The need for doctor-led innovation

The world of medicine is evolving at an unprecedented pace, fuelled by advancements in artificial intelligence, digital health, and personalised medicine. However, despite the transformative changes, medical professionals often find themselves on the periphery of innovation. Engineers and entrepreneurs increasingly shape the future of healthcare, while doctors are largely confined to their roles as service providers, rather than creators of new medical solutions. This paradigm needs to change if we are to foster the next generation of medical breakthroughs and solve the pressing challenges of our time.

Why doctors must innovate

Medical professionals, with their deep understanding of patient care, clinical workflows, and treatment protocols, are ideally positioned to drive innovation. Healthcare systems worldwide are under increasing pressure to meet the demands of rising patient populations, chronic diseases, and limited resources. By leveraging their insights, doctors can create solutions that address these systemic issues. Doctor-led innovation would ensure that new technologies are not only groundbreaking but also clinically applicable.

However, medical professionals face several obstacles in becoming entrepreneurs. The demanding nature of medical practice, combined with patient care and administrative responsibilities, leaves little time for innovation. Medicine is also inherently risk-averse, to ensure the safest possible care. This cautious mindset contrasts sharply with the risk-taking required in innovation. The discomfort with uncertainty and failure can deter doctors from pursuing entrepreneurship.

Moreover, a lack of exposure to financial management and product development further hinders doctors’ transition into entrepreneurship. Medical education is primarily clinical, leaving professionals unprepared for the complexities of creating healthcare solutions. Many doctors also perceive innovation as the domain of engineers. Despite these challenges, successful examples of doctors who have become deep-tech entrepreneurs show that combining both areas is possible.

While starting a clinic or hospital is a form of entrepreneurship, the primarily focus is on conventional service delivery rather than disruptive innovation. While clinics and hospitals enhance healthcare access, they do not fundamentally transform medical practice. True innovation involves developing new treatment methods, medical devices, or digital health solutions that redefine patient care.

This means medical colleges must introduce courses in entrepreneurship, bio-design, and digital health. The curriculum should encourage entrepreneurial thinking alongside clinical practice. Interdisciplinary collaborations between medical and engineering students would enable doctors to understand product development while allowing engineers to gain clinical insights. Innovation hubs and incubators should support problem-solving in healthcare.

Internships in biotech incubators should be integrated into medical education, exposing doctors to startup environments and the commercialisation of healthcare innovations. Hospitals should establish innovation hubs to help doctors test new ideas. Mentorship programmes must connect medical professionals with engineers and funding sources to help them navigate regulatory pathways. Government incentives and streamlined regulatory processes should support med-tech startups to ensure financial and bureaucratic barriers do not stifle innovation.

In India, MedTech entrepreneurs benefit from a wide array of supportive systems aimed at fostering innovation and growth. Government initiatives such as the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, Startup India, and Atal Innovation Mission offer funding, grants, and infrastructure support, while incubators such as the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms, Venture Center, and the Bangalore Bioinnovation Centre, provide mentorship, research and development facilities, and financial assistance. The Make in India initiative supports MedTech entrepreneurs by promoting local manufacturing, reducing reliance on imports, and offering incentives such as tax benefits and easier regulatory approvals for domestic production of medical devices. Academic collaborations with institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science drive innovation through research partnerships. The India Health Fund, supported by Tata Trusts, finances innovations in healthcare, particularly in infectious diseases.

The path forward

Innovation in healthcare is no longer optional; it is essential. Doctors must take charge, not just as caregivers but as entrepreneurs and problem-solvers. To facilitate this shift, medical professionals should enrol in short-term courses on product development. Hospitals and medical associations should foster an environment that is innovation-friendly by establishing dedicated funds and organising events where doctors can present ideas to investors. De-stigmatising failure in medical entrepreneurship is crucial. Just as failed experiments contribute to scientific progress, unsuccessful startups provide lessons for future success. The medical community must embrace calculated risk-taking and take ownership of healthcare’s future. The white coat should not only represent clinical expertise but also leadership in healthcare innovation.