Cent launches AI-driven early cancer detection platform
Preventive health intelligence startup Cent has announced its launch with a focus on detecting life-threatening diseases such as cancer and cardiac conditions at an early, asymptomatic stage. Founded by Shashank ND along with Arpit Garg and Anshul Khandelwal, the company combines expertise in healthcare, AI, and clinical radiology.
Cent has already begun operations and secured seed funding from OneFlow Holdings and South Park Commons. The clinical team is led by Dr Nandakumar, chief radiologist.
The platform leverages artificial intelligence to identify diseases earlier while reducing false positives and negatives. Shashank ND highlighted that delayed diagnosis remains a key challenge in India’s healthcare system.
The company aims to shift healthcare from reactive treatment to proactive detection, using AI to improve outcomes and enable timely intervention before conditions become critical.
Star Health aims AI-led processing for majority of claims
Star Health Insurance expects artificial intelligence to handle the majority of its cashless claims within the next two years, significantly improving efficiency in claims processing. Currently, around 20 per cent of claims are settled straight through AI without human intervention.
According to CEO Anand Roy, the insurer aims to increase this share to over 50 per cent, with human involvement limited to complex, high-value, or suspected fraud cases.
Cashless claims account for nearly 85 per cent of claim value and 70 per cent by volume. Regulatory timelines now require pre-admission approvals within one hour and post-discharge approvals within three hours, pushing insurers to adopt automation.
Industry efforts, including hospital empanelment and digital initiatives like NHCX and ABHA, are expected to support faster, more transparent claims settlement processes.
Health insurance premiums rise sharply over three years
The average health insurance premium for individuals has increased by 23 per cent between 2022-23 and 2024-25, raising affordability concerns for policyholders. Premium collections reached ₹11,188 crore in 2024-25, reflecting the growing cost burden.
Family floater policies have also seen a rise, with average per-person premiums increasing by over 18 per cent to ₹7,020 during the same period. The increase has been more pronounced after the Covid-19 pandemic, when claims surged.
However, recent trends indicate that lower claims are not necessarily translating into reduced premiums for customers. The government cited multiple factors driving the increase, including medical inflation, ageing policyholders, higher sum insured, and enhanced policy features.
The rise highlights ongoing challenges in balancing profitability and affordability within the health insurance sector.
