India Integrates AI Into Public Health Strategy, Sees 27% Decline In Adverse TB Outcomes
India has fundamentally restructured its public health delivery system by integrating Artificial Intelligence into a unified national strategy aimed at bridging specialist shortages and scaling proactive care, an official statement said on Friday. The integration of AI across flagship health programmes marks a significant shift in how India approaches disease management, early detection and healthcare accessibility.
According to the statement, AI-enabled tools have been deployed under key government initiatives including the National TB Elimination Programme, the National Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme, and the Integrated Disease Surveillance System. These digital interventions have empowered non-specialist healthcare workers to perform advanced screenings traditionally conducted by experts.
As a result, the country has recorded a 27 per cent decline in adverse tuberculosis outcomes. In addition, AI-backed disease surveillance has generated over 4,500 outbreak alerts, strengthening India’s ability to respond swiftly to emerging public health threats.
One of the major pillars supporting this transformation is e-Sanjeevani, the government’s telemedicine platform. The platform has facilitated more than 282 million consultations, integrating AI-assisted differential diagnosis tools to support doctors and frontline workers. This has helped extend specialist-level support to rural and underserved regions where access to advanced healthcare remains limited.
The UdyogYantra AI System, designed for malnutrition monitoring, is another example of AI-driven public health innovation. By leveraging data analytics and predictive modelling, the system helps identify at-risk children and enables timely intervention. Officials describe this as part of a broader ecosystem that now spans infectious disease control, cancer screening, malnutrition management, and even the modernisation of traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
The government emphasised that this integrated AI ecosystem supports the National One Health Programme, which recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental health. By applying AI tools across sectors, authorities aim to detect disease patterns earlier and enhance preventive healthcare strategies.
India’s AI-driven healthcare push comes as the country prepares to host the Global South’s first international AI summit in New Delhi from February 16 to 20. The summit will bring together global leaders, policymakers, technology firms, innovators and subject-matter experts. Discussions will focus on AI-centred policy frameworks, research collaborations, industry partnerships and public engagement models.
Officials stated that AI is helping address long-standing gaps in healthcare delivery. The technology is improving the quality of medical devices, services and drug distribution systems, while making healthcare more accessible and affordable. AI applications are being used for early detection and screening of diseases, enhanced clinical decision support systems, and the expansion of remote care capabilities.
A major catalyst behind these initiatives is the IndiaAI Mission, approved by the Union Cabinet in March 2024. Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the mission was sanctioned with a budget outlay of Rs 10,371.92 crore over five years. The mission aims to harness artificial intelligence for socio-economic development, with healthcare emerging as one of its core focus areas.
One of the key components of the IndiaAI Mission is the IndiaAI Application Development Initiative. The scheme is designed to develop, scale and promote impactful AI solutions that address major national challenges. Advanced AI-enabled healthcare delivery is being positioned as a central outcome of this initiative.
The government maintains that India’s approach goes beyond experimental pilots. Instead, it reflects a coordinated strategy that integrates AI across public systems at scale. By combining telemedicine, surveillance data, AI diagnostics and predictive analytics, the country seeks to move from reactive healthcare to a more preventive and proactive model.
Health experts note that while technology cannot replace human judgement, AI can augment clinical decision-making and significantly reduce the burden on overstretched medical professionals. In a country with vast population disparities and uneven access to specialists, such integration could reshape public health outcomes over the next decade.
As global discussions intensify around ethical AI and equitable access to digital technologies, India’s public health transformation is being positioned as a case study in leveraging technology for large-scale social impact.
Our Thoughts
India’s AI-led healthcare transformation signals a structural shift from conventional service delivery to data-driven preventive care. A 27 per cent drop in adverse TB outcomes and thousands of outbreak alerts demonstrate measurable impact. However, sustained success will depend on maintaining data privacy standards, ensuring equitable digital access, and strengthening grassroots capacity. If implemented responsibly, this integrated AI ecosystem could redefine public healthcare models not just for India, but for the broader Global South.