Vol.5, Issue 4, 2026

We are pleased to share the latest updates from the Max Institute of Healthcare Management at ISB.

Vision To provide deep insights to policymakers, public institutions, foundations, and corporates to build better health systems through research, education, and outreach.

Mission • Conduct cutting-edge healthcare research relevant to the Indian context • Groom agile, future-ready healthcare leaders • Develop pedagogical tools that bring innovation and industry practices into the classroom • Facilitate knowledge-sharing across industry, academia, and government to inform policymaking

PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATION

How much do different air pollutants really affect our ability to work? A new peer-reviewed publication by Dr Deepshikha Batheja, Principal Research Scientist at the Max Institute of Healthcare Management, ISB, along with Dr Sarojini Hirshleifer (University of California) and Jamie Mullins (University of Massachusetts), brings fresh evidence on the impact of air pollution from India's expanding services sector. Using high-frequency data from call centres across five cities, the authors show that productivity falls not just with rising particulate matter (PM2.5), but also with carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O₃). Each pollutant independently reduces the number of calls handled per shift and per hour, with CO contributing the most to productivity loss. What this really means is that current air-quality strategies that focus mainly on PM may be missing a big part of the problem. The study highlights the value of policies that target multiple pollutants, especially in urban environments where young workers form a large share of the labour force.

NEW RESEARCH PROJECT

We are excited to support the Sehat Sevika Programme in rural Punjab by conducting an independent impact assessment of its initial 100-village pilot. The aim is to generate evidence and practical insights that can inform future scaling. The programme was recently launched by the Bahaar Foundation in partnership with the Punjab Development Commission. It focuses on training and deploying women community health entrepreneurs in villages to strengthen last-mile healthcare access and support rural livelihoods. While community-based health initiatives like this hold real promise, appropriate design and knowing which design works requires careful process and outcome evaluation. Leena Kinger Hans, Assistant Professor, Organisational Behaviour at ISB, is leading the study. Her research focuses on rigorously evaluating how training and support systems shape the effectiveness of programmes engaging women entrepreneurs and frontline health workers to improve livelihoods and community health.

OPINION PIECES

The entry of technologies into tuberculosis and integrated lung health Authors: Sarang Deo and Sirisha Papineni Publication: Express Healthcare Don't confuse quantity with quality': ISB's Sarang Deo on India's ₹980-crore allied health push Publication: Healthcare Executive 'AI will further increase disparities, not reduce them': ISB's Deputy Dean on jobs, MBAs and what's changing Publication: Business Today

FROM THE CLASSROOM

Public Health Officers attend AI In Public Health Innovation Workshops at ISB The Max Institute of Healthcare Management, ISB, with support from Mphasis F1 Foundation, successfully delivered three cohorts of the Capacity Building Workshop on AI for Public Health Innovation in March 2026. The workshops included nearly 150 senior and mid-management officials from the Public Health Departments and the National Health Mission across 13 states and union territories. The third cohort was a virtual track with participants from private sector firms and institutions across India. The workshops were organised to complement the recent government iniatives on digital health: Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India and Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health. The Capacity Building Workshops were designed and delivered as a direct response to our goal to advance the safe, ethical, and evidence-based deployment of AI across India's healthcare ecosystem. The 2.5-day workshops were facilitated by a distinguished blend of ISB faculty, government officers, and industry practitioners, bringing together diverse perspectives.

2nd Cohort of Management Programme for Medical Professionals - ClinicianX begins The second cohort of the Management Programme for Medical Professionals - ClinicianX, a partner programme with Dailyrounds (Marrow), curated by the Max Institute of Healthcare Management and delivered by ISB Executive Education, began in March. The six-month programme is designed for clinicians seeking to integrate fundamental management principles to elevate their clinical expertise and improve patient outcomes. The 2nd cohort brings together a diverse group of early-career clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs keen to set up their practice. The programme empowered them to apply management thinking in clinical settings, strengthen leadership capabilities, operations management principles in healthcare, and explore newer pathways within healthcare management. 3rd cohort of Advanced Programme in Leadership and Business Excellence in Dentistry concludes The third cohort of the Advanced Programme in Leadership and Business Excellence in Dentistry concluded in February 2026. APLBED is a partner programme in collaboration with Goldcollar and delivered by ISB Executive Education. The twelve-week programme in a blended learning format is designed to equip experienced dental practitioners with essential leadership skills tailored specifically to their profession. This program empowers dental practitioners to navigate the evolving landscape of dental practice and critically assess their practice's strengths and areas for growth.

ECOSYSTEM ENGAGEMENT

Experts at ISB Healthcare 4.0 Champion Digital Transformation for Small Hospitals and Value-Based Care to Reshape Indian Healthcare Experts from across the healthcare ecosystem convened at our Hyderabad campus for the third edition of its 'ISB Healthcare 4.0' conference. The event brought together industry experts, policymakers, investors, and academics to define a new vision for India's health system, focusing on digital innovation, sustainable investment, and new models of care delivery to improve health outcomes for all. What will it take to reduce antibiotic misuse in India? Experts discuss at 2 day conference at ISB campus A two-day conference on Effective Mitigation Strategies for Antimicrobial Resistance brought together policymakers, researchers, clinicians, and public health practitioners to discuss what it will take to reduce antibiotic misuse in India. Dr Deepshikha Batheja, Principal Research Scientist, Max Institute of Healthcare Management at ISB, led the effort.

OUR PEOPLE

Sarang Deo Professor, Operations Management Executive Director - Max Institute of Healthcare Management Prof. Deo addressed key themes on AI in Healthcare at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. Speaking during a panel on evaluating AI solutions in healthcare, he delved into the operational metrics often missing in AI valuations, what drives adoption, and how the industry should think about evidence in a fast-moving AI landscape.

Max Institute of Healthcare Management Indian School of Business, Knowledge City, Sector 81, Mohali 140 306