Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing India’s health sector, addressing age-old concerns such as the scarcity of medical professionals and the need for improved rural accessibility. Realizing the huge potential of AI, the government of India is heavily investing in integrating AI within the healthcare industry.
One of the major initiatives is the National Digital Health Mission, which aims to establish a single digital health ID for citizens to improve patient data management. The government has also committed more than $1 billion in India’s 2025 Union Budget for building AI-based digital health services. These are supported by initiatives such as BharatNet, which aims to enhance broadband connectivity to rural health centers.
In addition to government-backed initiatives, private enterprises are actively advancing AI’s role in healthcare. The Tata Group, India’s largest conglomerate, is pioneering AI-powered medical imaging solutions. Bengaluru-based startup Sigtuple has launched an AI-powered digital pathology platform for remote diagnosis of blood samples to increase access to specialist diagnostics.
AI is also revolutionizing post-diagnosis and diagnostics care. From rapidly scanning CT scans and MRIs to managing administrative work, AI-enabled solutions are liberating healthcare workers from administrative work so they can better focus on attending to patients. Apollo Hospitals, India’s largest hospital chain, has opened the nation’s first AI-Precision Oncology Center, which informs cancer patients and their families about treatments and links them with support groups.
While promising, AI adoption in Indian healthcare is full of challenges. Ethical and regulatory guidelines are not fully established, and high-quality healthcare data are still often not available. The urban-rural digital divide remains a huge challenge as well.
Written by: Ames Gross – President and Founder, Pacific Bridge Medical (PBM)
Mr. Gross founded PBM in 1988 and has helped hundreds of medical companies with regulatory and business development issues in Asia. He is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in the Asian medical markets. Mr. Gross has a BA degree, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia University.