Technology has taken a significant leap with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), transforming industries across the globe. Healthcare, in particular, has not been left behind in embracing this technological shift. As AI continues to evolve, it is revolutionizing the way medical professionals diagnose, treat, and manage diseases. From enhancing diagnostic accuracy to streamlining administrative tasks, AI is playing a pivotal role in advancing healthcare practices, improving patient outcomes, and making healthcare more accessible. The integration of AI into healthcare is a testament to the sector’s commitment to innovation and its drive to stay at the forefront of technological advancements.
Wadhwani AI (AIIMS CoE to Scale AI Solutions From Wadhwani AI, n.d.) has partnered with AIIMS New Delhi, recognized as an AI Centre of Excellence by the Indian government, to advance AI-driven healthcare innovation. This collaboration aims to enhance diagnostics and patient care across India.
Diabetic Retinopathy & AI: One of the flagship AI solutions developed by Wadhwani AI focuses on diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of preventable blindness in India. This condition often goes undetected, particularly in rural areas where access to specialised eye care is limited. Wadhwani AI’s technology empowers optometrists and field investigators to screen patients for DR in its early stages, significantly improving the chances of early intervention. Patients identified with potential issues can then be referred to specialists at AIIMS or other tertiary care centres for further treatment.
Wadhwani AI has also developed AI models to assist in interpreting chest X-rays (CXRs), which are crucial for detecting a wide range of pulmonary conditions. As CXRs account for nearly 40 per cent of all medical imaging scans, this AI technology is designed to serve as an additional diagnostic tool, helping radiologists prioritise urgent cases and enhance diagnostic accuracy. The collaboration with AIIMS Delhi aims to expand this technology to address multiple pulmonological conditions, improving patient outcomes through faster and more accurate diagnoses.
Several prominent hospitals in India have integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their healthcare services to enhance patient care and operational efficiency:
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Apollo Hospitals: Collaborated with Medtronic to integrate AI for advanced stroke management, marking a significant step in AI-driven healthcare solutions. The Brainomix 360 Stroke platform uses advanced AI to analyze brain scans in real time, assisting in stroke treatment and transfer decisions. A large-scale study in England, involving over 450,000 patients over five years, found that Brainomix sites saw a doubling of thrombectomy rates and a 37% increase compared to non-evaluation sites. (Brainomix | Medtronic Partnership, n.d.)
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Manipal Hospitals: Utilizes IBM Watson for Oncology, a cognitive computing platform, to assist physicians in personalizing cancer treatment plans.
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Aster DM Healthcare: Employs AI for prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and personalized management, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to AI adoption. (Vital Signs of Change: AI Now Lifeblood of India’s Hospital Chains, 2024)
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Kauvery Hospital: Incorporates advanced robotic surgical systems like Da Vinci and Mako 2.0, which leverage AI analytics to enhance surgical precision and outcomes. (Vital Signs of Change, 2024)
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SRM Global Hospitals Pvt Ltd: Adopted AI-based contactless vital signs monitoring technology to improve patient safety and care quality.
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India has launched several significant AI-driven healthcare initiatives aimed at enhancing accessibility, affordability, and quality of care. Notable among these are:
1. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Launched in 2021, ABDM aims to create a unified digital health ecosystem in India. It integrates health records and enables seamless patient journeys across public and private sectors, establishing the infrastructure needed for an integrated digital health system. (Kamineni & Bishen, 2025)
2. Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (WIAI): Founded in 2018 by Sunil and Romesh Wadhwani, WIAI focuses on developing and deploying AI solutions to address societal challenges in health, agriculture, and education. In healthcare, WIAI has developed over 30 AI solutions, including smart differential diagnosis tools facilitating over 5 million AI-powered consultations, and systems predicting high-risk pregnancies, impacting over 30 million women globally each year.
3. 10 Bed ICU Project: Initiated to address the shortage of intensive care units (ICUs) in rural India, this project establishes 10-bed ICUs in district hospitals. Utilizing tele-ICU systems, these units connect with specialists in urban hospitals via the cloud, providing real-time guidance to local medical staff. The initiative has established over 200 units, significantly enhancing critical care access in rural areas. (Dhillon, 2024)
Among these, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) stands out as a transformative initiative, aiming to provide comprehensive health coverage to a significant portion of the population, thereby reducing financial barriers to quality healthcare services.
Several prominent hospitals in India have integrated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into their healthcare services to enhance patient care and operational efficiency. These initiatives reflect a growing trend among Indian healthcare institutions to embrace AI technologies, aiming to improve diagnostics, treatment outcomes, and overall patient experiences. (Muñoz Parry et al., 2020)
- The growing focus on AI in healthcare has led to increased collaboration between the government, technology companies, and traditional healthcare providers.
- NITI Aayog, in partnership with Microsoft and medical tech start-up Forus Health, is developing a pilot program for early detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR).
- The Maharashtra state government has partnered with NITI Aayog and Wadhwani AI to establish the International Centre for Transformational Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI), aimed at improving rural healthcare.
- The Telangana state government has adopted the Microsoft Intelligent Network for Eyecare, developed in collaboration with LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad.
1. AIIMS CoE to Scale AI Solutions From Wadhwani AI. (n.d.). AIIMS CoE to scale AI solutions from Wadhwani AI. Retrieved from [Website]
2. Brainomix | Medtronic Partnership. (n.d.). Brainomix | Medtronic partnership. Retrieved from [Website]
3. Times of India. (2024). How doctors in Bengaluru are working with AI. Retrieved from Website
4. SRM Global Hospitals Pvt Ltd. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved from website
5. Kamineni, S., & Bishen, S. (2025, January 15). India can be a global pathfinder in digital health – here’s how. World Economic Forum. [Website]
6. Dhillon, A. (2024, September 19). ‘You feel omnipresent’: Bringing city care to India’s country hospitals. The Guardian. [Website]
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