‘AI tools are designed to simplify med care, bridge urban-rural gap’

Lucknow: Artificial intelligence tools must be designed to simplify the work of healthcare staff if they are to effectively bridge the urban-rural healthcare gap, experts said on Tuesday at the Uttar Pradesh AI and Health Innovation Conference, underlining AI's role in strengthening healthcare delivery in remote areas.Speakers said the thoughtful adoption of AI could revolutionise rural healthcare by improving early diagnosis, expanding telemedicine services, and supporting frontline health workers rather than adding to their workload. Secretary, medical health and family welfare, UP, Dr Pinky Jowel said the true impact of AI would be realised only when it empowered healthcare workers at the grassroots. "ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, auxiliary nurse midwives and doctors are the backbone of healthcare delivery in villages. When technology supports them, timely and effective treatment becomes possible," she said.
Dr Jowel stressed the need to scale up telemedicine and remote care to ensure access to medical advice in far-flung areas. She said nearly 1.8 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs and chief health officers were directly connected with communities across villages and towns, making them central to the state's healthcare system. Experts said effective use of AI at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs and other primary health facilities could help deliver quality healthcare in remote regions. Several sessions highlighted AI applications already in use for early disease detection and timely referral of patients.Panelists emphasised the importance of inter-departmental coordination for successful AI integration, from policy design to on-ground implementation. Data security and patient consent featured prominently in discussions.The conference was attended by DG, Software Technology Parks of India, Arvind Kumar; Prof RK Singh of SGPGI; Dr Sanjay Sood of C-DAC, Mohali; Prof Sri Ram Ganapathy; and Col Sameer Kanwar, Director General, PATH.