AP deploys AI tools in govt general hospitals to enable faster diagnosis

Vijayawada: In a significant step towards modernising healthcare services, the state govt initiated the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in govt hospitals to enable faster diagnosis and improve the quality of treatment. As part of a pilot project, innovative healthcare technologies developed by startups are being implemented in 18 govt hospitals across the state.Around 40 devices are being used to conduct screening and confirmation tests for nearly 15 types of diseases, including cervical cancer, heart ailments, tuberculosis, anaemia, cataract, glaucoma, and neurological disorders in children, health minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav announced on Sunday.
The pilot programme is currently underway at several hospitals, including Visakhapatnam, Anantapur, Guntur, Kakinada and Vijayawada GGHs, Tenali and Parvathipuram district hospitals, among others.Senior officials in the medical department said the AI-powered tools assist doctors in diagnosing diseases in a shorter time, enabling them to provide timely treatment to patients. Advanced software is also being used in certain hospitals to support medical decision-making and streamline patient care.Earlier, the health department received a total of 297 proposals after it invited proposals under the ‘AP MedTech Innovation Challenge'. A committee titled Committee for Applied Technologies in Health (CATH) examined the applications in three stages and finally recommended 18 innovations for implementation.According to the health minister, the pilot programme covers four categories, which include diagnostic tools, portable point-of-care devices, smart monitoring and wearable technologies, and remote care telemedicine systems.In some hospitals, AI tools are being used to detect tuberculosis through cough analysis, identify early heart diseases, and predict dengue outbreaks based on historical data. Portable devices capable of fitting into suitcase-sized kits are also being used to conduct blood tests for sugar, kidney, thyroid and other conditions without requiring large diagnostic infrastructure, the health minister informed.Wearable devices are being deployed to monitor patients' vital parameters such as blood pressure, pulse rate and body temperature, particularly in intensive care units, the health minister further said. Some systems are also capable of recording doctor–patient conversations and generating consultation summaries and prescriptions automatically.The minister said the pilot phase will conclude soon, and a report on the results will be submitted to the chief minister. Based on the findings, the govt will decide on expanding the AI-based healthcare services across the state.He added that the services will be integrated with ABHA ID to digitise patient records and make healthcare delivery more efficient and accessible.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Women's day wishes, messages and quotes !