Bhavin Patel, CIO of Ferty9 Fertility Center—one of India's largest IVF chains with 11 centers across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana—explains why his $15 million healthcare company deliberately postponed AI adoption for two years.
In a recent interview on the Implement AI in 15 Minutes podcast, Patel revealed that the delay was clinically motivated: the stakes in fertility treatment are patient outcomes, not just efficiency. Ferty9, backed by Verlinvest and named Best IVF Chain of 2024 in South India, focused first on building a robust digital infrastructure and ensuring data quality before layering on AI.
“We started looking at AI only after we had clean, structured data from our EMR and lab systems,” Patel said. “Adding AI prematurely would have risked inaccurate predictions and compromised patient trust.” The company now uses AI for embryo selection and cycle optimization, but only after rigorous validation.
The cautious approach paid off: Ferty9’s AI tools have improved success rates while reducing time-to-pregnancy for patients. Patel emphasizes that in healthcare, AI should augment—not replace—clinical judgment.