AI adoption in Indian healthcare has resulted in brilliant outcomes. From accurate and faster diagnosis, early detection of life-threatening diseases, to bringing new life, AI is at the forefront of incredible success stories.
By Ranita Ray
For decades, India has been a preferred destination for global medical tourism. Now, it isn’t merely for its traditional knowledge or affordable treatments, but also for its fast adoption of modern technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). According to The Clinician of the Future 2025 report, Indian clinicians using AI surged from 12 per cent to 41 per cent in just one year (2024 to 2025-26), beating the US (36 per cent) and the UK (34 per cent). Meanwhile, the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has linked over 67 crore health records till Aug 2025, enabling AI to work on longitudinal data. From diagnosis and detection to prediction and new life creation, Indian healthcare is leading with AI.
Breakthrough in Critical Illness Care
AI in healthcare is changing how India detects and treats life-threatening illnesses like cancer and heart disease. “Radiology diagnostic turnaround time has dropped by 46 per cent as clinicians use smart AI technologies to analyse EHRs, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays in minutes. AI-powered tele-cardiology improves ICU monitoring, enabling doctors to detect atrial fibrillation before it worsens. Patients get faster diagnosis and improved recovery odds,” articulates Surjeet Thakur, CEO and founder of TrioTree.
India’s health-AI market is projected to reach nearly $8 billion by 2030. “It is supported by initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission’s CATCH Grant Program, backed by the National Cancer Grid to support AI innovations in cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The increased collaboration between AI and medical expertise is enhancing non-communicable illness detection and treatment,” Thakur informs.
Diagnosing with Precision
Santhanakrishnan Ramabadran, head of Analytics Consulting at Tiger Analytics, notes that AI is transforming India’s healthcare foundation into a global innovation hub. “AI’s impact is strongest in diagnostics and imaging. From AI-powered retinopathy screening reaching rural clinics to computer vision models detecting TB and cancer, it is resulting in a high degree of accuracy. In drug discovery, AI accelerates molecular design, predicts promising compounds, and optimises clinical trials.”
Anumeha Srivastava, chief business officer at Qure.ai, focuses on a constant pain point. “Unequal access to specialists within the population has been a pressing challenge. By embedding AI into everyday workflows such as chest X-rays and CT scans, one can flag critical findings early. This has shown meaningful impact in diseases like tuberculosis, lung cancer and stroke, where delays in diagnosis lead to poorer outcomes.”
The next phase of AI in diagnostics will focus on utilising AI to find the right patient and the right time. “Using indicators like X-rays to identify high-risk nodules for early lung cancer diagnosis is already happening. AI will be used to prioritise cases, aid in triage, and detect early warning signs by integrating imaging data with clinical context,” predicts Srivastava.
Ramabadran highlights the commercial side. With 68 per cent of healthcare providers and 82 per cent of pharma organisations using AI, the market was projected to reach USD 1.6 billion by 2025.
Creating New Life
AI has been instrumental not just in curing existing life but also in bringing new life to this world. At a crucial juncture, when India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is below replacement level at approximately 1.9, technology offers hope. Rishina Bansal, co-founder and Clinical Embryologist at Archish Fertility, explains, “AI-driven data analysis is used to assess embryo quality, predict implantation windows and optimize stimulation protocols based on individual hormonal patterns.”
How does it help? Bansal elucidates, “This reduces guesswork and improves success rates. AI also supports lab-quality control, outcome tracking, and protocol refinement. It enables informed clinical decisions and results in an evidence-led, transparent treatment journey, tailored to each couple’s fertility profile.”
Beyond Physical Health
AI intervention isn’t limited to physical health. Emotional well-being has also adopted it. In 2024, the government launched Tele-MANAS in India, and it uses AI-powered tools, including the “Asmi” chatbot, to offer 24/7, multilingual mental health support.
But does it mean exclusion of human connection? Vaamaa Baldota, founder and CEO, iDare, replies to it, “We believe and suggest AI not as a replacement for human care. Technology helps us identify patterns, understand emerging needs, improve response systems, and make our support timelier and more accessible. We become proactive instead of reactive.”
Baldota further explains, “Every conversation, critical support or decision that impacts someone’s life is led by trained human professionals. AI helps us scale, reach and sharpen systems, while our people hold the space.”
Better Care and Cure
- India beats the west: Indian clinicians’ AI adoption surged from 12 per cent to 41 per cent from 2024 to 2025-26, beating the US (36 per cent) and the UK (34 per cent).
- Faster diagnosis: AI technology allows doctors to evaluate EHRs, MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays in minutes, reducing radiology’s diagnostic turnaround time by 46%.
- Mental health support: Indian government initiative Tele-MANAS uses AI-powered tools, “Asmi” chatbot, to offer 24/7, multilingual mental health support.
(This article was originally published on Feb 18, 2026 edition of The Economic Times)
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