Government increases healthcare focus using AI, teleconsultation

India’s Health Minister JP Nadda has highlighted the government’s focus on improving healthcare using modern technology and policies. He mentioned the increasing role of artificial intelligence in detecting diseases like tuberculosis (TB) and sickle cell disease. The government also aims to enhance cancer treatment methods in rural areas and expand mental health teleconsultation. Currently, healthcare spending in India stands at 1.84% of GDP. The government plans to raise this to 2.5%. Nadda spoke on these issues during a debate in the Rajya Sabha. He noted that while health services are primarily managed by state governments, the central government supports them through funding, policy, and technology. Since 2017, the government has pursued a comprehensive health policy. This policy encourages collaboration between various health practices, including allopathy, Ayush, and yoga. Nadda stressed the commitment to eliminating tuberculosis by 2030. He also discussed the growth of medical institutions, stating that 22 new All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) are being built. Nadda mentioned that AI-powered X-ray machines are now being used for TB detection. In terms of health achievements, there has been an 83% drop in maternal mortality rates, and child mortality rates have also decreased significantly. Additionally, out-of-pocket healthcare expenses for patients dropped from 62.6% to 39.4%. Cancer screenings have begun in rural areas, identifying over 163,000 patients so far. Nadda addressed the need for improved mental health care, stating that it has often been neglected. The government aims to deploy psychiatrists in every district to enhance mental health services.