By Arunima Rajan

The Indian internet is a jungle of health myths. Your aunt swears by turmeric miracles and your uncle passes around vaccine conspiracies like they are the gospel. Enter Sudipta Sengupta, the no-nonsense force behind The Healthy Indian Project (THIP), which he kicked off in 2019 to dispel these delusions. With an MBA and 15 years of hard-earned corporate experience, he says he has taken down 2,601 misinformation claims and flagged 12,000 dubious posts. The site has even earned recognition as India’s first medical content fact-checking site certified by the American Accreditation Commission. Arunima Rajan sat down with him to get to the heart of the matter.

After 15 years in the corporate world with an engineering degree and an MBA, which was the moment you realised you had to leave it all behind and start THIP?

Entrepreneurship is rarely about a sudden "Eureka!" moment. It’s a journey that unfolds over time, shaped by experiences, insights, and the right timing. As they say, “It happens exactly when it’s supposed to.” That was certainly the case for me.

I had been a product person in the digital media space and largely worked on new initiatives. Transitioning into entrepreneurship felt like a natural progression. I had spent years working at the intersection of content, technology, and audience engagement, always questioning how information is created, distributed, and consumed.

THIP wasn’t just an idea. It was a response to a real, urgent problem I had seen throughout my career. The way we produce and consume health information is often careless, and the consequences are severe, ranging from doctor-patient distrust to widespread misinformation. In a country like India, where socio-economic disparities make access to credible health information even more critical, the challenge is even greater. I didn’t just witness the problem; I felt compelled to solve it. And that’s what drives me every day.

In a world where misinformation seems to be everywhere, how did you manage to earn people’s trust with THIP right from the start, and what keeps you passionate about fighting fake news?

When I started THIP, I knew one thing for sure — health content couldn't be treated like any other media content. It needed to be held to a higher standard, because when people look for health information, they are often vulnerable, scared, and in need of real answers. That’s why I made two fundamental changes in how we approach content at THIP.

First, we built an ecosystem where doctors take the lead. Our editorial team includes medical professionals who are deeply committed to patient education, and we are supported by a network of 200+ doctors across India who share our mission of fighting health misinformation. Every piece of content we produce is governed by medical expertise, not assumptions.

Second, we invited scrutiny. We didn’t just want to claim credibility — we wanted to prove it. That’s why we chose to hold ourselves accountable through external certifications. Today, THIP is an official signatory of the International Fact-Checking Network (IFCN), and our content meets the quality standards set by the American Accreditation Commission International (AACI). These aren’t just badges we wear, they are the backbone of our editorial discipline, reminding us every day why we do what we do.

But let’s be real, trust isn’t built overnight. No amount of marketing can buy it. It takes time, consistency, and an unwavering commitment to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. Do I think THIP has earned the trust of every Indian yet? No. We’re still growing, still proving ourselves. But I dream of the day when THIP becomes the most trusted health content platform in India. Every single day, we fight for that trust — through the right partnerships, through evidence-based content, and through clear, honest communication with our readers.

That’s because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about content. It’s about people. And they deserve the truth.

We all know fake health news can do real harm. What do you think is behind this trend in India, and how does THIP dig deep to tackle these issues?

The danger of fake health news is well-documented — it can lead to real harm, yet most people underestimate their own vulnerability to it. The common assumption is that misinformation only misleads others, not us. However, health decisions are rarely made in a single moment; they involve small, incremental choices. The damage from health habits built on this misinformation often accumulates over time, going unnoticed until it is too late. Even then, the root cause — the initial exposure to false information — is rarely identified.

A major challenge in India is the way health information is shared. It is often passed along with unquestioning trust, intertwined with cultural and religious beliefs, and circulated among close circles with genuine intent to help. This makes misinformation deeply ingrained and difficult to correct, as it is not easily countered by a doctor’s opinion or scientific evidence alone.

Addressing these challenges requires sustained public health education. History has shown that the right awareness efforts can successfully combat widespread health issues, as seen in campaigns against polio, COVID-19, and tuberculosis.

At THIP, we follow a similar approach — building targeted awareness around key health conditions through our content and fact-checking misinformation. By working closely with the medical community, we ensure that accurate information reaches those who are most vulnerable, bridging the gap between medical expertise and public understanding.

You have been recognised by organisations such as the IFCN, AACI, and the WHO’s Vaccine Safety Net. What does that international nod mean to you, and how does it shape your work?

I don’t see certifications or partnerships as achievements to show off. Some of these are rigorous, time-consuming, and require financial investment — something many business owners might hesitate to take on, especially when it means opening themselves up to scrutiny year after year. But for us, it’s not just a requirement, it’s a commitment.

We treat these certifications like an annual exam — an opportunity to test ourselves, to ensure that the quality of our work meets the highest standards. It keeps us disciplined, holds us accountable, and serves as a constant reminder of why we exist—to provide people with health information they can truly trust.

In these times of an ‘infodemic’, what simple advice would you give someone trying to cut through the noise and find trustworthy health information?

There are three golden rules I tell everyone. Follow them and you might just avoid ending up as a WhatsApp University graduate!

Rule #1: Just because you saw some health advice on social media, do not immediately start doing it. I don’t care if it’s your gym buddy, your favourite influencer, or your well-meaning uncle, even if it looks harmless, resist the urge! You never know what long-term mess you might be signing up for. Instead, take a step back, breathe, and fact-check. Use fact-checking tiplines, ask a doctor, or do your own research (real research, not just watching more reels). A film star’s magical diet plan may have worked for them, but remember, they also have personal trainers, nutritionists, and genes that aren’t yours. So, pause, evaluate, then act.

Rule #2: Trust your doctor. And if you can’t, get a second opinion — but from another doctor. Not your neighbour, not your auntie who “knows someone,” and definitely not that random guy in your WhatsApp group who swears by turmeric for everything. Doctors spend years studying, training, and dealing with real-life medical cases. Let’s give them the respect they deserve instead of replacing them with Google search results.

Rule #3: Learn a little about your own health. Please. Health literacy in India is shockingly low, mostly because people prefer quick fixes to actually understanding what’s happening inside their bodies. That’s why you’ll find folks chewing on leaves instead of going for a prescribed angioplasty. The more you know about your health, the better decisions you’ll make. And trust me, when you know better, you live better.

THIP dedicates 5% of its revenue to healthcare for marginalised communities. How does this commitment fit into your bigger picture of creating a fairer, better-informed society?

We see ourselves as more than just an organisation, we are a social enterprise with a deep sense of responsibility. Health is a fundamental right, and as a country, we cannot achieve it if we assume that caring for the underserved is solely the government’s duty.

Lack of information and poor health literacy don’t affect just those with fewer resources, they impact everyone, regardless of class or status. But for the underserved, the consequences can be especially severe. That’s why we are committed to making a difference where it’s needed the most. A part of what we create — our products, our services, our knowledge — will always be made accessible, free of cost, to those who need it the most.

This isn’t just a one-time initiative; it’s a principle we will carry forward in everything we build. Because true change happens only when everyone has the chance to make informed health decisions, no matter their background or circumstances.

How do you go about debunking a healthcare myth?

We actively monitor social media for viral health information. Our collaboration with social media companies often grants us backend access, allowing us to track and analyse trending posts.

Additionally, THIP’s chatbot RAKSHA, provides evidence based answers to health queries, and helps identify viral health misinformation across various platforms. Our closely connected network of doctors further assists in uncovering region-specific myths.

Once a piece of misinformation is flagged for fact-checking, our internal team thoroughly examines it against credible scientific evidence and research published in reputed journals. We also seek insights, perspectives, and expert opinions from an external panel of doctors, ensuring a well-rounded analysis that includes multiple specialties.

The final fact-check report is then meticulously compiled, published on our website, and syndicated across media platforms to maximize its reach and impact.

How do you ensure the accuracy of facts?

Non-medical editorial team members do not delve into fact checking. The entire process is managed by a team of medical professionals - internal and external. Each fact checked piece also clearly links back to the research that it refers to, puts the name, photo, designations of the doctors who share their opnion on the topic.

Why THIP, why not WebMD, or Cleave land or Mayo?

Why not? WebMD, Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, and Healthsite are all excellent sources of reliable health information. We strongly encourage people to refer to these websites rather than relying on health advice from social media or YouTube.

While these platforms may not directly address viral health misinformation, their content is undoubtedly credible and valuable. I wish to see more such trustworthy health information websites in the future. We always advocate for health literacy and consuming health information from credible sources.

However, there is one challenge—the reach of these websites, their brand name familiarity or their remaining as the relatable first point of reference for health content within the Indian diaspora remains relatively low. This is why online search triumphs as a source of health information in the country. And that is the major pitfall for right health decisions.

More importantly, there is a lack of high-quality health information resources available in Indian languages, making this an important gap that needs to be addressed.

Why isn’t the government not able to do much? What’s it about virality that can’t be controlled more strictly?

It will be wrong to say government is not doing much. There had been a number of actions taken at policy level to curb misinformation. It's just that misinformation cuts across multiple domains - political, social, health. And there is an entire ecosystem that is fuelling scam-based misinformation. Each needs to be tackled differently.

The problem with health misinformation is that it acts like slow poison. The damage often cannot be traced back to the effect of misinformation. That’s why it is often overlooked in the larger scheme of things.

Got a story that Healthcare Executive should dig into? Shoot it over to arunima.rajan@hosmac.com—no PR fluff, just solid leads.

Sudipta Sengupta on Dismantling “WhatsApp University” – A Candid Fight Against Fake Health News in India