Margao-based technologist Vaibhav Naik has developed EncoEase, a digital platform to help cancer patients and caregivers manage care after hospital visits
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT BUZZ
When Vaibhav Naik speaks about cancer care, he begins with his experience as a caregiver. A freelance software professional from Margao, Naik is the founder of EncoEase, an AI-powered platform designed to support cancer patients and their families after they leave the hospital. “I’m not a doctor,” he says. “I’m someone who has seen cancer closely.”
The idea for EncoEase began in 2020, when his father, Vithuray was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic. Naik recalls that the biggest challenge was not the treatment itself but what came after returning home. “Inside the hospital, things are clear. But once you go home, you are left on your own with medicines, reports and a lot of confusion,” he says. The family often carried large files to multiple hospital visits and repeatedly explained the same medical history, which became emotionally exhausting.
To manage this, Naik initially built a simple offline app for his family to store reports, track medicines and note symptoms. The tool helped them stay organised through nearly five years of treatment, until his father passed away in 2025. Before his death, Naik recalls his father saying, “Help as many people as you can. Even small help matters.” Those words inspired Naik to transform the app into a full platform for public use.
EncoEase is designed as a support system between hospital visits, not a replacement for doctors. It centralises medical records, medication schedules, symptom tracking and treatment timelines in one place. The platform also provides reminders, activity updates, vaccination records and health education content.
Its AI assistant, available 24/7, helps users understand medical terms in simple language, offers basic guidance and identifies symptom patterns. Naik says, “When everything is in one place and easy to understand, it reduces stress for patients and families.”
Alongside medical tracking, the platform includes mental health support features such as daily check-ins and a chat option for users to express how they are feeling. However, Naik stresses that it does not provide diagnosis or treatment. “It is only a support tool. Doctors must always make the final decisions,” he says.
The system is built with safety limits, ensuring that if a query is beyond its scope, users are directed to a doctor. It also uses encryption and secure systems to protect personal health data. He adds, “We do not share or sell user data. Privacy is very important.”
The platform is currently free to use, a decision he links directly to his personal experience. “Cancer treatment is already expensive. Support should not add to that burden,” says Naik, who also conducts educational sessions in colleges on artificial intelligence, data and film science.
EncoEase is being refined based on user feedback and is expected to collaborate more closely with medical professionals in the future. Naik’s plans include adding more Indian languages and improving accessibility in non-urban areas. He is also in discussions with hospitals, cancer centres and NGOs for possible partnerships.
One upcoming feature is a community fundraising option, where users can contribute small amounts to a common pool to support verified patients who cannot afford treatment. “Many families stop treatment because of money,” he says. “Even small help can make a difference.”
