Dr Abhay Chopada: Brewing Up the Much Awaited Paradigm Shift in the Global Healthcare Landscape
Dr Abhay Chopada
Consultant Surgeon
To add to the astonishment, the AI doctor switched to English instantly when requested. Dr Abhay Chopada, Consultant Surgeon, Gastrosurgery UK and Axonic Health, envisions revolutionizing global healthcare through Axonic Health.
According to him, even such a priceless interaction is just the tip of the iceberg regarding the capabilities of his brainchild, Axonic Health. From instantly available medical records that can save patients during medical emergencies and novel revolutionary concepts like Health ATM and advanced AI Personal Doctors, Dr Abhay is hosting a paradigm shift in global healthcare.
Dr Abhay began his medical career in Pune, India, in 1983, graduating from BJ Medical College with a gold medal in his Master’s in General Surgery. He served as a Lecturer in Surgery from 1992 to 1993 before moving to the UK in 1993. Dr Abhay completed extensive surgical training in London in the North East Thames area. During his registrar career, he went on to achieve multiple FRCS qualifications, including England, Ireland, and General Surgery.
Subsequently, Dr Abhay also pursued research in molecular biology, specializing in surgical oncology, and earned a Master's in Surgical Sciences from the University of London.
His work at the Institute of Cancer Research contributed to advancements in colorectal cancer biomarkers. As a Consultant Surgeon at Ealing Hospital (2003–2017), he led colorectal surgery initiatives, postgraduate medical education, and training programs. His dedication extended to leadership roles, including serving as Clinical Lead and active involvement with BAPIO.
Currently a Visiting Professor at Symbiosis University, Dr Abhay is also the London Chair of BAPIO. Recognized with numerous accolades, including the Tatlers Awards for several consecutive years, and nominated for the prestigious Padma Awards, which exemplify excellence in their field. Beyond medicine, this passionate medical professional is deeply committed to charitable and social initiatives, bringing impactful contributions to communities locally and globally. Below is an excerpt from our recent interview with Dr Abhay.
You ventured into this grand plan to revolutionize healthcare for the world in 2017. Tell us about the inspirations that led you to embark on this amazing journey.
Global healthcare today is a colossal $13 trillion industry, second only to defense. But when we critically evaluate its structure, we see inefficiencies that make healthcare unnecessarily expensive and inaccessible. These inefficiencies boil down to three major challenges, namely access, availability, and affordability.
Let’s take access. Imagine having severe abdominal pain at 2 AM, you can’t call your trusted doctor. Instead, you must visit a hospital and settle for whoever is available, and even this is a significant luxury only available to the urban population.
Globally, 60 percent of the population, over 4 billion people, cannot access healthcare when needed. They must wait till dawn. This lack of accessibility and availability leads to delays in care, which leads to self-treatment, worsening conditions, and a staggering $6 trillion wasted globally each year.
Affordability is equally concerning. In India, 60 percent of families risk lifelong poverty following a single hospitalization. A bill of one or two lakh rupees forces families into debt traps and lifelong financial burdens. Despite this, many overlook the deeper implications of such systemic flaws.
To address these issues, looking into what other industries have done to improve efficiency and access is important. Take banking, for instance. 30 years ago, every transaction required a physical visit to a bank. Then came ATMs and digital solutions, revolutionizing access. Today, banking operates seamlessly through a global network, with 70 percent of physical branches gone.
Healthcare remains where banking once was, fragmented and reliant on outdated systems. Suppose we can replicate banking’s transformation in healthcare, leveraging real-time data and smart solutions. In that case, we can enhance access, ensure the availability of skilled professionals at the right time, and make care more affordable. It’s time for healthcare to evolve and rise to meet the needs of the people it serves.
We are excited to hear about the solution you came up with. What fixes these three inefficiencies?
Effective and efficient healthcare begins with accurate, accessible patient information. Imagine fainting suddenly and arriving at a hospital where no prior medical records are available. The doctor is forced to conduct unnecessary and expensive tests simply because they lack critical background details, like whether you’re diabetic or have a history of fainting.
With access to your medical history, a simple intervention like administering sugar for hypoglycemia could save your life in seconds, eliminating the need for costly tests and hospital visits. The difference between a hospital bill of ₹50,000 and a chocolate of ₹10 is insanely huge.
On the other hand, consider a patient allergic to a specific medication but unable to recall its name. If given the wrong medication, they could experience a fatal anaphylactic shock.
To bridge this gap, we founded Axonic Health. Our mission is to empower patients with access to their complete medical records, 24/7, 365 days a year, in any language. Whether consulting a Kannada-speaking doctor in Bengaluru or seeking care from a Japanese-speaking doctor in Tokyo, their records are instantly accessible and translated into the appropriate language.
Additionally, we pioneered the concept of Health ATMs, enabling patients to connect with their preferred doctors anywhere in the world. Imagine being in Japan and feeling unwell, yet accessing your doctor in Bengaluru through a Health ATM for a virtual examination. Consider another scenario. If you’re advised to undergo surgery urgently. With your medical file accessible through a Health ATM, you can instantly seek a second opinion from a trusted doctor anywhere in the world. This not only safeguards you from unnecessary procedures but can also save significant costs and, potentially, your life.
Our vision is to enhance lives by making medical information universally available and fostering accurate, efficient, and lifesaving healthcare systems.
Affordability is equally concerning. In India, 60 percent of families risk lifelong poverty following a single hospitalization. A bill of one or two lakh rupees forces families into debt traps and lifelong financial burdens. Despite this, many overlook the deeper implications of such systemic flaws.
To address these issues, looking into what other industries have done to improve efficiency and access is important. Take banking, for instance. 30 years ago, every transaction required a physical visit to a bank. Then came ATMs and digital solutions, revolutionizing access. Today, banking operates seamlessly through a global network, with 70 percent of physical branches gone.
Healthcare remains where banking once was, fragmented and reliant on outdated systems. Suppose we can replicate banking’s transformation in healthcare, leveraging real-time data and smart solutions. In that case, we can enhance access, ensure the availability of skilled professionals at the right time, and make care more affordable. It’s time for healthcare to evolve and rise to meet the needs of the people it serves.
The idea is to deliver convenient, efficient, and personalized healthcare while reducing stress and dependency, creating a system that truly caters to every patient’s needs
We are excited to hear about the solution you came up with. What fixes these three inefficiencies?
Effective and efficient healthcare begins with accurate, accessible patient information. Imagine fainting suddenly and arriving at a hospital where no prior medical records are available. The doctor is forced to conduct unnecessary and expensive tests simply because they lack critical background details, like whether you’re diabetic or have a history of fainting.
With access to your medical history, a simple intervention like administering sugar for hypoglycemia could save your life in seconds, eliminating the need for costly tests and hospital visits. The difference between a hospital bill of ₹50,000 and a chocolate of ₹10 is insanely huge.
On the other hand, consider a patient allergic to a specific medication but unable to recall its name. If given the wrong medication, they could experience a fatal anaphylactic shock.
To bridge this gap, we founded Axonic Health. Our mission is to empower patients with access to their complete medical records, 24/7, 365 days a year, in any language. Whether consulting a Kannada-speaking doctor in Bengaluru or seeking care from a Japanese-speaking doctor in Tokyo, their records are instantly accessible and translated into the appropriate language.
Additionally, we pioneered the concept of Health ATMs, enabling patients to connect with their preferred doctors anywhere in the world. Imagine being in Japan and feeling unwell, yet accessing your doctor in Bengaluru through a Health ATM for a virtual examination. Consider another scenario. If you’re advised to undergo surgery urgently. With your medical file accessible through a Health ATM, you can instantly seek a second opinion from a trusted doctor anywhere in the world. This not only safeguards you from unnecessary procedures but can also save significant costs and, potentially, your life.
Our vision is to enhance lives by making medical information universally available and fostering accurate, efficient, and lifesaving healthcare systems.
You are only a few months into deploying these solutions. Tell us about the progress you have made.
Our clinics are operational, and we’ve launched a fully functional Health ATM, which is now being globally deployed. You can visit our clinic in Pune to witness it firsthand. Though only a few months into this journey, we are actively scaling up and utilizing funds to expand globally.
The impact extends beyond India. In regions like Africa, healthcare is scarce, and children die from easily curable diseases like diarrhea. Health ATMs enable a mother to connect with a doctor who speaks her native language and is located in Mumbai or Bengaluru. This saves countless lives.
Realizing that patients alone cannot drive change, we developed solutions for doctors and hospitals. For doctors, we’ve automated tasks like prescription generation and lab orders, allowing them to focus on patient care. Hospitals can now seamlessly switch languages, enabling consultations in, say, Kannada while the doctor hears it in Marathi, which is a breakthrough in multilingual communication.
Beyond clinical roles, we’ve introduced avatars capable of handling tasks like billing, coding, and other administrative functions, streamlining operations for healthcare providers. Our platform has already facilitated over 10 million transactions.
In December 2024, you achieved another milestone by launching the world’s first medical AI agents. Where are we headed with regards to AI-powered healthcare?
AI agents are not just an innovation, it’s the future of healthcare, where access, transparency, and efficiency converge to make a global impact.
Imagine having a doctor in your pocket, someone who knows your medical history and can provide private, personalized advice anytime, including addressing emotional struggles or offering support during difficult times. This level of accessibility and trust can be life-changing. We launched this system just three months ago, ensuring seamless healthcare access for all.
On the other hand, our Health ATM anticipates everything a patient might need, from ultrasounds to blood tests. If a virtual doctor determines that hospital care is necessary, the system automatically schedules an appointment and even books an Uber. Additionally, mobility is often a challenge for elderly individuals. To address this, we’ve developed a home version of the Health ATM called the Home Port. It brings the hospital into the comfort of your home, eliminating the need to travel.
This transformative approach guarantees that even the most remote or vulnerable individuals can access comprehensive medical support with ease. The idea is simple yet powerful, which is to deliver convenient, efficient, and personalized healthcare while reducing stress and dependency, creating a system that truly caters to every patient’s needs.
Dr Abhay Chopada, Consultant Surgeon, Axonic Health & Gatrosurgery UK
Dr Abhay began his medical career in Pune, India, in 1983, graduating from BJ Medical College with a gold medal in his Master’s in General Surgery. He served as a Lecturer in Surgery from 1992 to 1993 before moving to the UK in 1993. With matchless healthcare experience, he co-founded Axonic Health with a mission to revolutionize global healthcare.
He has pioneered the healthtech revolution by developing a complete end-to-end healthcare data mobility platform, which extends the power of traditional hospital information systems to connect with a global care network, integrating healthatms and transnational care provision. He has also pioneered the creation and integration of medical specialty AI bots that truly can transform healthcare access and affordability.
Our clinics are operational, and we’ve launched a fully functional Health ATM, which is now being globally deployed. You can visit our clinic in Pune to witness it firsthand. Though only a few months into this journey, we are actively scaling up and utilizing funds to expand globally.
The impact extends beyond India. In regions like Africa, healthcare is scarce, and children die from easily curable diseases like diarrhea. Health ATMs enable a mother to connect with a doctor who speaks her native language and is located in Mumbai or Bengaluru. This saves countless lives.
Realizing that patients alone cannot drive change, we developed solutions for doctors and hospitals. For doctors, we’ve automated tasks like prescription generation and lab orders, allowing them to focus on patient care. Hospitals can now seamlessly switch languages, enabling consultations in, say, Kannada while the doctor hears it in Marathi, which is a breakthrough in multilingual communication.
Beyond clinical roles, we’ve introduced avatars capable of handling tasks like billing, coding, and other administrative functions, streamlining operations for healthcare providers. Our platform has already facilitated over 10 million transactions.
In December 2024, you achieved another milestone by launching the world’s first medical AI agents. Where are we headed with regards to AI-powered healthcare?
AI agents are not just an innovation, it’s the future of healthcare, where access, transparency, and efficiency converge to make a global impact.
Imagine having a doctor in your pocket, someone who knows your medical history and can provide private, personalized advice anytime, including addressing emotional struggles or offering support during difficult times. This level of accessibility and trust can be life-changing. We launched this system just three months ago, ensuring seamless healthcare access for all.
On the other hand, our Health ATM anticipates everything a patient might need, from ultrasounds to blood tests. If a virtual doctor determines that hospital care is necessary, the system automatically schedules an appointment and even books an Uber. Additionally, mobility is often a challenge for elderly individuals. To address this, we’ve developed a home version of the Health ATM called the Home Port. It brings the hospital into the comfort of your home, eliminating the need to travel.
This transformative approach guarantees that even the most remote or vulnerable individuals can access comprehensive medical support with ease. The idea is simple yet powerful, which is to deliver convenient, efficient, and personalized healthcare while reducing stress and dependency, creating a system that truly caters to every patient’s needs.
Dr Abhay Chopada, Consultant Surgeon, Axonic Health & Gatrosurgery UK
Dr Abhay began his medical career in Pune, India, in 1983, graduating from BJ Medical College with a gold medal in his Master’s in General Surgery. He served as a Lecturer in Surgery from 1992 to 1993 before moving to the UK in 1993. With matchless healthcare experience, he co-founded Axonic Health with a mission to revolutionize global healthcare.
He has pioneered the healthtech revolution by developing a complete end-to-end healthcare data mobility platform, which extends the power of traditional hospital information systems to connect with a global care network, integrating healthatms and transnational care provision. He has also pioneered the creation and integration of medical specialty AI bots that truly can transform healthcare access and affordability.