In a significant move to bolster India’s public healthcare infrastructure, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has announced the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public health services. The government has designated three premier institutions—AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh—as ‘Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence.’ These institutions will spearhead the development and deployment of AI-driven solutions to enhance disease surveillance, diagnosis, and patient care.

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Prataprao Jadhav, emphasized the pivotal role of AI in transforming healthcare delivery. Among the key AI-driven initiatives introduced by the ministry are the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in e-Sanjeevani, Media Disease Surveillance (MDS) under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), and AI-based diagnostic tools for diabetic retinopathy and abnormal chest X-rays.

AI-Driven Innovations Reshaping Public Health

1. Media Disease Surveillance (MDS) for Early Disease Detection

The AI-powered MDS system has been instrumental in monitoring infectious diseases since its implementation in April 2022. By scanning digital news sources and social media platforms, MDS identifies potential outbreaks and shares real-time alerts with local health authorities. So far, over 4,500 event alerts have been issued, enabling timely interventions and reducing disease-related mortality and morbidity.

2. Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in e-Sanjeevani

The national telemedicine platform, e-Sanjeevani, has integrated the CDSS, an AI-enabled tool designed to assist healthcare professionals in making accurate diagnoses. The system streamlines patient data collection and provides AI-generated differential diagnoses. Out of 196 million consultations conducted on e-Sanjeevani, 12 million have benefited from AI-assisted diagnostic recommendations, ensuring standardized and improved patient care.

3. AI for Tuberculosis Elimination

Under India’s ambitious TB elimination program, AI is playing a crucial role in enhancing detection and treatment outcomes:

• Cough Against TB: This AI-powered solution aids in pulmonary TB screening in community settings. It has contributed to a 12-16% increase in TB case detection, helping identify patients who might have been missed through conventional screening methods.
• Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes: Deployed to track TB patients at risk of poor treatment outcomes, this AI model has led to a 27% decline in adverse cases by identifying high-risk patients at the beginning of their treatment journey.

Expanding AI Integration in Healthcare

Beyond these advancements, MoHFW is actively developing AI-powered solutions for various other healthcare challenges. The government is focusing on innovative tools such as AI models for diabetic retinopathy identification and abnormal chest X-ray classification. These technologies are expected to further improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes, ensuring better patient management across the country.

Also Read: Eli Lilly Introduces Mounjaro in India: Much Needed Breakthrough in Obesity and Diabetes Management

Government’s Commitment to AI in Healthcare

The designation of AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh as Centres of Excellence underscores the government’s commitment to fostering AI-driven healthcare innovations. These institutions will serve as hubs for AI research and implementation, driving new breakthroughs in disease surveillance and patient care.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare continues to take proactive measures to integrate AI into the healthcare system, ensuring that technology-driven solutions enhance accessibility, efficiency, and overall health outcomes. With AI poised to redefine medical diagnosis and disease management, India is set to witness a transformative shift in its healthcare landscape.

Stay tuned to eHealth for more updates on AI innovations in the healthcare sector.

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