Live from the mHealth Summit, Washington DC: Leading Asian healthcare provider Apollo Hospitals Group has pointed to the critical role mobile technology can play for its operations in markets such as India. Sangita Reddy (pictured), Apollo’s executive director for operations, said the “timing is perfect for mhealth” for a group which runs hospitals, clinics and pharmacies.  She also noted the benefits of mobile’s “frugal innovation” for a market such as India. Timing is good, she said, because of the “symbiotic” relationship between healthcare providers and mobile operators, as well as well as the wireless industry’s fast-growing penetration and cloud-based capabilities.

However, there are challenges for the burgeoning healthcare-mobile industry relationship which include settling on an approach to pricing; a complex stakeholder model; lack of integrated services; changing entrenched mindsets; establishing a leader of the ecosystem; and incentivising doctors for a mobile health-oriented change.