The ministry of health and family welfare has launched an initiative to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into India’s healthcare ecosystem, aiming to transform public health services through innovation and technology, Union minister of state for health and family welfare Prataprao Jadhav told the Lok Sabha.
As part of this initiative, the ministry has designated AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, and AIIMS Rishikesh as centres of excellence (CoE) for artificial intelligence to promote the development and adoption of AI-driven healthcare solutions.
To advance this effort, the ministry has partnered with several key organizations, including the Central Tuberculosis Division, National Centre for Disease Control, CDAC-Mohali, ICMR, MeitY, ministry of higher education, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and the National Health Systems Resource Centre. Technical support is also being provided by Wadhwani AI to the three CoEs.
AI solutions
Several AI-based applications have already been deployed, including the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) integrated into eSanjeevani, a diabetic retinopathy (DR) detection tool ‘MadhuNetrAI,’ and an abnormal chest X-ray classifier model.
MadhuNetrAI, designed for early detection of diabetic retinopathy, allows non-specialist health workers to conduct retinal screenings. The AI analyzes retinal fundus images to classify DR severity and prioritize referrals. The tool has been rolled out across 38 facilities in 11 states, screening over 14,000 retinal images and assisting 7,100 patients.
The CDSS in eSanjeevani enhances consultation quality by suggesting AI-based differential diagnoses and standardizing patient data capture. Since its integration in April 2023, the system has improved 282 million consultations, ensuring consistency across health and wellness centers nationwide.
Under the tuberculosis (TB) elimination program, the ‘cough against TB’ (CATB) AI solution is being used for community screening. The technology has increased TB detection rates by 12-16% compared to conventional screening methods, with over 1.62 lakh individuals screened since March 2023.
Ethical and secure deployment
The Ministry emphasized that all AI initiatives strictly comply with existing standards and regulations, including the MeitY AI governance guidelines, ICMR ethical guidelines for AI in healthcare, Information Technology Act 2000, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and the Information Security Policy for Healthcare. These measures ensure ethical use, data protection, and operational reliability.
