Artificial Intelligence is expected to play a key role in the next phase of growth in India’s healthcare sector by improving patient access and strengthening healthcare delivery at multiple levels, National Health Authority (NHA) CEO Dr Sunil Kumar Barnwal said on April 10.
Speaking at a session organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Barnwal said AI had already contributed significantly to the development of the foundational framework of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM).
He said the increasing use of AI across different stages of healthcare services could help empower patients and make quality healthcare more accessible, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
Barnwal also urged healthcare institutions to enrol under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) and adopt the National Health Claims Exchange (NHCX) platform to simplify and speed up the claims settlement process.
He appreciated CII’s efforts in promoting awareness about NHCX among healthcare providers and insurers to support the wider adoption of digital claims processing systems.
During the session, CII Healthcare Council Chairman Dr Naresh Trehan said the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” presents India with an opportunity to shape and strengthen its healthcare system over the next two decades. He added that India is home to some of the world’s leading medical professionals and noted that nearly 22 per cent of department heads in major hospitals in the United States are of Indian origin.
Former NITI Aayog member (Health) Dr VK Paul highlighted the importance of creating strong policy frameworks for the responsible use of AI in healthcare and emphasised the role of data in effective policymaking.
Archana Vyas, India Country Director for the Gates Foundation, stressed the need to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths and said the organisation continues to focus on reaching vulnerable and marginalised communities.
