What if India’s digital health systems were designed not just for women, but with them? That’s the driving thought behind the newly launched ‘IDEAS’ framework from the Max Institute of Healthcare Management (MIHM) at the Indian School of Business (ISB).
Rolled out in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Women’s Collective Forum and the Gates Foundation, the framework brings a startup-like freshness to healthcare policy thinking. IDEAS — Innovation, Digitalisation, Equity, Accessibility, and Security — lays down a playbook for building inclusive, tech-driven health solutions that actually work for women on the ground.
Backed by a whitepaper titled “New Ideas and Innovations for Women’s Health in India,” it aims to bridge gender care gaps through smarter design, data-led governance, and strong regulation. The focus is clear: making digital health not just efficient, but equitable — and giving women a seat at the innovation table.
Each pillar tells a story: Innovation grows from co-creating with women “under a mango tree,” symbolising grassroots collaboration. Digitalisation promotes interoperable and data-driven systems that also speak the language of local culture. Equity ensures solutions are not one-size-fits-all, while Accessibility focuses on tech that truly reaches every woman. Security, the fifth pillar, reinforces trust through regulation and safe data practices.
The whitepaper blends secondary data analysis, policy reviews, and stakeholder insights — mapping women’s health through a life-cycle lens. It identifies barriers through the 5As (Awareness, Accessibility, Affordability, Acceptance, and Accountability), spotlighting how emerging tech and AI can bridge gaps only if algorithms reflect real-world diversity.
“Women’s health is not a marginal issue — it’s central to India’s growth story,” noted Dr. Naresh Trehan, Chairman, CII Healthcare Council and CMD of Medanta–Medicity. Meanwhile, Lead author Dr. Deepshikha Batheja added, “Technology alone cannot close gender gaps unless built on trust, participation, and cultural sensitivity. Inclusivity is the real innovation.”
Beyond digital health, IDEAS is positioned as a cross-cutting model that could transform the larger healthcare system — one that sees women not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders shaping the future of care. The research team included Dr. Deepshikha Batheja, Professor Sarang Deo, Dr. Navsangeet Saini, and Subhiksha from ISB-MIHM, alongside Dr. Priyanka Singh from CII. Together, they call for a collective movement — where every woman in India can access dignified, safe, and tech-powered healthcare that truly listens to her.
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