In this episode of Leaders in Conversation, Roche Diagnostics India General Manager Dr Rishubh Gupta speaks with Dr Kunal Sharma, Vice President of Agilus Diagnostics, regarding the transformative role of digital pathology and artificial intelligence in Indian healthcare. Dr Sharma, often referred to as the “cancer guy,” details his leadership in oncology and his efforts to digitise Agilus’s extensive lab network. He explains how digital pathology serves as a technological revolution, allowing for seamless global consultations, reducing the need for physical tissue transport, and preserving precious biopsy samples for advanced molecular testing. By shifting from traditional microscopes to digital monitors, the industry is bridging geographical gaps and ensuring that expert opinions from major hubs like Mumbai can reach patients in remote areas or international markets.
The conversation also addresses the practical challenges and future aspirations of integrating AI into diagnostic workflows. Dr Sharma emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a “co-pilot” rather than a competitor, assisting pathologists by triaging cases, reducing inter-observer variability, and providing precise calculations for prognostic markers like Ki-67 and HER2. Despite initial hurdles such as high infrastructure costs and the need for staff retraining, he argues that the increased efficiency and accuracy ultimately benefit patient welfare. Looking ahead, Dr Sharma envisions a standardised ecosystem where digital quality control and AI-driven insights are the norm, empowering every pathologist in India to deliver faster, more objective, and highly personalised diagnostic results.
