Hyderabad: haf.vc, in collaboration with Alkemi Growth Capital, brought together healthcare leaders, hospital operators, pharmaceutical executives, entrepreneurs and investors in Hyderabad, to discuss the opportunities shaping the future of India’s healthcare sector.
The gathering, titled Healthcare Innovation: Founders, Operators and Investors Shaping Indian Healthcare, featured two panel discussions focusing on the future of hospitals and pharmaceuticals, alongside startup presentations.
Discussions centred on artificial intelligence (AI), patient-centric care, operational efficiency, pharmaceutical innovation, human capital and building scalable healthcare businesses.
The initiative reflected haf.vc and Alkemi Growth Capital’s commitment to strengthening India’s emerging healthcare innovation ecosystem by bringing together key stakeholders from across the industry.
Kalyan Sivalenka, Managing Partner, haf.vc, said, “India’s healthcare ecosystem is at an important inflection point. We are seeing exciting innovation across healthcare delivery, technology and pharmaceutical businesses, but the real opportunity lies in translating these innovations into solutions that can scale and create meaningful impact.
At haf.vc, we believe in backing entrepreneurs who are solving critical industry challenges and building businesses for the long term.”
Healthcare Innovation: AI and Operational Excellence to Transform Hospitals
The hospital panel explored how technology, preventive healthcare and operational transformation will redefine patient experiences.
Discussions highlighted the growing role of digital healthcare solutions, preventive medicine and operational efficiency in shaping the future of hospital services.
Offering a glimpse into the future of healthcare delivery, Dr. Saurabh Lall, COO, KIMS Hospitals, said, “The patient of 2036 won’t come to the hospital for what can be done at home or at a nearby centre.
When they do come, they’ll go straight to the OT, supported by preventive medicine, an educated patient and a digital twin.”
Dr. GV Rao, Director, AIG Hospitals, highlighted the importance of operational efficiency in improving patient experiences.
“Efficiency is measurable. We’re taking the patient journey from 7,000 steps to 250 already. That has impacted our patient experience massively.”
He also emphasised the importance of retaining clinical expertise while leveraging external capabilities to improve efficiency and scale without compromising quality.
The discussions underscored how hospitals will need to combine technology adoption, preventive healthcare and streamlined operations to improve patient experiences and healthcare delivery.
Pharmaceutical Industry Priorities
The pharmaceutical panel explored what it will take for India to strengthen its position in the global pharmaceutical industry. Discussions covered human capital, manufacturing capabilities, research and development, and technology adoption.
Highlighting the challenges of taking pharmaceutical businesses public, Rajeev Nannapaneni, Vice Chairman and CEO, Natco Pharma, emphasised the importance of balancing short-term market expectations with the industry’s long-term growth cycles.
He noted, “Listing a pharmaceutical business is challenging because public markets measure you every quarter, while the industry itself is built over decades.
Being upfront and transparent, maintaining financial discipline and avoiding excessive leverage are critical to navigating market cycles and building a business that can sustain long-term growth.”
Discussions also highlighted the need for India to build deeper domestic manufacturing capabilities and strengthen its research ecosystem through investments in scientific education.
AI adoption, financial discipline and transparency in public markets emerged as other important priorities for the pharmaceutical sector.
The discussions at the haf.vc and Alkemi Growth Capital healthcare gathering highlighted the importance of strengthening India’s pharmaceutical capabilities through investments in manufacturing, scientific research and skilled talent.
Startups Showcase Healthcare Solutions to Investors and Industry Leaders
The event also featured startup presentations from ePlane, TMTC, Bamboo Box, Medulance, QuickClean and Medvital.
The presentations provided emerging businesses with an opportunity to showcase their solutions and engage with investors, healthcare leaders and other industry stakeholders.
The participation of startups added a founder-focused dimension to the gathering, bringing emerging healthcare businesses into conversations with established hospital operators, pharmaceutical executives and investors.
Next Chapter of India’s Healthcare Growth
Reflecting on the investment perspective, Alka Goel, Founding Partner, Alkemi Growth Capital, said, “The next chapter of India’s healthcare growth will be shaped by businesses that combine strong fundamentals with innovation and execution capabilities.
While technology and capital are important growth drivers, sustainable value creation ultimately comes from strong leadership, operational discipline and a clear understanding of market needs.
Through platforms like this, we hope to encourage deeper engagement between entrepreneurs, industry leaders and investors.”
The discussions across both panels highlighted a common message: India’s healthcare transformation will require more than technological innovation.
Strong execution, skilled talent, operational excellence and sustainable business models will be essential to building the next generation of healthcare enterprises.
