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In brief
India’s healthcare system is undergoing digital healthcare transformation to create integrated, patient-centric solutions using advanced technologies. India currently has approximately 1.4 beds per 1,000 people, while WHO recommendation is 2-3 beds per 1,000. Further, approximately 60% of this bed capacity is in the private sector, concentrated in metropolitan and tier-1 cities, leaving smaller cities and towns with significant shortfalls.
With the aim to improve care delivery and operational efficiency along with financial sustainability, healthcare service providers are increasingly moving away from manual processes and legacy systems toward interconnected digital platforms. Along with rising demand for higher quantity and quality healthcare across the country, demographic shifts, and increased private investment, patients also expect faster, more personalized and transparent care.
The report, Unleashing digital momentum to shape the future of healthcare – Enabling automation to enforcing transformation, highlights that among the most crucial changes taking place in healthcare in India is that private healthcare providers are actively investing in healthcare technology solutions, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity.
New-age hospital information systems, patient portals, and data-driven platforms are gaining traction.
Modernizing systems and patient journeys: Healthcare service providers are focusing on integrated ecosystems that include Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), upgraded Hospital Information Systems (HIS), and business applications like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM). To maximize the utility of data, data lakes and BI dashboards aggregate clinical, operational, and financial information from various systems to support real-time decision-making across the healthcare chain, from physicians, nurses, and diagnostic labs to pharmacy, insurance, and patient engagement.
At the same time, patient journeys are improving through smart OPDs that cut waiting times with digital registration and triage. In some cases, AI assistants help doctors with history and risk insights, while mobile apps support follow-up care, reminders, and wearable-based monitoring, strengthening data driven healthcare.
Al, GenAI and Machine Learning (ML) are a major part of the next wave of AI in healthcare delivery. AI is helping clinicians develop personalized therapies through integration of genomics, imaging, and real-world data. In addition, AI is being used in risk prediction, treatment planning, and documentation, while analytics improve scheduling, capacity planning, and claims management. Using digital twins and predictive models, hospitals are testing operational resilience.
Increased adoption is key to constantly improving applicability and efficiency. Therefore, in terms of stakeholder roles, doctors play a key role, embracing EMRs and leveraging AI assistants for clinical decision support. In standalone set-ups and multi-specialty centers, they can build patient trust in the new systems. Nurses and administrative staff are key to designing practical workflows and enable connected care. At present, the focus for CIOs in healthcare services is effective integration and smooth transition to fully integrated digital ecosystems, clinical excellence, quality monitoring, and availability of required skill sets. Given the complexity of healthcare systems, hospitals that follow phased roadmaps, starting with, say, OPDs and admissions, can track clear improvements in outcomes, efficiency, and patient trust, supporting wider digital health adoption.
At the report and the survey indicate, for the digital transformation in healthcare services to progress, some challenges have to be addressed. The primary barriers include outdated infrastructure, fragmented data, and a shortage of specialist IT professionals. Survey findings show that while adoption is strong, consistent progress requires better integration and workforce training.
As digital solutions’ integration in healthcare intensifies, security is critical. Role-based access, multi-factor authentication, encryption, and audits guided by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) -In are some of the steps in cybersecurity. Regulations such as the ABDM, the DPDP Act, and NABH have guidelines that provide clear standards for security, consent, and interoperability, enabling confident digital adoption across healthcare.
A practical approach to future-ready hospitals includes:
As healthcare evolves, healthcare service providers are transitioning from using standalone IT systems that create data silos to connected care ecosystems that allow information to flow across physical, remote, and virtual settings. As India’s healthcare system moves toward connected and data-driven care, priorities will shift towards prevention, prediction and proactive intervention. The EY-CII HealthTech Survey 2025 confirms rising adoption of HIS, cloud, and security platforms, though gaps in infrastructure and skills remain. Priorities include increased use of EMRs, upgraded HIS, and secure data systems supported by ABDM and the DPDP Act. Patient experiences are improving through smart OPDs, digital documentation, and post-discharge apps. AI and analytics are now part of both clinical and operational practices, while digital twins guide safe changes. With phased adoption and trained workforce, healthcare service providers are building systems where every data and solution centers around patient care.
Future-ready hospitals in India are embracing advanced digital solutions to enhance real-time decision making, patient care and operational efficiency. As the EY-CII HealthTech Survey 2025 shows, key components of the journey include integrated hospital information systems (HIS), electronic medical records (EMRs), and patient portals that streamline data access at all stages. AI, GenAI and Machine Learning are aiding in personalized therapies, risk prediction, and treatment planning while cloud solutions enable secure data storage and management. Overcoming challenges such as resistance to change, infrastructure, and data silos can help providers deliver ROI and a proactive, preventive and precision healthcare, paving the way for digital healthcare transformation and smarter models of care within the Indian healthcare industry.
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