of doctors and students across India find jobs, courses, and opportunities in medicine.

AI and Machine Learning Specialist/Healthcare AI or Machine Learning

Artificial intelligence is changing how we think about disease prediction, diagnosis and even drug discovery. AI and machine learning specialists are working in this niche to create algorithms to read X-rays, pathologist’s slides or predict risk in healthy individuals.

Backgrounds Required: A degree in computer science, AI/ML, or engineering frequently comes into play combined with knowledge of biomedical data or clinical practice.

The health-tech industry in India continues to be in a high-growth phase, with opportunities not only in metro cities but also in Tier 2 and tier 3 cities where digital solutions are helping close the access to healthcare gaps. As the health-tech industry continues to evolve and mature, the need for skilled professionals in all areas from technical roles to analytical roles to managerial roles will only increase. 

For young graduates and those young professionals looking to create positive impact, health-technology is a viable and exciting option where innovation is making a difference to a country’s well-being.