ICMR Scientist Honoured at HealthAIcon 2026 for Advancing Affordable Healthcare Innovation in India
Scientist Dr Rucha Patil has been honoured with the prestigious Phoenix Award at HealthAIcon 2026 for her groundbreaking contributions to affordable diagnostics, rare disease research, and patient-centred healthcare innovation.
The award was presented by Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson of National Medical Commission and President of National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, along with Dr Anil Kohli and Dr Sanghamitra Pati during an event held at Hotel Eros on May 17, 2026.
Leading Researcher in Bleeding Disorders and Rare Diseases
Currently serving as Scientist-D at ICMR-National Institute of Immunohaematology, now known as ICMR-NIRBID, Dr Patil is among India’s leading researchers working in bleeding disorders and rare diseases.
With nearly 15 years of experience in translational hematology research, her work focuses on improving access to affordable diagnosis and treatment for patients suffering from disorders such as Hemophilia A and G6PD deficiency.
Low-Cost Diagnostic Kits Reduce Testing Costs Dramatically
One of Dr Patil’s most significant achievements is the development of low-cost point-of-care diagnostic kits for G6PD deficiency and FVIII inhibitor detection in haemophilia patients.
These rapid diagnostic kits, based on lateral flow immunoassay technology, have reduced testing costs from nearly ₹2,000–₹6,000 to approximately ₹250. Her rapid G6PD screening test is also expected to cost around ₹25 per test, making affordable public health screening possible even in remote and resource-limited settings.
The technology enables quick diagnosis within 20 minutes without requiring advanced laboratory infrastructure, helping district hospitals and primary healthcare centres improve early disease detection.
Research on Low-Dose Emicizumab Gains International Recognition
Dr Patil has also earned international recognition for her research on low-dose Emicizumab prophylaxis in Hemophilia A patients.
Her research demonstrated that less than half the standard dose could deliver outcomes comparable to conventional therapy while significantly reducing treatment costs. According to Dr Patil, more than 2,000 patients are already benefiting from the low-dose regimen.
The findings have contributed to policy discussions around affordable hemophilia care in India and other resource-limited countries.
“Patient Interactions Changed My Perspective”: Dr Patil
Speaking exclusively to Health Dialogues Managing Editor Deshbandhu Singh, Dr Patil said her journey into bleeding disorder research began during her PhD at ICMR-NIIH.
She recalled witnessing children suffering from severe brain bleeds, damaged joints, and families travelling long distances simply to access diagnosis and treatment.
According to Dr Patil, these patient experiences motivated her to work on affordable diagnostics and accessible treatment strategies for rare bleeding disorders.
India Still Faces Major Underdiagnosis of Hemophilia
Highlighting the current healthcare challenges, Dr Patil said India is estimated to have nearly 1.4 lakh haemophilia patients, but only around 29,000 are formally registered.
She noted that advanced coagulation testing remains limited to a few specialised centres because of expensive infrastructure and technical expertise requirements.
According to her, delayed diagnosis often results in repeated joint bleeds, disability, and life-threatening brain haemorrhages, while early diagnosis and prophylactic treatment can significantly improve patients’ quality of life.
Point-of-Care Testing Can Transform Rural Healthcare
Dr Patil emphasised that point-of-care testing can play a major role in strengthening India’s healthcare system by enabling rapid and decentralised screening for bleeding disorders such as haemophilia and Von Willebrand Disease (VWD).
She said efforts are underway to make these diagnostic kits available through platforms such as the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), allowing district hospitals and primary healthcare centres to procure them more easily.
According to her, the long-term goal is to move advanced diagnostics beyond urban speciality centres and ensure equitable healthcare access at the grassroots level.
Government-Industry Collaboration Crucial for Healthcare Innovation
Dr Patil stressed that collaboration between government research institutes and industry is essential for translating scientific innovation into real-world healthcare impact.
She explained that institutions like ICMR contribute expertise in disease biology and early-stage technology development, while industry partners help with manufacturing, quality assurance, and commercialization.
Emotional Patient Stories Continue to Inspire Research
Recalling some of the most emotional moments in her career, Dr Patil said counselling parents after severe bleeding disorder diagnoses was often heartbreaking, especially in cases involving uncontrolled bleeding.
However, she added that newer therapies such as low-dose Emicizumab are now transforming lives, with children attending school regularly and adults returning to normal social and professional lives.
Vision for Rare Disease Care in India
Sharing her long-term vision, Dr Patil said the future of bleeding disorder care in India lies in affordable diagnostics, indigenous technologies, cost-optimised research, and wider access to low-cost therapeutics.
She added that India has strong potential to develop “Make in India” biosimilars, innovative diagnostics, and affordable treatment models capable of improving rare disease care nationwide.
