Demand for Health Level Seven (HL7) services and digital imaging and communication in medicare (Dicom) is expected to grow tremendously, according to Dr. Saji Salam, Chairman of Health Level Seven Inc in India. With both central and state governments seeking to create new standards for healthcare services and administration, HL7 has become one of the emerging areas and the market was set to grow to about $60 billion from the current $40 billion, according to a Gartner group estimates. To address this market many software vendors are seeking HL7 certification, according to Dr. Salam.

The HL7 is seeking to create awareness through centres of excellence in partnership with healthcare academic centres, management institutes and technology firms. According to Dr. Salam, the Institute of Life Sciences, Hyderabad, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Sri Ramachandra Medical College Management Centre, Chennai and Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, are keen to create a platform for the facilitation.

Dr. Salam further added that the interesting aspect of the growth of HL7 certification is that a host of the management institutes are seeking to be a part of the initiative. Dr. Salam maintained that the area of health management is now in synchronous with information technology and the blend of the two could provide an ideal platform for growth. "As a member of the CII, we are also seeking to promote India as a healthcare services destination where HL7 will be an important component. The kind of activity witnesses in the healthcare sector is an indication of the things to come. Standardisation in the healthcare informatics market will generate new avenues of business," Dr. Salam further reiterated.

He further added that the standardization in the healthcare informatics market and the HL7 standardisation could also help companies in the seamless integration of systems when merger or acquisition takes place. He pointed out that company like Covansys, CTS, Wipro to name a few have already conducted certification initiatives and India can now boast of having HL7 certified professionals.