In India, getting a diagnosis is the easy part. The hard part starts when the patient leaves the clinic. For millions dealing with chronic diseases, the lack of monitoring at home leads to missed medication, worsening conditions, and avoidable hospital visits.

Could the solution be an app that acts like medicine? In this interaction with Drug Today's Rajeev Choudhury, Ayush Jain, CEO of Mindbowser, explains why "Digital Therapeutics" are more than just fitness trackers—and how they could be the bridge India’s healthcare system desperately needs.

 Drug Today Online: India has made progress in diagnosis and acute care, yet outcomes for chronic diseases remain poor. From your perspective, what happens to patients after they leave the doctor’s clinic that the healthcare system currently fails to track or support?

Ayush Jain (AJ): Typically, healthcare is delivered in brief, intermittent episodes. A patient visits the doctor, gets a diagnosis, receives a prescription and then goes home. After that, the system largely loses sight of them.

Doctors often do not know whether patients are taking medicines on time, following lifestyle advice, or noticing early warning signs. This gap between clinic visits is where most problems begin, especially long-term illnesses like diabetes, heart disease or asthma.

Daily life takes over. Patients forget medicines, skip follow-ups or stop prioritising their health. When they finally return to the doctor, their condition has often worsened. The current situation leads to stronger drugs, hospitalisations, and higher costs. What is missing is ongoing support during this long, silent period.

 Drug Today Online: “Digital therapeutics” is often used loosely. In practical, clinical terms, how do digital therapeutics differ from wellness apps, teleconsultation platforms, or simple medication reminders?

AJ: Digital treatments are very different from fitness applications or video consultations. Their goal is more than just entertainment or convenience; they are intended to treat or manage a medical condition.

Unlike wellness applications, which promote overall health, digital treatments complement a doctor's treatment plan. They are based on medical evidence and aim to achieve real-world results such as improved drug adherence, symptom management, and a lower risk of consequences.

They also adjust to the patient's behaviour. If someone skips doses or shows warning signs, the system responds. Doctors receive useful insights, not raw data. The key difference is accountability. Digital therapeutics aim to improve health outcomes, not just screen time.

Drug Today Online: Much of the conversation around digital health is aspirational. What evidence—global or Indian—actually exists today showing that digital therapeutics improve adherence or reduce hospitalisations?

AJ: Globally, digital therapeutics are already being used in diabetes, heart disease, asthma and mental health. Studies show they help patients take medicines regularly, manage symptoms better and avoid emergency hospital visits.

In India, large published studies are still emerging. However, real-world use by hospitals, insurers and employers shows clear benefits. Follow-up rates have improved, and problems are being detected earlier.

At Mindbowser, we partnered with a mental wellness startup to build a digital therapeutics platform for anxiety and depression. It uses simple cognitive therapy tools, mood tracking and an easy daily interface. The result was a 60% improvement in therapy adherence and 40% higher user retention.

These experiences show that digital treatment routes are most effective when integrated into standard medical treatments, rather than being considered an optional or additional way of treating people.

India’s healthcare system is fragmented and resource-constrained. What aspects of digital therapeutics realistically work in the Indian context, and what do not?

In India, digital therapeutics must be made simple and affordable, and these should be solutions that work on basic smartphones, use less data, and support regional languages to make them user-friendly and usher in health equity.

What does not work is copying complex models from wealthier countries. Heavy reliance on wearables, complicated interfaces or frequent doctor interventions is difficult to sustain. In India, simplicity is not a limitation. It is a strength.

Drug Today Online: There is concern that digital tools may add to clinicians’ workload or interfere with clinical judgement. How can digital therapeutics be designed to support doctors rather than overwhelm or replace them?

AJ: Doctors are already overworked. Any tool that creates extra paperwork or information overload will fail.

Digital therapeutics should be designed in a way that allows them to quietly do the background work, like data collection, tracking & flagging early risks. They should be acting as a tool for doctors to receive clear summaries and not bog them down with alerts.

The objective is not to substitute human judgement but to enhance it beyond the confines of the clinic. If these tools are executed effectively, they can minimise unnecessary visits to clinics and empower doctors to concentrate on more complex cases.

Drug Today Online: Continuous monitoring generates sensitive patient data. What safeguards are necessary to ensure privacy, informed consent, and ethical use of health data in long-term digital care models?

AJ: It is extremely important that people should have faith in platforms. That is possible only when they transparently share with patients what data is collected, how it is used, and who has access to it. Consent should be clear, adjustable and easy to understand.

Strong standards already exist. HIPAA ensures strict control over health data. FHIR allows secure and permission-based data sharing. When followed properly, these systems reduce misuse and protect patient privacy.

Drug Today Online: Large sections of India’s chronic disease population are elderly, rural, or digitally less literate. How serious is this barrier, and how can digital therapeutics avoid widening healthcare inequities?

AJ: While the digital divide exists, it does not pose a significant obstacle. Well-designed tools can actually improve access.

Platforms that use voice using simple Q&A formats in regional languages and consume low data are likely to ensure mass participation, especially for those who lack advanced skills. Family members and health workers often help patients, and digital tools should support this shared care model.

Drug Today Online: Unlike drugs or devices, digital therapeutics operate in a regulatory grey zone in India. What kind of regulatory clarity or standards are needed to protect patients while encouraging innovation?

AJ: India already has a strong starting point. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act defines consent and patient rights. The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission supports secure data exchange.

Clear guidance on clinical evidence and real-world monitoring would build trust and allow innovation to grow responsibly.

Proponents argue that digital therapeutics can lower long-term healthcare costs. Who actually benefits financially, and where is the risk of cost-shifting?

Everyone can benefit. Patients spend less on complications. Hospitals avoid preventable admissions. Insurers manage long-term risk better.

The challenge is alignment. Often, the payer and the beneficiary are not the same. Without fair reimbursement models, costs may shift instead of falling.

Drug Today Online: If digital therapeutics are to meaningfully improve chronic care outcomes in India over the next five years, what must policymakers, healthcare providers, and technology companies get right—and what mistakes should be avoided?

AJ: India must move from episodic care to continuous care. Policymakers should support interoperability. Healthcare providers must embed digital tools into treatment plans.

Technology companies must focus on outcomes, not just scale. The biggest mistake is chasing reach without impact. Real success will come through trust, adherence, and better long-term health.