From Code to Care: How India's AI Prescription Is Rewiring Access and Affordability for Scalable Healthcare

Time of India

22-04-2025

New Delhi: Imagine a future where a villager in rural Bihar receives an accurate diagnosis through a smartphone, or a junior doctor in a government hospital in Rajasthan interprets complex scans in seconds with the help of an AI assistant. This is not science fiction—it's the very real trajectory of India's healthcare system as it accelerates into an AI-powered digital revolution.
By 2030, India's healthcare landscape is poised for radical transformation. With artificial intelligence woven into the core of medical care, patients will gain faster diagnoses, personalized treatment plans, and seamless access to services—often through mobile devices. Healthcare workers, in turn, will rely on intelligent systems to aid clinical decisions, minimize errors, and automate routine tasks—freeing them to focus on what truly matters: caring for patients.
In an exclusive interaction with ETHealthworld, Dr. Anurag Agrawal, Dean of the Trivedi School of Biosciences at Ashoka University and a member of the Health AI Committee, offered insights into this impending transformation.
'The question isn't whether AI will transform Indian healthcare—it's how fast and how far this transformation can scale,' he said.
Beyond Hype: Scaling Trust and Transparency
Dr. Agrawal emphasised that while the potential of AI is immense, realising it will require more than just algorithms. It demands trust, transparency, targeted innovation, and a collaborative ecosystem willing to rigorously test and deploy AI solutions where they are needed most—at the grassroots.
Looking ahead to 2030, he envisions a healthcare system marked by instant diagnostics, AI-assisted treatment planning, and improved access across demographics. AI will not only enhance diagnostics but also accelerate drug discovery, promote precision wellness, and reshape medical education, making it a cornerstone of future healthcare training.
India's Unique Advantage: Scale + Digital Infrastructure
With one of the world's largest digital infrastructures and a population increasingly connected, India has a rare opportunity—not just to adopt AI, but to set a global benchmark in its deployment.
'India's true strength lies in its scale,' Dr. Agrawal noted. 'Initiatives like Aadhaar, UPI, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) create a robust foundation to deploy AI across varied health scenarios—from urban hospitals to rural PHCs.'
From Pilot to Policy: Real-World Impact Already Underway
Dr. Agrawal highlighting promising pilot projects already demonstrating the real-world impact of AI, said,"AI-powered diabetic retinopathy screening, led by Mona Do (now heading the ICMR Institute for National Digital Health Research), showcased how early detection can prevent blindness.
AI tools in Rajasthan are interpreting CT scans in the absence of radiologists. Chest X-ray interpretation systems are successfully screening for tuberculosis.
'These projects work best when co-developed by tech innovators and frontline healthcare professionals who understand clinical nuances,' he said.
To bridge the gap between promise and execution, the government has launched the India AI Mission, inviting proposals for responsible and scalable AI healthcare models. Many of these align with national initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, and India's rising visibility on global platforms—such as the upcoming World Health Summit regional meeting—signals its ambition to lead the AI-healthcare movement.
Balancing Innovation and Regulation
A key challenge, however, remains: regulatory clarity, informed Dr Agarwal.
While NITI Aayog is working on frameworks like the 'Ease of Doing Science' policy, Dr. Agrawal warned of the delicate balance between enabling innovation and overregulating a nascent sector. A phased rollout strategy, grounded in scientific validation and peer-reviewed results, is essential to building trust and credibility.
Public-Private Synergy: The Innovation Flywheel
Private investment is playing a crucial role. Homegrown startups are drawing venture capital, and global tech giants such as Microsoft and Google, along with philanthropic players like the Gates Foundation, are actively collaborating with Indian innovators. This synergy between public vision and private ingenuity is creating a thriving AI-health ecosystem.
The Road Ahead
India stands at the cusp of a healthcare revolution. With its unparalleled scale, digital readiness, and entrepreneurial energy, the nation has all the ingredients to lead the world in AI-driven healthcare.
But success will hinge on its ability to validate innovations, regulate smartly, and collaborate across sectors to ensure AI reaches every citizen—urban or rural, rich or poor.
'If these pieces come together, India won't just transform its own healthcare system—it will become a blueprint for the world,' Dr. Agrawal concluded.