Bridging the Gap between Technology and Healthcare: Insights from Dr. Manthan Mehta

Sure. So, I think it's been an interesting journey with a lot of unique experiences. I did my medical graduation from Tehran Medical College, and during my MBBS, I became inclined towards medical research, thanks to the Indian Council of Medical Research short-term studentship program. I was fortunate to be sponsored by ICMR for a research methodology workshop where I learned about fascinating aspects of clinical research, genetics, and genomics.

I had the opportunity to present my research at a conference organized at Wardha. This led me to delve into the topic of tuberculosis and the DOTS program in India, which I later shared at a student congress in Egypt. Inspired by medical student associations globally, I worked towards establishing a representation for Indian medical students internationally.

During my internship, I represented the country at the United Nations Rio plus 20 summit, advocating for the right to health for all. I emphasized the importance of including medicine and health facilities as essential rights alongside other basic necessities like food and shelter.

Following my passion for research and public health, I pursued an MD in pharmacology, enabling me to stay close to drug development and new therapies. During this time, I presented on pharmacoeconomics, addressing the expensive healthcare scenario in India and similar challenges faced by other countries.

As part of my academic pursuits, I was selected to attend the Novartis International BioCamp in Switzerland, where I gained insight into drug development processes and the impact of science on improving lives on a larger scale.

After graduating, I worked as a medical advisor for Big Pharma, focusing on diabetes and the cardiometabolic axis. Later, I joined Novartis, exploring different therapy areas such as diabetes, cardiovascular, and renal space.

With the rise of the digital space and post-COVID era, I transitioned to work at Fitterfly, a health tech startup funded by Amazon. Here, we develop digital therapies that utilize technology and coaching to provide personalized support and care to patients from the comfort of their homes.

My goal is to contribute to the advancement of personalized healthcare, looking beyond traditional pharmacotherapy, and embracing a 360-degree approach to health. By empowering patients to take charge of their health through lifestyle changes and digital therapeutics, we can combat chronic and lifestyle diseases on a broader scale and create a healthier world.

We do talk about equity for all, and we talk about food for all. However, including health as a basic right should be a priority, moving beyond the traditional focus in India on "roti, kapda, and makaan" (food, clothing, and shelter). I believe that ensuring access to medicine and healthcare facilities for all is equally important, if not more so. This was one of the agendas I advocated for during my time at the international summit. My fascination with research and public health further fueled my passion for this cause.

When we look at the digital health tech space, I always relate to the idea that change is the law of nature. This thought came to me while I was at Novartis, where I had the opportunity to mentor startups in Africa through the partnership with Hufftown Africa. Observing their pitches and the potential of digital therapeutics, I felt inspired to work closely within this domain.

Having experience in pharma, I saw the opportunity to bridge the gap between pharmacotherapy and digital therapy. Often, patients are prescribed drugs without addressing the root cause, leading to a cycle of escalating medications. With digital therapeutics, we can focus on holistic solutions and empower individuals to take charge of their health, reducing dependency on pills.

Working in a startup comes with challenges, as we are creating a new category and explaining how digital therapeutics can improve health outcomes. Despite the difficulties, I find it exciting to be part of something innovative and witness the positive impact it can have on people's lives.

As we move towards artificial intelligence and applications, digital therapeutics is becoming increasingly important, especially for those who can't access traditional clinics. At Fitter Fly, we strive to develop solutions that are result-oriented and cater to individuals' specific needs, enabling them to manage their health through user-friendly apps.

Our goal is to empower patients and provide personalized support, and I believe that with dedication and staying up to date with the latest advancements, we can achieve success in this rapidly evolving field.

We do talk about equity for all, and we talk about food for all. However, including health as a basic right should be a priority, moving beyond the traditional focus in India on "roti, kapda, and makaan" (food, clothing, and shelter). I believe that ensuring access to medicine and healthcare facilities for all is equally important, if not more so. This was one of the agendas I advocated for during my time at the international summit. My fascination with research and public health further fueled my passion for this cause.

I think that's a very good question. It's quite challenging, you know, to bring people onto apps. It's very easy for people to scroll on Instagram reels and spend days and lock themselves into the app, saying, "Okay, I don't want to spend more than one hour on social media." But when it comes to spending just 10 minutes on a health app, people are generally very hesitant. They say, "I'll do it later, it's okay." Of course, people are willing to pay to get things done and be on a program to take charge of their health, but engagement does become a challenge over time because the initial motivation wears off.

When people first start engaging with the program, especially in the first couple of weeks, they are highly motivated and engaged. However, eventually, the novelty may wear off, and they might start procrastinating, thinking, "I'll do it later," or "I'll do it some other day when I'm free." Some may even take cheat days or avoid filling in their data.

To address this challenge, we have expert coaches from different domains, such as nutrition, physiotherapy, and psychology, who know how to motivate people. Our programs are based on the principle of behavior change, where we focus on small daily habits rather than drastic changes. We help participants build sustainable and healthy habits that aid them in achieving their goals and maintaining them.

To further enhance engagement, we constantly improve the app by adding gamification elements and fun features that allow users to track their progress and gain insights actively.

Another crucial aspect of engagement is the community support we provide. We run communities for like-minded people, such as the Rise by Fit a Fly community for diabetes, where members can share their challenges and experiences. This sense of belonging to a community of people facing similar struggles helps to keep members engaged. They share recipes, daily activities, and struggles, especially during special occasions like festivals when they seek guidance on managing their health conditions.

In this context, people can relate more to the experiences of others like them, rather than just receiving advice from healthcare professionals. It helps them see real-life examples of what works and motivates them to take charge of their own health.

Regarding measuring success, there are different outcome measures that we use. We focus on objective lab parameters and clinical parameters that people aim to reduce. For diabetics, we track HbA1c, average three-month glucose levels, fasting and post-lunch glucose levels, and weight. However, when dealing with metabolic conditions, we don't focus on weight in isolation; we also assess waist and hip circumference, which are stubborn areas for weight reduction.

Apart from physical parameters, we also measure quality of life and healthy habits. We conduct baseline assessments of fitness levels, stress levels, sleep quality, nutritional values, calorie intake, carb-to-protein ratio, and micronutrient intake. At the end of the program, we analyze whether there has been a positive change in their habits and lifestyle. For example, have they shifted from a high-carb diet to a lower-carb, higher-protein, and higher-fiber diet, resulting in balanced weight and food diversity? We also look at improvements in flexibility and core strength through fitness scores.

Furthermore, we assess diabetic distress, sleep quality, and stress levels using standardized scales to gauge improvements. Additionally, we consider changes in medication as an important parameter to evaluate the effectiveness of our digital therapeutic interventions.

Overall, our focus is on measurable outcomes and positively impacting the lives of our program participants, making a significant difference in their health and well-being.

Right, I think that's a really interesting question. And when we talk about strategies, I'll partly answer what you asked regarding whether we're results-oriented or focused. So, we are outcome-focused. That is our single-track agenda. We chase outcomes relentlessly.

In healthcare, many tend to focus on chasing numbers, such as sales achievements, profits, and top-line figures. While these are essential for running a business, in a healthcare organization, our primary focus is on outcomes. We look at how our patients' lives have been positively impacted and touched, and that holds more significance than just numerical quantification or profit figures. Our mission revolves around making the world a healthier place through the outcomes we achieve.

Regarding challenges faced by startups, I do understand this firsthand as we operate as a startup. It can be quite challenging at multiple stages, including managing people, getting processes in place, and dealing with work pressures.

I joined this organization last year, and we've nearly doubled the number of people working within a year. This fast-paced growth demands transparency with our team. We communicate that we are all working towards a common mission, and we regularly discuss the outcomes achieved by our patients or program members, celebrating their successes in our monthly town halls, which we call "celebrating outcomes." Such a strong focus on outcomes remains constant throughout our journey.

In terms of managing pressure, our organization prioritizes helping our members relieve stress related to their chronic disorders. We provide success coaches, qualified psychologists, who support them in coping with the pressure.

Working in a startup does come with its own set of challenges, but we feel blessed to have founders and CEOs who absorb as much pressure as they can. As part of the leadership team, we act as shock absorbers, taking on minimal pressure to ensure a happy work environment for our team members.

Our work culture is evident through our social media channels, where you can see our people happily creating fun reels and engaging in enjoyable activities. We celebrate achievements and do various interesting things to keep our team members happy and motivated.

When I was offered this role and met the CEO, I was initially skeptical about transitioning from a large corporate to a startup. However, upon observing how happy and passionate everyone is at the office, especially the CEO, I am drawn to join this place. We have a team that is enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Silos are broken, and people openly share and cross-ideas without hierarchical boundaries. We believe that innovation can come from anywhere within the organization.

Everyone in our organization sees it as their company and is driven to save lives and impact as many lives as possible in the best way possible, striving for the best outcomes. The common goal unites us all, and this shared purpose minimizes pressure, as we are all working together, aiming at the same North Star.