Steps taken to include AI-based diagnostic tools in healthcare

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive transformative change in public health services across India. The Ministryof Health has designated AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh as 'Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence' with an aim to promote development and use of AI-based solutions in Health.

The Ministry has collaborated with key organizations such as the Central Tuberculosis Division, National Centre for Disease Control, CDAC-Mohali, ICMR, MeitY, Ministry of Higher Education, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and National Health Systems Resource Centre for a variety of AI projects. The Ministry has also collaborated with Wadhwani AI to provide technical support to the three COEs. The Ministry has developed AI solutions, including the Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in e-Sanjeevani, a Diabetic Retinopathy (DR identification solution), and the Abnormal Chest X-ray Classifier Model, among others.

MadhuNetrAI (DR identification solution) is an AI solution developed to enable non-specialist health workers to conduct screenings for Diabetic Retinopathy. It automates DR detection by analysing retinal fundus images using artificial intelligence, ensuring standardized, accessible, and efficient triage. It classifies DR across standard grades, enabling optimized resource allocation by prioritizing urgent cases for specialist referral. The solution has been implemented across 38 facilities in 11 states and provided AI assistance during screening of more than 14,000 retinal images, benefiting 7,100 patients.

The 'Clinical Decision Support System' (CDSS) AI solution has been integrated into the national telemedicine platform, eSanjeevani, to enhance consultation quality by streamlining patient complaints entry and providing AI-based differential diagnosis recommendations. Since CDSS integration in April 2023 till November 2025, 282 million eSanjeevani consultations have benefited from standardized data capture, ensuring consistency across health and wellness centres.

Under the Tuberculosis elimination program, 'Cough against TB' (CATB) AI solution is used for screening for pulmonary TB in the community settings. In the deployed geographies, the solution has shown an additional yield of 12-16% in TB reported, over patient screenings using conventional methods. Between March 2023 and 30^thNovember 2025, CATB solution has been utilized to screen more than 1.62 lakh individuals.

Strict adherence to applicable standards and government policies, including AI Governance Guidelines by MeitY, Ethical Guidelines for Application of AI in Biomedical Research and Healthcare by ICMR, Information Technology Act 2000, Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023, and Rules framed thereunder, and Information Security Policy for Healthcare by the Department of Health and Family Welfare, ensures high operational reliability.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav,stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

SR

HFW/Steps taken to include AI-based diagnostic tools in healthcare/5^th December 2025/2