IHH Healthcare, one of the world’s largest private hospital operators, has joined hands with its Indian network Fortis Healthcare to introduce “IHH Catalyst | Fortis India Edition,” a national platform designed to speed up healthcare innovation and the adoption of patient-centric technologies across hospitals in India. The initiative supports the Government of India’s Startup India mission and its focus on innovation-led healthcare expansion.
The programme was first introduced last year as the IHH Global Incubator and has now been formalised as IHH Catalyst with Fortis as the India partner. Its aim is to help promising health-tech and med-tech companies progress from small pilot projects to real clinical validation, hospital integration, and large-scale implementation. Operating within the Fortis hospital network and supported by Plug and Play as the innovation partner, the platform combines global expertise with structured startup engagement.
The move highlights IHH and Fortis’ long-term strategy to position India as a global hub for advanced healthcare delivery and medical innovation.
Ashok Pandit, Group Chief Corporate Officer, IHH Healthcare, said India is entering a major transformation phase in healthcare, supported by strong policy backing and a vibrant startup ecosystem. He explained that IHH Catalyst will shift innovation from experimental stages into everyday hospital practice so solutions can be tested, adopted, and expanded. By anchoring the programme in India through Fortis, the group aims to improve patient outcomes, support clinicians, and strengthen healthcare delivery across India and the Asia-Pacific region.
India already hosts one of the fastest-growing healthcare startup ecosystems, addressing issues such as accessibility, affordability, quality, and efficiency of care. However, large-scale hospital adoption has remained a key barrier.
The IHH Catalyst | Fortis India Edition programme directly addresses this challenge by giving startups access to doctors, clinical facilities, and clear validation pathways. The initiative will prioritise execution-ready companies whose technologies can improve clinical workflows, patient outcomes, and operational performance.
As the anchor partner, Fortis will enable close collaboration between startups and its clinical teams so innovations can be tested in real-world hospital settings.
Dr. Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, Managing Director & CEO, Fortis Healthcare, said the future of Indian healthcare depends on successfully integrating innovation into daily medical practice. He added that the programme supports the Startup India vision by connecting startups directly with hospitals, clinicians, and patients, while enabling scalable technology solutions that enhance care quality, efficiency, and access and strengthen India’s standing as a global healthcare destination.
The three-month hybrid programme will combine on-site immersion with virtual mentoring. Selected startups will receive:
- Mentorship from IHH and Fortis leadership, doctors, and specialists
- Pilot opportunities in operational hospitals
- Guidance on regulatory compliance, data security, cybersecurity, and interoperability
- Clear pathways to long-term partnerships, scale-up, and potential investment
Focus Areas and Timeline
The first India cohort will target key healthcare priority areas:
- Patient journey and hospital workflows
- Chronic disease management
- Multidisciplinary care models
- Preventive and predictive healthcare
- Oncology services
The programme will follow a structured evaluation and selection process. Major milestones include:
- 10 February 2026: Official launch and application opening
- 25 March 2026: Announcement of selected startups
- 2 July 2026: In-person Demo Day in Gurugram
The initiative is aimed at early-growth to enterprise-ready startups with solutions suitable for pilots, proof-of-concept testing, and hospital deployment.
Beginning with India, IHH Catalyst is intended to expand into other IHH markets in the future. The platform will allow Indian startups to scale internationally while also contributing to global healthcare innovation and improved patient care worldwide.
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