DigiSwasthya, which provides accessible and affordable telemedicine services in rural areas, was inspired by the lack of healthcare resources in villages, and founder Sandeep Kumar’s own battle with cancer. It’s now having life-saving impacts in rural India.
Manisha Kumari was overwhelmed with fear and despair when she faced a devastating health crisis in 2021. The 22-year-old from Muzaffarpur in Bihar was diagnosed with bone cancer, which affected one of her knees. Her family sought treatment at a hospital in Varanasi, and the doctor delivered a shattering verdict: her leg needed to be amputated.
The young woman turned to her mother, whispering that she didn’t want to live without her leg.
Destiny had another plan for Manisha. At the hospital, she came across a man who introduced her to the telemedicine services offered by DigiSwasthya, an organisation established by his son Sandeep Kumar. He urged her to seek a second opinion through their network of doctors.
Manisha was sceptical, but agreed. The very next day, she had a teleconsultation with a doctor in Mumbai, who advised her to come for a physical examination. After examining her, the Mumbai doctor reassured her that her leg could be saved with appropriate treatment.
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Her relief was immense. She later discovered that the Varanasi doctor had recommended amputation only because he lacked the necessary equipment for the surgery.
“If it were not for DigiSwasthya and Sandeep bhaiya, my leg…,” she said with deep gratitude.
Manisha’s story is just one among many that highlight the life-saving impact of DigiSwasthya — a telemedicine initiative translating to “digital health”, founded by 29-year-old Sandeep, a resident of Kathaicha village in Sant Kabir Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
Sandeep’s journey began in 2007 when he himself faced a severe health crisis. He struggled to get an accurate diagnosis due to the lack of qualified doctors and poorly equipped hospitals in his district.
After six months of wandering from one hospital to another, a biopsy finally revealed that he had Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer. His right humerus (upper arm) bone was replaced, and doctors later confirmed that any further delay in diagnosis would have immobilised him.
“Things started getting painful and one month passed in a battery of tests, a biopsy and six chemotherapy cycles. I had to undergo surgery to replace the humerus bone. The process was draining… I was feeling angry, resigned and full of grief, and wondered whether I would recover,” Sandeep said.
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The treatment cost Rs 4.50 lakh, and Sandeep said he was fortunate to receive help from government agencies, NGOs and support from friends and family.
Sandeep’s recovery at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai was a slow and painful journey. But this experience transformed his life. Determined to give back to society, he began working with social-sector organisations focused on health from 2015 to 2020.
He provided guidance, emotional support and financial aid to hundreds of cancer patients, survivors and their families. Despite making a positive impact, Sandeep felt a deep urge to address rural healthcare challenges.
“I realised that rural areas, where more than 65 percent of India’s 1.4 billion people live, suffered from a severe lack of awareness about health issues and access to healthcare infrastructure. I took a break from my job and started conceptualising DigiSwasthya in 2020. I envisioned a platform that would leverage technology to make primary healthcare affordable and accessible in rural areas,” he said.
Sandeep invested his savings to establish the first DigiSwasthya telemedicine clinic in Sant Kabir Nagar district. He created a safe, hygienic space for patients and hired trained nursing staff. He formed partnerships with doctors from prominent city hospitals and integrated telemedicine software and hardware.
This hybrid medical consultation facility allowed patients to receive consultations from city doctors and get their prescriptions filled at local pharmacies.
The success of the first clinic motivated Sandeep to expand his network. By 2021, DigiSwasthya had partnered with Augnito, a company that offers AI telemedicine solutions.
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Sandeep developed a network of around 30 doctors and medical professionals across the country who volunteer their time to counsel and supervise patients. This service is provided free of cost, making healthcare accessible to those who need it most.
DigiSwasthya addresses a critical gap in rural healthcare. Between 2015 and 2020, Sandeep worked in several cancer-related hospitals, including Tata Memorial Hospital, Wadia Hospital, and KEM Hospital. He guided and supported patients from rural areas, helping them access lodging and food during their treatment. This experience revealed the dire need for a more structured approach to healthcare in underserved regions.
To bridge this gap, Sandeep started by connecting villagers with doctors in cities. Initially, he worked from his home, arranging consultations for 18 people. Encouraged by the positive response, he began organising camps and approaching gram panchayats to raise awareness about teleconsultations. His commitment led him to invest Rs 4 lakh to set up a 200-square-foot teleconsultation centre in his district.
Sandeep’s dedication led to the establishment of five telemedicine centres in districts like Basti in Uttar Pradesh, Muzaffarpur in Bihar, and Palghar and Tekwadi in Maharashtra. He got on board 137 healthcare professionals from renowned hospitals such as AIIMS and Apollo, spanning cities like Ahmedabad, Pune, Lucknow, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Secunderabad and Gorakhpur.
Sandeep was recognised for his efforts by being included recently in the Forbes 30 Under-30 Asia list of achievers under the social impact category. DigiSwasthya Foundation also won the first prize at Youth Colab 2023 awards organised by the United Nations Development Programme, supported by NITI Aayog and Atal Incubation Mission.
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The lead image on top shows a DigiSwasthya health camp being held in a village. (Photo courtesy Sandeep Kumar)
Unnati Sharma is a journalist, writer, and translator. She has worked with ThePrint as a Senior Correspondent specialising in politics, in-depth features, and art and culture stories.
