Those Who Made It Happen: Champions of Digital Health

by Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta

8 min readAugust 15, 2025

Those Who Made It Happen: Champions of Digital Health

We owe it to those who guided us to make www.globalsummit.health one of the world's most impactful summits on #DigitalHealth. Here is a list of those personalities who have inspired and helped along the way. We believe that it is our collective responsibility to take this movement forward to help transform health.

Champions of Digital Health: Technology Visionaries Who Drove Change

1. Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
A Long Walk for Digitalization

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision to take healthcare to everyone's doorstep. To fulfill the vision, he has spearheaded a nationwide digital health infrastructure through Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, rolling out nearly 800 million unique health IDs and interoperable digital medical records across India. His leadership has powered platforms like eSanjeevani, delivering over 300 million telemedicine consultations, improving healthcare access at scale.

I had the rare opportunity to discuss various schemes and programs with PM Modi, and today, when I reflect, he has made #India a world leader in Digital Health. He remains an inspiration not just for India, but for the world.

2. Mr. J. P. Nadda

Mr. J. P. Nadda
Mr. J. P. Nadda
On the same wavelength

As Health Minister, J. P. Nadda, pushed for the digitalization of healthcare. If one health minister can claim to have pushed for the boldest reforms in healthcare, Mr. J.P. Nadda would stand tallest. I had a rare chance to serve as an advisor from 2016-2018. During that period, we launched several path-breaking initiatives — from the first resolution on mHealth at the World Health Organization, to the world's largest health insurance scheme, the country's National Digital Health Mission, and, of course, the National Health Policy.

3. Vint Cerf

Vint Cerf
Vint Cerf
Having a conversation with the founder of Internet is so inspiring

As a co-creator of the TCP/IP protocols, Vint Cerf laid the foundation of the modern Internet—an indispensable platform that powers telehealth, remote diagnostics, global data sharing, and the entire digital health infrastructure. I am so fortunate to be able to have his counsel on important issues regarding the future of jobs in the age of #Internet & #artificialintelligence.

4. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (WHO DG)

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
We have been aligned for the vision 'Digital Health for All'

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has championed digital health as a core enabler of universal health coverage. Under his leadership, WHO extended its Global Digital Health Strategy, emphasizing equitable access, telehealth expansion, and digital innovation worldwide.

5. Bakul Patel

Bakul Patel
Bakul Patel
Bakul is a man with a mission

As the architect behind the U.S. FDA's Digital Health Center of Excellence (DHCoE), Bakul Patel has shaped regulatory standards for digital tools—including mobile medical apps and Software as a Medical Device (SaMD)—ensuring innovation meets safety and reliability. For most of us, he remains a great motivation. He has been a strong supporter of www.globalsummit.health.

6. Aneesh Chopra

Aneesh Chopra
Aneesh Chopra
With Aneesh Chopra and Ed Simcox

The first Chief Technology Officer of the United States of America, and the Assistant to the US. President, Aneesh Chopra made the biggest push for #healthIT, which paved the way for the large-scale deployment of #digitalhealth. I hosted him in India in 2011, when he was serving as CTO of the United States. I cherish his friendship and his support in shaping the digital health journey for India.

7. Bernardo Mariano Jr

Bernardo Mariano Jr
Bernardo Mariano Jr
Bernardo Mariano Jr, CTO, United Nations & Assistant Secretary General, UN

Bernardo Mariano Jr and I met when he was at the World Health Organization. We have been friends since then. He has played a key role in shaping the policies and programs for digital health. Though his remit has widened a lot more, he takes out time to meet and discuss. Last year, he delivered an address at the Global Digital Health Summit, Expo & Innovation Awards.

8. Dr. Thomas Zeltner

Dr. Thomas Zeltner
Dr. Thomas Zeltner
Memories of a lifetime

Thomas Zeltner and I worked together at the Global Agenda Council for Digital Health at the World Economic Forum in 2012. Since then, we became friends, and I meet him at least twice every year for this advice. He has been a great support and inspiration. He is the founding Chairman of the Board at the WHO Foundation.

9. Lord Nigel Crisp

Lord Nigel Crisp
Lord Nigel Crisp
One of the greatest reformers

Nigel and I go a long way. I hosted him in India in 2011. He is the former CEO of NHS England and the Permanent Secretary of Health. His meetings have been truly inspiring. I continue to seek his wisdom on healthcare transformation. Read his books!

10. Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi (DCGI, CDSCO, Government of India)

Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi
Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi
Innovative Regulator

As the Drugs Controller General of India, Dr. Raghuvanshi has become a pivotal advocate for bridging the digital divide in healthcare. At the Global Digital Health Summit 2024, he emphasized that digital health must transcend urban centers and reach rural India, highlighting the need for inclusive models that prioritize access and affordability.

He also supported the launch of a Professional Development Program in Digital Health for pharmacists—training them with digital tools to enhance pharmaceutical care and patient outcomes—underscoring the vital role of allied healthcare professionals in the digital transformation. Dr. Rajeev Raghuvanshi and I go a long way, perhaps 25 years as friends.

11. Alain Labrique

Dr. Alain Labrique
Dr. Alain Labrique
A friendship that started when i had a lot more hairs!

Dr. Alain Labrique has advanced digital health through leadership in digital health initiatives, research, and evidence-driven digital interventions. As founding Editor-in-Chief of Oxford Open Digital Health, he's shaped policy discourse around AI, gender equity, and sustainable digital systems. Today, he runs Digital Health for the world. Most of you have heard him at the www.globalsummit.health.

12. Dr. Joseph Kvedar

Dr. Joseph Kvedar
Dr. Joseph Kvedar
Pioneer of Connected Health

He coined the term 'Connected Health'. An early adopter and evangelist of telehealth and connected care, Dr. Kvedar has pioneered virtual care models and played a key role in telehealth reimbursement frameworks. As Editor-in-Chief of npj Digital Medicine, he continues to influence both clinical adoption and academic discourse in digital health. We served on the Care Continuum Alliance board, USA, from 2007 to 2014.

13. Dr. Mohsin Khan

Dr. Mohsin Khan
Dr. Mohsin Khan
Dr. Mohsin Khan

As the Chancellor of the Era University, he is the kind of leader #India needs for healthcare transformation. His support for the www.globalsummit.health is unwavering.

14. Nikhil Taneja

Mr. Nikhil Taneja
Mr. Nikhil Taneja
Selfless Service to the Nation

Nikhil Taneja has been a strong pillar of support for his commitment to the safe and secure digitalization of India. He is one of the strongest supporters of www.globalsummit.health.

15. Sanjiv Navangul

Mr. Sanjiv Navangul
Mr. Sanjiv Navangul
Large Canvas Thinker

Sanjiv is a leader par excellence. He represents not just pharma but the entire healthcare. Moreover, he is the one who understands the impact of Digital Health. One of the strongest supporters of the Global Digital Health Summit. Wish we had more leaders like him in Healthcare.

16. Tobias Silberzahn

Dr. Tobias Silberzahn
Dr. Tobias Silberzahn
Influential Voice in HealthTech

Tobias Silberzahn is a great influencer in #healthtech. He runs the Health-Tech network in the EU. He has been a great contributor to the success of the www.globalsummit.health.

Join the Movement

You will meet most of these leaders at www.globalsummit.health. That is why I say, this summit is for PEOPLE WHO MATTER.

If you are into Digital Health, join me and other global leaders in Mumbai from 19th to 21st September.

See you.

Dr. Rajendra Pratap Gupta, PhD

https://www.globalsummit.health


#leadership #healthcaretransformation #digitalhealth #healthtech #medtech #pharma #hospitals #futureofmedicine #futureofsurgery #artificialintelligence #technologydrivencare

© 2020 - 2024 Global Digital Health Summit

Privacy PolicyTerms & Conditions