AI, Robotic Surgery and Compassion: How Pune Is Redefining Modern Healthcare
By Dr Manisha Karmarkar
Pune, 18the May 2026: For many years, Pune has been known as the city of education and innovation. Students came here to build careers, and professionals came here to build companies and dreams. But over the last few years, I have seen another identity emerge for Pune — one that is quieter, but deeply meaningful. Pune is becoming a city that people trust for healing.
As someone who works closely with patients, doctors, and healthcare teams every day, I can say with confidence that Pune is no longer just a growing healthcare market. It is evolving into a true healthcare destination.
What makes this transformation special is that it has happened organically. Patients today are not coming to Pune only because hospitals have advanced machines or modern infrastructure. They are coming because they feel they will receive quality care with compassion and dignity.
Healthcare expectations have changed significantly. People are looking for precision, faster recovery, safety, and personalised treatment experiences. They want hospitals that combine technology with empathy. Pune’s healthcare ecosystem is responding to this shift remarkably well.
Today, the city offers highly advanced medical care across cardiac sciences, oncology, neurosciences, orthopaedics, transplant medicine, critical care, and minimally invasive surgeries. Technologies such as robotic surgery, AI-supported diagnostics, and advanced imaging are helping doctors deliver safer and more accurate treatment outcomes. But what truly defines healthcare in Pune is not just technology — it is the people behind it.
Pune has always attracted talent. Just as it became home to some of India’s brightest students and IT professionals, it is now home to highly skilled doctors, nurses, researchers, and healthcare experts who are shaping the future of medicine. The city’s strong academic culture naturally supports continuous learning and medical excellence.
At Apollo Hospitals Pune, we are witnessing this shift closely. Increasingly, patients from smaller towns, neighbouring states, and even international locations are choosing Pune for complex treatments. Many of them tell us the same thing — they feel reassured here. They find advanced care without the overwhelming pace of larger metros.
I also believe Pune offers something that is often overlooked in healthcare conversations: an environment that supports recovery. The city’s climate, culture, accessibility, and relatively balanced lifestyle contribute positively to patient wellbeing. Healing is not only clinical; it is emotional and psychological too.
Another encouraging change is the growing awareness around preventive healthcare. People are becoming more proactive about their health instead of waiting for illness. Conversations around wellness, rehabilitation, mental health, lifestyle diseases, and long-term care are becoming more mainstream, and this is a very positive sign for the future.
India’s healthcare sector is entering an important phase of growth, and Pune is well-positioned to lead this transformation. With investments in infrastructure, digital healthcare, research, and patient-centred innovation, the city has the potential to become one of the country’s most trusted healthcare hubs.
For me, this journey is not only about the growth of hospitals. It is about building a healthcare ecosystem where people feel safe, supported, and cared for during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Pune has always been a city that nurtures aspirations. Today, it is also becoming a city that nurtures health, hope, and healing.
(Dr Manisha Karmarkar is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Apollo Hospitals, Pune)
