The advent of Artificial Intelligence in the healthcare sector has been ground-breaking with its ability to reshape disease diagnosis, treatment techniques and patient monitoring. Technology radically enhances healthcare research and results by producing more specific and accurate diagnoses and helping us with better-personalised treatments.

AI’s significant ability to analyse massive amounts of clinical data quickly aids medical professionals in immediately identifying diseases, their reasons and trends that would otherwise be neglected. The potential applications of AI and ML in the healthcare sector are far-reaching, ranging from scanning radiological images in early diagnosis to results in predictions from EHRs.

Harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence in medical settings and clinics, these healthcare systems can be more competent, faster and more effective in providing care to people around the globe. The incorporation of AI in the healthcare sector is considered the future that transforms how patients receive refined care while mitigating costs for providers and enhancing better health outcomes.

As of now, a few of the most common roles for AI in the medical scenario are robust clinical decision support and imaging analysis. The clinical decision support tools enable the providers in better decision-making on treatments, medications, mental health and other needs of patients by offering them immediate access to relevant information. In the process of medical imaging, AI tools are used to analyse CT scans, x-rays, MRIs and many other images for minor findings that human radiologists might miss occasionally.

How is AIIMS embracing the technology?

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi is all set to embrace the future by using cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence, drones and robotics in healthcare services. M. Srinivas, the hospital director, has instructed the officials to plan research and application of these technologies in the healthcare sector. The key focus of this implementation is to ensure timely delivery of medical supplies that are mostly delayed due to several factors, including traffic congestion.

Srinivas said, “Artificial Intelligence (AI), drones and robotics are poised to revolutionise healthcare delivery in the near future. To make AIIMS New Delhi future-ready in the Amrit Kaal, it has been decided to have a special focus on research, adoption and application of AI, drones and robotics.”

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence, drones and robotics is expected to bring a paradigm shift in India’s healthcare system in the future. AIIMS Delhi is a hospital that welcomes around 25,000 patients daily, making it the busiest healthcare facility in the country. This use of technologies can significantly boost the efficiency and effectiveness of our healthcare system.

The successful trials and initiatives

The Indian Council of Medical Research and AIIMS Rishikesh have already embraced the success of trials. They have successfully tested the delivery of medical supplies using drones, which has become a breakthrough. The government describes this Amrit Kaal as an “era of hope, empowerment and inclusive economy.

Various Indian states like Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have already started running trials with drones for emergency medical supplies delivery. The supplies included vaccines, anti-snake venom, diagnostic lab samples and life-saving drugs. It is reported that drones work on a Hub & Spoke service delivery model that carries supplies on outbound flights and returns with the samples for diagnosis.

AI in diagnostics

Besides using drones, a wide range of AI-based diagnostic tools is being built to ease the human effort, like assisting doctors in disease diagnosis with greater accuracy, suggesting better treatment techniques, medications etc. AI models can quickly analyse the medical images of patients taking less time. They can spot even subtle abnormalities and detect the presence of deadly diseases. Such detection can be possible with pictures taken from an X-ray machine or even with a smartphone camera.