How is AI being used in healthcare in India?

AI is already helping Indian healthcare in practical ways, especially where there are too few specialists.

Common uses:

• Reading scans: AI tools can flag possible problems in chest X-rays, CT scans and mammograms, helping radiologists prioritise urgent cases.
• TB screening: AI-assisted chest X-ray screening is used to find tuberculosis cases faster in programmes across India.
• Eye screening: AI can detect diabetic retinopathy from photos of the retina, so screening can happen at local clinics without an eye specialist present.
• Cancer screening: tools for oral, breast and cervical cancer screening in community settings.
• Language and records: AI can help doctors write notes, summarise records and translate advice into regional languages.
• Telemedicine support for platforms like eSanjeevani (see telemedicine in India).

Limits and cautions:

• AI supports doctors; it does not replace them. Final decisions should rest with qualified professionals.
• Models trained on foreign data may perform worse on Indian patients.
• Patient privacy must be protected under the data protection law.
• Patients should be wary of chatbot medical advice and of fake AI ads. Regulators have acted on this, as covered in the NMC ban on AI testimonials.