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AI in Indian Healthcare: Modi’s Vision and the Institutions Spearheading Change

At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized artificial intelligence's transformative potential across multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. India is positioning itself as a global leader in AI-powered healthcare through the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence.

• By Pooja Chaturvedi Sah
• New Delhi
• Feb 14, 2025

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At the AI Action Summit in Paris, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized artificial intelligence's transformative potential across multiple sectors, including healthcare, education, and agriculture. He pointed out how AI can bridge gaps in accessibility, particularly in the Global South, where resources like skilled talent, power, and financial backing are often scarce. 

“AI is already shaping our economy, security, and society. It is writing the code for humanity in this century,” Modi said, underlining that AI can significantly improve healthcare outcomes by enhancing diagnostics, treatment accessibility, and medical research. He called for global collaboration in developing open-source AI systems that ensure trust, transparency, and inclusivity. 

IITs and AIIMS Spearheading AI-Driven Healthcare

India is positioning itself as a global leader in AI-powered healthcare through the establishment of Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Artificial Intelligence. AIIMS Delhi, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, and IIT Ropar have been selected to drive AI innovation in healthcare, sustainable cities, and agriculture. 

Announcing the initiative in Parliament, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan stated that these centres will operate as consortiums, uniting top academic institutions, research organizations, industry partners, and startups. This collaborative approach is expected to accelerate breakthroughs in AI-driven healthcare. 

The project includes contributions from IIT Madras, IIT Hyderabad, IIT Bombay, IIT Tirupati, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar, IISc Bangalore, IIIT Hyderabad, AIIMS Patna, NIT Meghalaya, NIT Hamirpur, and NIT Calicut. The institutions were chosen through a rigorous evaluation process led by an Apex Committee, consisting of AI specialists, academicians, and ministry representatives. 

Under the "Make AI in India and Make AI Work for India" initiative, the government has allocated ₹990 crore for the period 2023-2028 to fund research and deployment of AI in these key areas. 

AIIMS Delhi: A Hub for AI-Driven Medical Advancement

AIIMS Delhi has been leading the adoption of AI in medical research and treatment, particularly in diagnostics and robotic-assisted surgeries. As the National Resource Centre under the National Medical College Network (NMCN), AIIMS has launched a Centre of Excellence for AI in Healthcare, focusing on: 

AI-powered diagnostics – Enhancing accuracy in analyzing chest X-rays, detecting diabetic retinopathy, and identifying skin lesions. 

Robotic surgery training – With two advanced robotic surgery systems, AIIMS is integrating AI into surgical procedures. 

Innovative research projects – AIIMS is currently managing over 900 extramural research projects, funded by both national and international agencies, with grants nearing ₹200 crore. 

Entrepreneurial innovation – AIIMS has set up a Centre for Medical Innovation & Entrepreneurship under the BIRAC–BioNEST Scheme, fostering AI-driven startups in the healthcare sector. 

According to NITI Aayog, AI has the potential to revolutionize Indian healthcare by addressing challenges such as the shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas. AI-powered telemedicine platforms, smart diagnostics, and personalized treatment plans could significantly enhance healthcare accessibility across India’s vast population. 

Government’s Digital Push: AI in National Healthcare Policy

To ensure the rapid adoption of AI in healthcare, the Indian government is implementing multiple initiatives: 

Expanding broadband for rural health centers– Under BharatNet, the government is improving digital connectivity to primary health centers in remote areas. – 

Investing over $1 billion in the 2025 Union Budget to fund AI-driven digital health services. 

Implementing the National Digital Health Mission (NDHM) – A nationwide initiative to create a unified health ID for every citizen, linking their medical records and enabling seamless access to healthcare. 

This digital transformation is expected to generate vast amounts of structured health data, providing a solid foundation for AI applications in diagnostics, treatment planning, and research. 

Private Sector and Startups Powering AI in Indian Healthcare

Beyond government-led initiatives, major corporations and startups are accelerating AI’s expansion in India’s healthcare sector. Some examples are: 

Tata Elxsi is developing AI-powered medical imaging solutions to enhance early disease detection.

Google India has partnered with Forus Health and AuroLab to expand AI-driven diabetic retinopathy screening across India. 

Practo, a leading telemedicine platform, is leveraging AI’s multilingual capabilities to improve healthcare accessibility across diverse linguistic populations. 

AI in Diagnosis, Treatment, and Drug Discovery

AI’s role in Indian healthcare extends across various stages of medical treatment: 

Diagnosis – AI is revolutionizing medical imaging by analyzing CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays with precision, identifying anomalies that human eyes might overlook. 

Post-diagnosis patient care– AI is being used for automated patient follow-ups, appointment scheduling, and medication adherence tracking.  

AI in oncology – Apollo Hospitals has launched India’s first AI-powered Precision Oncology Center, which educates cancer patients and their families about diagnoses, treatment options, and support groups. 

Drug discovery and synthetic data generation– AI is helping researchers analyze scientific literature, identify research gaps, and generate synthetic medical data, enabling faster drug development and personalized medicine. 

State Governments Using AI for Public Health

Several state governments have successfully integrated AI into public health management: 

Rajasthan’s AI-powered silicosis detection – The government developed an AI model trained on chest X-rays to detect silicosis, a lung disease affecting sandstone miners. The initiative has improved disease detection and enabled direct financial assistance to patients through a Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) portal. 

Uttarakhand’s eSwasthya Dham portal– This AI-powered platform monitors the health parameters of Char Dham Yatra pilgrims, ensuring real-time medical assistance during their journey. The system also allows devotees to create a digital health ID (ABHA) in under two minutes, enabling secure management of medical records. 

Challenges in AI Adoption for Healthcare

Despite its immense potential, AI adoption in India’s healthcare sector faces significant roadblocks: 

1. Regulatory Gaps– While the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has introduced guidelines for AI in healthcare, comprehensive regulations are still evolving. 

2. Data Security & Privacy Concerns – AI’s success depends on high-quality medical data, but India still struggles with fragmented and unstructured health records. 

3. Digital Divide – AI adoption in healthcare is growing in urban areas, but rural India lags behind due to limited digital infrastructure. 

4. Skill Gap– There is a shortage of healthcare professionals trained in AI-driven diagnostics and treatment methodologies**. 

The Future of AI in Indian Healthcare

The Economic Survey 2024-25 highlights AI’s potential to transform Indian healthcare by improving affordability, accessibility, and efficiency. However, widespread adoption requires: - 

Public awareness about AI-driven healthcare solutions. 

Greater adoption by hospitals and healthcare providers. 

Regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with patient safety. 

With the right policies, investments, and collaborative efforts, AI could redefine healthcare standards in India and position the nation as a global leader in AI-driven medical research and healthcare solutions.