Balancing the demands of hands-on technological expertise with high-level strategic leadership has been both a personal discipline and a defining hallmark of Unmesh Deshpande’s career. Known for describing himself as “a Jack of all trades and a master of one,” with that one being HealthTech, Unmesh’s roots lie deep in the foundational layers of IT. Whether he was building networks from scratch, debugging BIOS chips, or writing control code for physical devices, his early career was shaped in the trenches. This foundation didn’t just sharpen his technical skills, it molded a leadership philosophy that remains deeply connected to execution. 

As his work expanded to include national healthcare systems, state governments, private hospital networks, and digital health startups, Unmesh realized that technology leadership required more than technical fluency. The role of a CTO evolved into something larger, understanding not only how technology works, but why, where, and when it should be used to make the biggest difference. It’s not about impressing with tech jargon; it’s about delivering results that matter for patients, clinicians, and organizations alike. 

Through his venture, CTO as a Service, Unmesh now operates at both ends of the spectrum. One moment, he might be guiding a CIO through the risks of cloud migration; the next, he’s in a boardroom aligning hospital executives around a digital transformation roadmap. For him, this is not just multitasking, it’s a meaningful feedback loop. Strategic direction informs field execution, and real-world insights sharpen strategic clarity. 

Principles That Anchor His Practice 

Three core beliefs consistently guide Unmesh’s work: 

• Technology must serve the end user. Systems succeed only when they fit naturally into the workflows of clinicians and patients. 

• Solutions must be appropriate and affordable. India doesn’t need watered-down global products; it needs innovation tailored to its context, grounded in local realities. 

• Customer understanding is non-negotiable. From pharmacists to pathologists, every voice matters. Real insights come from the ground, not from ivory towers. 

Whether he’s leading HMIS deployments across states, designing AI-enabled clinical decision systems, or assessing readiness for Health Data Exchanges and NHCX protocols, Unmesh stays close to both the code and the community. 

Unmesh also credits much of his decision-making clarity to Edward de Bono’s “Six Thinking Hats” approach, enabling him to shift between creativity, caution, optimism, and analysis with ease. Like Ricardo Semler, he believes in empowering teams with the right frameworks and then stepping back to let them thrive. 

The Result: Transformation with Depth 

From building digital ICUs to designing scalable EMRs and reshaping rural hospital access, Unmesh doesn’t just lead projects, he lives them. By being both grounded in execution and visionary in scope, he ensures his work is not only technologically sound but strategically future-proof. 

Playbook for Aligning Technology with Business Strategy 

Across industries, from healthcare to logistics, Unmesh emphasizes that true alignment between business and technology begins with clarity of purpose, not the allure of new platforms. For him, the first step in any tech initiative is not selecting the latest tool, but asking: What problem are we solving, and for whom? Whether working with hospitals or state health departments, he ensures every tech decision ties directly to specific business outcomes, be it operational efficiency, patient safety, or customer satisfaction. 

As a technology leader and strategist, Unmesh plays the vital role of translator, bridging the often disconnected worlds of business objectives and technical implementation. He speaks both languages fluently. Whether explaining EMR usability to clinicians or justifying cloud ROI to CFOs, he adapts his communication to suit the audience. This ability to build mutual understanding is central to avoiding costly misalignments and fostering long-term trust. 

For Unmesh, technology must always empower, not overwhelm, the user. His design philosophy centers on user experience, knowing that adoption is the true test of success. Whether it’s a doctor navigating a clinical dashboard or a school administrator tracking attendance, he ensures that solutions are intuitive and useful. By embedding user-centric design early in the software development lifecycle, he boosts adoption and long-term value. 

Championing ‘Appropriate and Affordable’ Technology 

In resource-constrained settings like Tier 2/3 hospitals and rural clinics, Unmesh advocates for tech that is both effective and accessible. He differentiates between “cheap and simple” and “appropriate and affordable.” His frugal innovation mindset has enabled impactful digital rollouts in underserved areas without compromising quality, customizing solutions that match local needs rather than copying Western enterprise models. 

Unmesh has seen many organizations treat technology as an afterthought, and pays close attention to correcting this mindset. He encourages embedding technology roadmaps into business strategies, complete with shared KPIs, governance models, and built-in agility for regulatory shifts (like the ABDM, DPDP Act, or NHCX in healthcare). This tight integration allows businesses to adapt quickly while keeping strategy and technology in sync. 

Technology alignment, according to him, is never a solo effort. Inspired by decentralized leadership models, he embeds digital champions across business units, functional leaders who co-own the success of tech initiatives. This collaborative approach builds ownership, reduces resistance, and nurtures innovation from within the organization itself. 

For Unmesh, success is not about ticking boxes, it’s about measurable, real-world impact. He institutionalizes outcome-based metrics into every project, from improved diagnostic turnaround times to better inventory accuracy. Through live dashboards and continuous feedback loops, he ensures that value, not vanity, remains the focus. 

Unmesh Deshpande believes that successful alignment between technology and business demands more than meetings, it requires a mindset shift. A shift where technology is crafted to serve strategy, not the other way around. From enabling scalable hospital operations to guiding governments on digital health records, his philosophy is simple yet powerful: “Technology must serve strategy, not the other way around.” 

Building India’s Most Technologically Resilient Hospital 

As the Chief Technology Officer at Kingsway Hospitals, Nagpur, Unmesh Deshpande envisioned and executed a bold mission: to build a hospital where technology was not merely an add-on, but the very backbone of care delivery. From day one, his goal was clear, to architect a patient-centric, digitally native healthcare ecosystem that combined resilience, intelligence, and compassion. 

Unmesh led the deployment of HPE SimpliVity Hyper-Converged Infrastructure, forming the foundation for uninterrupted access to Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), billing systems, and decision support tools. The result was zero downtime and seamless clinical operations, ensuring doctors had instant access to patient data, even in emergencies. 

He also implemented an advanced networking environment with Sophos-integrated WiFi and network segmentation. Over 6144 Gigabit Ethernet ports were strategically distributed and segmented across ICUs, Cath Labs, Admin zones, Guest WiFi, and IoT-connected devices. This minimized congestion and enabled real-time telemetry, directly supporting critical clinical interventions. 

To enhance patient engagement, Unmesh introduced a centralized call center with VoIP, CRM integration, and intelligent routing. Additionally, a 24×7 WhatsApp chatbot enabled appointment booking, health record access, and feedback, all contributing to reduced wait times, higher satisfaction, and trust among patients and their families. 

His initiatives extended to patient comfort and education through a hospital-wide CATV system, dynamic video signage, and health-focused streaming content. From queue management to real-time updates, the digital environment reduced anxiety and confusion, while fostering dignity and transparency. 

Under his leadership, Kingsway became fully paperless, integrating HMIS, EMR, and machine systems. Pathology and radiology devices communicated directly with the hospital software, eliminating manual data errors. Surgeons could access PACS imaging in real time, enabling faster, more informed decisions across departments. 

Operating rooms and the Cath Lab were fully integrated into the central IT ecosystem, allowing live procedure streaming, electronic anesthesia documentation, and real-time imaging access. These enhancements reduced procedural delays and improved post-op recovery protocols. 

Unmesh established a culture of data-backed decision-making through BI dashboards that tracked occupancy, diagnostics turnaround times, inventory use, and clinical performance. This governance framework proved vital during high-pressure situations like the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling agility and clarity. 

The result of Unmesh’s vision and execution was a hospital where technology quietly powered healing. Medical professionals gained speed and accuracy, patients enjoyed smoother experiences, and administrators governed with precision. Kingsway became more than a healthcare facility, it became a living case study in how purpose-driven technology can elevate care at every level. 

As Unmesh often says: “Technology must be purpose-built, appropriate, and empowering, not just impressive.” At Kingsway, he did not just build systems. He built trust, speed, and better outcomes. 

Driving Stakeholder Collaboration for Seamless Process Automation 
— Through the Lens of Unmesh Deshpande 

Convergence Over Consensus 

For Unmesh Deshpande, collaboration is not about achieving consensus; it’s about creating convergence. He believes in aligning diverse minds around a shared goal without compromising their individual expertise or roles. His approach involves listening deeply, acting decisively, and ensuring that movement happens not just in agreement, but with conviction. 

Identifying the Right Stakeholder Group 

At the outset of any transformation initiative, Unmesh places utmost importance on identifying and forming the stakeholder group. This group goes beyond CXOs and department heads—it includes clinicians, nurses, call center agents, pharmacists, IT administrators, procurement leads, and even patients, whose feedback loops can influence key outcomes. 

Diagnosing Before Prescribing 

Unmesh begins by working closely with stakeholders to uncover systemic issues—not just surface-level problems. 
For example: 

• A delayed lab report isn’t merely a turnaround issue; it impacts diagnosis timelines and patient trust. 
   

• Manual billing errors go beyond revenue leakage, damaging brand credibility and satisfaction. 
  These problems are always mapped back to core business objectives like clinical excellence, operational efficiency, revenue integrity, or enhanced patient experience. 
   

Understanding the Stakeholder Mindset 

Every organization operates at the intersection of ambition, fear, inertia, and urgency. Unmesh recognizes this and takes time to decode stakeholder motivations—what they fear, what excites them, and how they define success. Rather than overwhelm teams with technology talk, he facilitates workshops that focus on outcomes, creating a shared language before introducing digital tools. 

Designing Fit-for-Purpose, Future-Proof Solutions 

After gathering insights, Unmesh focuses on delivering solutions that scale with growth, are easy to use across roles, and remain secure and context-aware. He introduces technology as a seamless business enabler—emphasizing evolution over revolution. 

Creating Shared Ownership and Momentum 

Rather than leading as a solo innovator, Unmesh builds coalitions within stakeholder groups: 

• Department champions drive adoption. 
   

• “Digital first responders” handle early issues. 

• Monthly review forums provide feedback and recalibration. 
  This approach turns buy-in into a shared, felt commitment, not something imposed. 

Stakeholders remain engaged when results matter to them. Unmesh highlights wins such as: 

• Shorter discharge times 

• Streamlined billing queues 

• Better compliance 

• Reduced rework 

He uses dashboards, storytelling, and data-driven reports to make these victories visible and valued. 

From building COVID rapid-response hospitals to transforming Kingsway Hospital and advising large-scale HealthTech projects, Unmesh sees his role as a navigator. He steers through resistance, complexity, and change, always guided by the compass of business goals. 

Healthcare Digital Transformation in the Next Five Years 

Unmesh believes the future of healthcare will be shaped not by isolated innovations, but by interconnected systems, contextual intelligence, and clean, aligned data. Drawing from his hands-on experience leading digital transformation at Kingsway Hospital, rapid-response COVID facilities, and various CTO-as-a-Service engagements across India and APAC, he emphasizes that architecture, intelligence, and data discipline will define the next wave. 

Healthcare delivery is expected to evolve from fragmented systems to integrated ecosystems, powered by connected devices such as smart beds, remote monitors, infusion pumps, and RFID-enabled assets. These devices will no longer function in silos but as part of a larger clinical nervous system, feeding live data into EMRs, nurse dashboards, and inventory control systems. This transformation enhances patient safety, turnaround time, real-time ICU alerts, and predictive maintenance of critical care equipment. 

AI and ML are transitioning from research to real-world clinical and operational applications. Clinically, they assist in radiology, predict sepsis risk, and triage diagnostics. Operationally, they automate appointment scheduling, billing validations, and coding accuracy. However, Unmesh highlights that for AI to function reliably, it requires structured, high-quality, and well-aligned datasets. 

Unmesh views clean, aligned, and interoperable data as the most valuable currency in healthcare. Without it, AI fails, dashboards mislead, and decision-making becomes reactive. Data lakes, governed robustly, enable hospitals to unify clinical, financial, operational, and IoT data streams. This supports outcome tracking, risk scoring, compliance auditing, and insurance exchange readiness. The future, according to him, is not just data-driven, it’s data-disciplined. 

Edge computing will be critical for high-speed, life-saving decisions, particularly in ICUs or Cath labs. It allows data to be processed at the point of generation, reducing latency, bandwidth, and compliance risks. When combined with federated learning, hospitals can train AI models across distributed datasets while preserving patient privacy, ideal for consortiums and public health networks. 

According to Unmesh, the industry is entering the era of smart hospitals, equipped with digital command centers, dynamic bed management, AI-assisted surgeries, voice-activated nurse stations, and responsive environmental systems. He has already implemented several such features at Kingsway Hospital, including video signage automation, PACS-integrated OTs, networked pathology labs, and VoIP-connected command rooms. These technologies will soon become essential, especially in urban and Tier-1 regions, where patient experience and efficiency are key. 

Unmesh sees these trends not as standalone innovations but as interconnected enablers of outcome-based care. He emphasizes that technology should not be the centerpiece, but rather the invisible scaffolding supporting a smarter, faster, and more humane healthcare system. 

His strategic priorities include: 

• Building interoperable, scalable architectures 

• Investing in real-time, edge-integrated IoMT 

• Governing data through clean, structured data lakes 

• Ensuring responsible AI/ML with explainability 

• Aligning technology initiatives with clinical and business KPIs 

He concludes that the true strategic advantage in the next five years will not come from the best tech stack, but from having the most usable, aligned, and trustworthy data. 

Transforming Healthcare Technology at Timus Solutions 

In his role as Technology Advisor at Timus Solutions, Unmesh Deshpande goes beyond guiding systems architecture; he architects resilience, trust, and strategic advantage for clients across the HealthTech landscape. A prime example of this impact is seen in the collaboration with Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute (RGCI) in New Delhi, one of India’s leading oncology centers. 

As part of the digital transformation at RGCI, Unmesh led the design and advisory for a next-generation, VoIP-integrated CRM and Call Center solution. The objective was to streamline patient engagement, reduce missed follow-ups, and improve real-time responsiveness without increasing the workload on clinical staff. 

The team designed a hybrid call management system, fully integrated with RGCI’s patient CRM and HMIS. The system, when deployed, would: 

• Automated call routing based on appointment schedules and care pathways 

• Real-time updates to patient records via voice-dictated interactions 

• Intelligent dashboards for call center teams to escalate, resolve, and document patient needs 
   

The expected result will result in a 35%+ improvement in patient engagement, a sharp drop in call abandonment rates, and faster clinical interventions, achieved through a platform that merged telephony with structured clinical workflows. The project is currently under consideration for further expansion. 

A second breakthrough unfolded when a fast-growing digital health client of Timus Solutions faced scalability challenges with their EMR services during peak traffic. 

Unmesh led a detailed load behavior analysis and designed a dual-scaling strategy: 

• Vertical scaling via resource provisioning at the VM/container level to handle traffic surges (e.g., during COVID vaccination drives) 

• Horizontal scaling using Kubernetes clusters, enabling stateless service components to auto-replicate across nodes 

Additionally, he led a redesign of the data access layer, leveraging asynchronous queues and caching strategies to eliminate delays and timeouts under concurrent loads. 

The expected result is a threefold increase in the platform’s user capacity within six weeks, maintaining sub-300ms response times even during high traffic periods. The reengineered infrastructure included: 

• A reverse proxy configuration with HAProxy 

• Redundant IP routing for transparent session failover 

• HA cluster of Apache web servers 

• Heartbeat and Pacemaker modules for service-level high availability 

This design guarantees 99.99% uptime, uninterrupted service during maintenance, and zero data loss, key requirements for EMR systems with clinical and medico-legal responsibilities. 

Understanding the critical importance of digital trust in healthcare, Unmesh also designed cybersecurity protocols aligned with HIPAA and GDPR standards, ensuring compliance and fortification from the ground up. 

At Timus Solutions, Unmesh does more than advise, he co-creates. He builds scalable systems, secures life-critical workflows, and designs infrastructure that becomes the foundation of modern care delivery. These interventions not only save costs and boost operational metrics, they restore confidence in technology as a trusted ally in healthcare. 

Contributes to High-Level Discussions in CXO Forums on Digital Healthcare Initiatives 

For Unmesh, participating in CXO forums is not merely about being present; it’s about approaching each discussion with clear purpose, thorough preparation, and sharp precision. These are platforms where every contribution must be thoughtful and impactful. His preparation for such forums starts well in advance. 

He begins by gaining a deep understanding of the forum’s theme and its broader context. Whether the topic is “Digital Maturity Models in Healthcare,” “AI in Patient Safety,” or “Interoperability in Public Health Systems,” he equips himself with: 

• Industry reports, government policy updates, and the latest on regulations such as ABDM, NHCX, and the DPDP Act 

• Comparative insights from global benchmarks like NHS, HIMSS, and ONC, and their relevance to the Indian ecosystem 

• Real-world case studies from his own engagements, including rapid EMR rollouts, cloud-native architectures, and IT-enabled clinical transformation 

This detailed groundwork enables him to move beyond superficial commentary and offer strategic depth supported by real evidence. 

Equally critical is understanding the background of co-panelists and attendees. Unmesh takes the time to learn about: 

• The industry verticals they represent, be it healthcare delivery, MedTech, pharma, insurance, or health IT 

• Their organizations’ digital maturity levels 

• Their individual outlooks, whether they are innovation-friendly, conservative, or system-oriented 

This enables him to tailor his communication. A hospital CIO might connect with his work at Kingsway or during the COVID response, while a pharma leader may find relevance in his experience with patient engagement analytics. He aligns his message to their context while staying true to his narrative. 

For Unmesh, the patient remains the guiding force in all healthcare discussions. He believes that every digital initiative, technical or operational, should ultimately serve the patient, either by improving access, safety, and personalization or by enhancing diagnostics and clinical workflows. 

In forums, he often steers the conversation toward patient-centric questions: 

• Does technology make a clinician’s job more efficient? 

• Can it shorten the journey from diagnosis to treatment? 

• Will it improve patient trust, engagement, and satisfaction? 

This approach helps cut through technical jargon and brings discussions back to what truly matters. 

Instead of following hype cycles around buzzwords like AI, blockchain, or the metaverse, Unmesh focuses on practical, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. He shares insights from: 

• CTO-as-a-Service engagements that accelerated digital maturity without major capital investments 

• Implementations through Timus Solutions that included cloud-based EMRs, VoIP-integrated CRMs, and improved cybersecurity frameworks 

By highlighting real-world impact over flashy tech, he earns credibility and respect from CXOs. 

In every session, Unmesh aims to leave behind two to three actionable insights that other CXOs can take back to their organizations. These are not broad suggestions but contextually relevant, data-supported recommendations that can be implemented immediately. 

To Unmesh, participating in CXO forums is not about showcasing knowledge, it’s about demonstrating commitment to making technology meaningful. He positions himself as a bridge between innovation and implementation, between boardroom vision and bedside reality, and between what’s technically possible and what’s pragmatically valuable. 

Vision for the Future of Healthcare Technology 

Unmesh envisions a bold yet clear future for healthcare: a connected, intelligent, and inclusive ecosystem where technology becomes invisible, yet indispensable, in delivering care that is personal, predictive, and participatory. 

He believes the industry is transitioning from an era of automation to one of augmentation. In this new age, digital platforms will go beyond merely recording healthcare data, they will anticipate, personalize, and make healthcare universally accessible. In this vision, data is not just a by-product, it becomes the engine of transformation. According to him, clean, aligned, and ethically governed data will become the most valuable currency and an asset in this sector. 

The future he envisions includes: 

• Interoperable, cloud-native EMRs with plug-and-play capabilities, accessible across rural clinics and metro ICUs 

• AI-powered Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS) that augment clinical judgment with real-time, evidence-based insights 

• IoMT-driven care environments where diagnostics, monitoring, and medication adherence are integrated into the patient ecosystem 

• Federated health data lakes that support ABDM, NHCX, and global interoperability standards while preserving privacy 

• Virtual-first care models that use remote monitoring, voice-driven interfaces, and mobile diagnostics to bring healthcare to the doorstep 

• Digitally mature hospitals where IT is the strategic core of both operational and clinical excellence 

Unmesh plans to continue driving this change through his CTO-as-a-Service model, serving organizations that may lack full-time technology leadership but have bold ambitions. His strategic actions include: 

• Mentoring hospitals, startups, and public health bodies in adopting sustainable digital health frameworks 

• Expanding Timus Solutions’ reach across India, MENA, and APAC by building platforms that are affordable, resilient, and future-proof 

• Focusing on the digital health infrastructure of rural and Tier-2 regions in India by applying frugal innovation to deliver world-class outcomes 

• Writing, speaking, and mentoring to inspire the next generation of HealthTech leaders 
   

For Unmesh, the way forward isn’t about building everything anew. It’s about weaving the old and new into systems that scale—with empathy and evidence at the core. 

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