NASSCOM and BIRAC launch nationwide challenge to scale healthtech innovation using data and artificial intelligence

Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) and The National Association for Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) in collaboration with Grand Challenges India (GCI) have launched “JANCare” a nationwide Innovation Challenge to Discover, Design and Scale the Health-Tech Innovations, which work in low resource-settings especially, in rural and semi urban environments. These innovations will be built on technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, machine learning, big-data and analytics, making use of telehealth platforms to enhance the access, quality and affordability of the delivery of healthcare at the last mile.

Debjani Ghosh, president, NASSCOM said: “Good and affordable healthcare should be available to everyone, with this vision in mind NASSCOM has been instrumental in helping build a deeptech enabled healthcare start-up ecosystem in the country. Through this JANCare Innovation Grand Challenge, we aim to evangelise more organisations and individuals to build specialised healthcare solutions, and democratise access to modern medicine for all.”

The “JANCare” challenge is ably supported by Grand Challenges India, a partnership framework between the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India, BIRAC along with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch joint initiatives aimed at catalyzing innovative health and development research within India.

Anju Bhalla, MD, BIRAC, mentioned: “the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the debate on rapid adoption of telemedicine and application of low-resource technologies for efficient & affordable healthcare. Keeping these developments in mind, BIRAC & NASSCOM intend to create an enabling national platform of a bouquet of validated affordable health-tech solutions for adoption by choice to ramp up healthcare facilities at Tier II & III cities.”

The “JANCare” challenge will identify up to 25 best Healthtech solutions from startups/ SMEs and provide pilot test beds in collaboration with State Governments & Industry to help their validation and scale up for adoption.

Dr. Renu Swarup, Secretary, DBT, said: "I am glad to see the strategic alignment between BIRAC (biotech sector) and NASSCOM (IT sector) for a joint commitment to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery at the last mile. The population of low resource areas; PHCs, CHCs in rural and semi-urban areas are likely to get benefitted through local deployment of the innovative and affordable healthtech solutions. This innovation challenge would promote customized products developed by Startups/ SMES to address the local challenges and unmet needs. Active involvement of States, international partner – GCI, will boost the impact of such Atamnirbharta efforts for the benefit of society and scaling up of innovation ecosystem."