7 Jul 2023 • With the convergence of start-up culture, AI technology, and the government's vision of "Make AI in India" and "Make AI work for India," the stage is set for a transformative era in digital health and Doctors are at the centre of this, by leveraging their clinical expertise, they are poised to play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful implementation and governance of new technologies that can positively impact patient outcomes.

As suggested by data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), India's doctor-to-patient ratio has plummeted sharply to about 0.7 doctors per 1,000 patients in the year 2020, from its record high of 1.2 doctors per 1,000 patients in 1991. AI technology has emerged as a powerful tool with the potential to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility in healthcare delivery.

The Make in India program and the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) initiated by the government are playing a crucial role in promoting the adoption of technology within the healthcare industry.

India to invest $12bn in AI by ’25: According to the Indian AI Healthcare Market 2019-25 report, large tech companies are pumping funds into AI healthcare innovations. “India would invest $11.78 billion in AI healthcare by 2025 which will enhance the country’s GDP by $1 trillion by 2035,” the report states.

A new World Economic Forum report highlights the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare and the importance of public-private collaboration in driving its global adoption. Alongside the benefits of this technology, there are of course also challenges such as data privacy, public acceptance, and patient compliance which must be addressed. A carefully crafted ethical framework will be required for any system that curates personal data on a vast population. Despite these challenges, AI-based healthcare solutions are poised to become increasingly prevalent in the next 3–5 years.

Source: ANI | Read full story