The Wadhwani Initiative for Sustainable Health (WISH) is delighted to announce the launch of the Wadhwani- Institute for Digital Health (W-IDH) in India, a revolutionary endeavour to modernise the country’s digital health infrastructure. The institute will focus on a range of objectives, such as developing an open-source database of digital health tools and platforms, building a network with stakeholders in India to identify potential financial avenues for the National Digital Health Ecosystem, and constructing Digital Innovation Labs to localise, implement and monitor Digital Health Technologies. Additionally, W-IDH will use Artificial Intelligence and data management to solve real-world issues.
Dr Rakesh Kumar, the new CEO of WISH, commented on the institute’s launch, saying: “The creation of W-IDH represents a landmark moment in India’s digital health journey. Our mission is to utilize this institute to expedite the adoption of high-quality universal health coverage through technology, thus optimizing cost efficiencies and improving patient outcomes.” This appointment comes at a crucial time, as WISH strives to use technology to provide comprehensive healthcare to those in need.
Dr Kumar is a highly experienced global health leader with a background in Medicine, Ophthalmology, Global Health, Public Administration and Management. He has worked in policy and program implementation with the Government of India, State Governments, UN agencies and more. Furthermore, WISH seeks to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, and will act as a hub for technology and innovation, connecting the worldwide digital health ecosystem.
WISH is a non-profit organisation in India that works to provide quality primary healthcare to all, by developing and scaling innovative models. It supports over 1000 digital health and wellness centres in various urban and rural areas, having served over 30 million patients. The foundation has also set up an Innovation Unit at the National Health Authority of India (NHA) to facilitate piloting and testing of digital health solutions, as well as data intelligence.
Dr Kumar’s appointment as CEO of WISH marks a new era of growth and transformation, as the organisation strives to leverage technology to deliver high-quality healthcare to those in need.