New Delhi, Feb 17: Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, emphasized the significant impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on India's healthcare landscape during her address at the AI Impact Summit held in the national capital. She asserted that technology should act as a catalyst to enhance inclusivity and promote health equity.

Patel articulated that the true potential of AI is realized when it effectively addresses health disparities and aligns with India's governance framework. She stated, “The real measure of the power of AI lies in the extent to which it is able to touch and address health inequities. That's the governance model we follow, in which AI becomes an enabler and a force multiplier, and it is able to take us closer to the goals of inclusivity and health equity.”

Highlighting the government's long-term aspirations, she mentioned that India aims to evolve into a developed nation by 2047, with health being a fundamental aspect of this vision. “Marching ahead with a big vision of building a developed nation by 2047. And when we envision a developed India, health becomes an extremely important pillar,” she remarked.

Patel pointed out the unique challenges faced by India, including its vast and diverse population, the rural-urban divide, and the dual burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. She stressed the importance of leveraging technology to tackle these challenges effectively.

She further explained that India's strategy transcends mere technology adoption, representing a comprehensive response to the structural issues within the healthcare system. “We have had comprehensive technological integration in our national healthcare framework, which we don’t see only as adoption of technology but a strategic response to the unique challenges that we have,” Patel noted.

Patel provided examples of AI applications in healthcare, such as the Media Disease Surveillance System, which monitors digital news in 13 languages, generates disease alerts, and aids in managing real-time data. “It showcases the power of AI in augmenting our efforts towards disease control and enhances our surveillance capacity,” she added.

The Minister concluded by reiterating that the responsible use of AI will be crucial in fortifying India's public health infrastructure and ensuring equitable healthcare access for all citizens.