Healthcare Consulting
About Us
A dynamic healthcare consulting enterprise
Our Story
Arogya Avinya is co-founded by Dr. Payal Sharma and Prashant Deshpande. Together, we bring a wealth of expertise in public health and healthcare across multiple functions, having previously collaborated at Arogya Parivar, a global health initiative by Novartis.
Collectively, we offer over four decades of experience in strengthening healthcare ecosystems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia.
Through our integral involvement in the healthcare landscape and dynamic operational experience, we’ve had the privilege to distill rare insights that either act as a guiding light or help anchor strategic imperatives on solid fundamentals.
We provide a wide range of services, including project management, business development, capacity building, and strategic liaison for healthcare expansion.
Inspired by our work at Arogya Parivar for underserved communities, we continue to lead transformative healthcare initiatives, offering strategic insights to address both current and emerging challenges in the healthcare ecosystem.
Know more about the Founders
Dr. Payal Sharma
Dr. Payal Sharma is a distinguished public health expert with a proven track record in shaping healthcare policy, optimizing hospital operations, and forging impactful public-private partnerships. Propelled by a passion for driving transformational change for underserved populations, she has spearheaded initiatives to improve health literacy and strengthen rural healthcare systems across 18 Indian states, leading a team of over 300 healthcare professionals. Her strategic approach has significantly enhanced access to quality healthcare for underserved populations.
As an Assistant Professor of Community Medicine at a leading Mumbai medical institution since 2009, she has dedicated over a decade to patient care, medical education, and community outreach.
With a strong foundation in public health (M.D., D.N.B. - Community Medicine) and advanced training in data science and healthcare management, Dr. Payal is uniquely positioned to drive innovation in the healthcare sector. Her commitment to evidence-based practices and her ability to translate complex data into actionable insights have resulted in numerous publications and accolades.
Her career embodies a relentless pursuit of excellence and a dedication to improving the health and well-being of communities.
Dr. Payal is an accomplished national-level tennis player who blends her athletic expertise with a deep passion for multimedia design. She is also an avid reader, committed to staying at the forefront of evolving technology.
Prashant Deshpande
Prashant Deshpande brings over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with expertise in business development, operational excellence, and project chartering. He has led strategic initiatives for Global Health Access at Novartis in India, advancing global health priorities through projects like the World Economic Forum (WEF) “Medicine from the Sky” for drone-based medicine delivery, large-scale malaria and non-communicable disease (NCD) screenings, and partnerships with the National Health Authority (NHA) and Aravind Eye Hospital.
With extensive on-ground experience in multi-tiered markets, Prashant excels in strategy ideation and field implementation, ensuring healthcare solutions reach underserved communities. His skills include leveraging technology for field force execution and optimization, and enhancing stakeholder visibility and operational efficiency. He is also experienced in feasibility analysis for nutrition projects (DSM) and has applied field force optimization techniques that boost engagement and impact.
As Head of Global Health Markets for Asia, Prashant managed full P&L responsibilities across Nepal, Cambodia, and Laos, successfully broadening access to essential medicines. Known for his collaborative approach, he has led large, multi-layered teams, fostering productive partnerships and building high-performance teams in complex environments.
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​Prashant, a wildlife photography and jungle safari enthusiast, is also passionate about cricket, having had the privilege of playing in nets with international cricketers.