Two months ago, we identified an inflexion point in India’s health ecosystem – the early emergence of healthtech 2.0. As we reported then, the new era for the sector heralds the pivot from episodic care to longevity, prevention, and continuous health optimisation.

What started as a founder-driven, startup-led movement has now caught the attention of global tech giants. Over the past month, this shift has crystallised even more.

In quick succession, two major global platforms launched health-focused services in India last month. OpenAI rolled out ChatGPT Health, a dedicated interface that can integrate health trackers and help users maintain electronic medical records. Apple launched Fitness in India, expanding its subscription-based fitness and wellness offerings.

Individually, these launches may appear small. However, together, they signal something structural – global big tech giants are viewing India not just as a device market but as a services-led health and wellness opportunity.

Why India, Why Now?

OpenAI’s launch note for ChatGPT Health highlighted that health and wellness already rank among the most common use cases for the chatbot, generating hundreds of millions of queries weekly.

India’s relevance is obvious. The country, while being ChatGPT’s second-largest market globally, continues to grapple with a chronically low doctor-to-population ratio. In this context, a conversational AI-driven health interface is less of........

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