The Indian healthcare system has long strained under the weight of its immense population with its chronic shortages and inequities. A mere 0.7 doctors per 1,000 people reflects a severe shortage compared to the recommendation of World Health Organization that is 2.5 per 1,000. Public healthcare remains affordable but is inaccessible to many due to limited reach and resources. Private treatment often pushes families into financial hardship and it is learned through NITI Aayog that an estimated 10 crore people are falling into poverty annually due to healthcare expenses. Former BharatPe CPO Ankur Jain is taking aim at the deeply rooted challenges through his new AI-powered venture named Jivi.
The journey of Jain into healthcare tech space is a blend of professional expertise and personal motivation. He comes from a family of doctors and has seen firsthand the strain on medical practitioners as well as the hurdles faced by patients in seeking quality care.
Jivi was launched in partnership with Reddy Ventures chairman Sanjay GV Reddy and aims to bridge this gap by offering AI-driven healthcare screenings for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and tuberculosis. The platform monitors vital signs like heart rate and emotional well-being. It also provides telemedicine services through a partnership with Tata 1mg.
Building Jivi MedX is a proprietary AI model and marks a significant step forward. Jain has worked closely with medical professionals to fine-tune its AI accuracy.
The primary goals of Jivi are ambitious and deeply relevant as well. The company has plans to keep the core service free and hopes to generate revenue through transaction commissions with partners like Tata 1mg. Software licensing to hospitals and offering a specialized language model for insurers to streamline underwriting. The healthcare sector is heavily regulated and the integration of AI in medical decision-making raises ethical and safety considerations.