Is the system hallucination-free?

Aakhyān does not use LLM-generated text in patient-facing output. Discharge instructions are rendered through deterministic, clinician-reviewed templates that have been approved by oncologists and clinicians. The AI extracts structured data from discharge summaries — the template converts that data into natural-language instructions. No generative text reaches the patient.

Which languages does Aakhyān currently support?

Aakhyān currently generates discharge instructions in Bengali, Hindi, English, and Assamese, all delivered as WhatsApp voice messages. The system is designed to expand to additional Indian languages as the platform scales beyond the pilot.

What happens when a drug isn’t in the lexicon?

If a medication is not yet in Aakhyān’s verified drug lexicon, the system flags it for clinician review. The drug’s brand name is preserved as-is, and every message is reviewed by the treating clinician before delivery. The clinician can edit, correct, or reject any instruction before it reaches the patient. No message is ever sent without clinician approval.

What’s the cost per patient?

During the pilot at Silchar Cancer Centre, Aakhyān is provided at no cost to the institution or the patient. At scale, the system costs INR 100–150 per patient (approximately USD 1.20–1.80) — comparable to the cost of one blood test. This covers the full communication sequence: discharge comprehension, medication adherence nudges, follow-up reminders, and on-demand information access. The project is principal-investigator initiated and self-funded.

How is patient data protected under DPDPA?

Discharge summary photographs are captured in-app and not saved to the device camera roll. Patient identifiers — names, addresses, contact details, and hospital IDs — are algorithmically redacted before any external API call. Only de-identified clinical content is processed using secure, access-controlled AI services. No patient names, contact details, or identifying information are ever exposed to external systems. Voice messages are delivered directly to the patient’s registered WhatsApp number. All processing complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.

Can another hospital join the pilot?

The current pilot is at Silchar Cancer Centre. Onboarding a new centre is straightforward — no integration with existing hospital systems is required for basic deployment. If you represent a hospital or cancer centre, please reach out through our contact form.

Does Aakhyān support only cancer patients?

Currently, yes. Aakhyān is designed and validated for oncology discharge summaries, where the complexity of multi-drug regimens — chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and hormonal therapy — and the consequences of misunderstanding are highest. We have long-term plans to extend the platform to other specialities where discharge communication gaps affect patient outcomes.

Does Aakhyān only send messages at discharge?

No. Aakhyān continues through the post-discharge recovery window — 30 days in the current pilot protocol. Day 0 is six structured voice messages explaining the discharge summary. Days 1–3 bring risk-stratified medication adherence nudges. An on-demand keyword reply menu is available any time — the patient texts a number to hear their medicines, hospital contact, follow-up details, or diet advice. Two days before follow-up, verified reminders arrive with department, tests, and fasting instructions. A day-before availability check (currently in pilot phase) verifies doctor and equipment availability to prevent wasted journeys.

Does the patient need to install an app?

No. Everything works through WhatsApp, which the vast majority of Indian smartphone users already have. Voice messages, medication nudges, follow-up reminders, and the on-demand information menu all arrive as standard WhatsApp messages. The reply commands (1 for medicines, 2 for hospital, etc.) use simple text replies — no app, no login, no learning curve.

Terms of Use

Effective date: 31 March 2026 Last updated: 31 March 2026

By accessing or using the Aakhyān website (aakhyan.health), platform, or any associated services (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1. About the Service

Aakhyān is an independently developed, AI-powered healthcare communication system. Its first module converts oncology discharge summaries into clear, voice-first explanations in the patient's own language. The Service is currently in a pre-pilot research phase and is not yet deployed at any institution. Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) approval is being sought to conduct a proposed research study. The Service is operated on a not-for-profit basis during this phase. The operational model, pricing, scope, and organisational structure may change as the project evolves.

2. Not Medical Advice

The Service does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Aakhyān is a communication aid that reformats existing clinician-authored discharge instructions into vernacular language. It does not generate medical recommendations, alter clinical decisions, or replace the judgment of a qualified healthcare professional.

All patient-facing output is derived from the treating clinician's discharge summary and rendered through deterministic, clinician-reviewed templates
Every message is reviewed and approved by the treating clinician before delivery
Patients and caregivers must always consult their treating physician for medical decisions, clarifications, or emergencies
The voice messages generated by Aakhyān are supplementary to — not a replacement for — the written discharge summary provided by the hospital

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, contact your nearest hospital or call emergency services immediately. Do not rely on Aakhyān output in an emergency.

3. Intellectual Property

All intellectual property associated with the Service is owned by the Aakhyān project and its principals, and is protected under applicable Indian and international law. This includes, without limitation:

The Aakhyān name, brand, and logo (আখ্যান / Aakhyān)
The end-to-end processing pipeline — including the architecture and methodology for image capture, AI-driven data extraction, deterministic template rendering, clinician review workflows, and voice synthesis delivery
All clinician-reviewed templates used to render patient-facing instructions, including their structure, logic, and language adaptations
The voice synthesis pipeline configuration, integration logic, and any associated training data or prompt templates
The drug lexicon and therapeutic class descriptions
All source code, algorithms, system designs, and technical documentation
All website content, including text, illustrations, watercolor artwork, animations, and design
All research protocols, study designs, and associated documentation

No part of the Service — including its technology, methodology, templates, pipeline architecture, content, or design — may be copied, reproduced, reverse-engineered, decompiled, disassembled, modified, distributed, sublicensed, or used to create derivative works without prior written consent from the Aakhyān project.

The availability of the Service on a not-for-profit basis during the pilot phase does not constitute a waiver, transfer, or licence of any intellectual property rights. All rights are expressly reserved, including the right to commercialise the Service in any form in the future.

4. Use of the Website

You may access the Aakhyān website for informational purposes. You agree not to:

Scrape, crawl, or use automated tools to extract content from the website
Reproduce, redistribute, or publicly display website content (text, illustrations, design) without written permission
Attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Service, its servers, or connected systems
Use the Service or its content to develop, train, or improve competing products or AI systems
Misrepresent your affiliation with the Aakhyān project or its institutional partners

5. Research and Pilot Context

The Service is currently in a pre-pilot research phase. Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) approval is being sought to conduct a proposed randomised controlled trial at a cancer centre in Assam. The Service is not yet deployed at any institution, and no formal affiliation or partnership with any hospital or institutional body is implied by the existence of this website or the Service.

If and when the proposed study receives IEC clearance:

The Service will be provided at no cost to the institution or the patient during the research phase
Participation in the research study will be governed by a separate informed consent process approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee
Study participants will retain all rights granted under the applicable IEC protocol and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023
Findings, data, and publications arising from the study are the intellectual property of the study investigators

These Terms govern use of the website and platform. They do not modify or supersede any future informed consent process for research participants.

6. Data Protection

The processing of personal and health data through the Service is governed by our Privacy & Data Protection policy and complies with the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023.

Key commitments:

Patient data is de-identified before AI processing
No patient data is used to train AI models
No patient data is shared with third parties
All processing occurs on servers located in India

For full details, see our Privacy & Data Protection page.

7. Third-Party Services

The Service may integrate with third-party platforms (such as WhatsApp for message delivery). Your use of those platforms is governed by their respective terms of service. Aakhyān is not responsible for the practices, policies, or availability of third-party services.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, whether express, implied, or statutory. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Aakhyān project disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to:

Fitness for a particular purpose
Accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-extracted data
Uninterrupted or error-free operation
Compatibility with all devices, browsers, or networks

The clinician review step is a critical safeguard. The Aakhyān project does not warrant that AI extraction will be free from errors — the system is designed to be verified by a qualified clinician before any output reaches the patient.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted under Indian law, the Aakhyān project, its principals, investigators, collaborating institutions, and contributors shall not be liable for any:

Direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from use of the Service
Medical outcomes, adverse events, or clinical decisions made with reference to Aakhyān output
Loss of data, interruption of service, or inability to access the Service
Actions or omissions of third-party service providers

This limitation applies regardless of the theory of liability (contract, tort, strict liability, or otherwise) and regardless of whether the Aakhyān project has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Aakhyān project, its principals, investigators, and collaborating institutions from any claims, damages, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any applicable law.

11. Modifications

The Aakhyān project reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. Continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India. Any disputes arising from these Terms or the Service shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Silchar, Assam, India.

13. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

14. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Dr. Debaraj Shome Purkayastha Concept, Design & Development — Aakhyān Project

Email: research@aakhyan.health

Institutional Address: Silchar Cancer Centre, Inside Silchar Medical Hospital & College Campus, Ghungoor, Silchar, Assam. Pin-788014