Implementing AI in healthcare: Promises and Challenges
AI can help with the shortage of healthcare workers in India but there are challenges towards successful integration of AI in healthcare. What are those challenges, and what are the ways to overcome them?
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Artificial Intelligence offers ways to improve access to care for millions of people.
— Amit Kumar
(The Indian Express has launched a new series of articles for UPSC aspirants written by seasoned writers and erudite scholars on issues and concepts spanning History, Polity, International Relations, Art, Culture and Heritage, Environment, Geography, Science and Technology, and so on. Read and reflect with subject experts and boost your chance of cracking the much-coveted UPSC CSE. In the following article, Amit Kumar discusses steps taken by India towards implementing AI in healthcare, and further challenges. In the first part of the article, he defined Artificial Intelligence and its healthcare benefits)
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India has a large and growing population, but a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a way to bridge this gap and improve access to care for millions of people.
The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), headed by the Prime Minister, also underlined in a report on the national strategy for AI that a shortage of qualified healthcare professionals and non-uniform accessibility to healthcare across the country prevails.
For example, India has only 64 doctors available per 1,00,000 people compared to the global average of 150.
AI can help with the shortage of healthcare workers in India by allowing doctors to consult patients remotely through telemedicine, reaching those in remote areas.
Also, AI tools can quickly analyse medical tests and images, helping doctors make accurate diagnoses. Virtual health assistants can monitor patients and give advice.
In that context, it may be noted that almost half of all health spending in India is still paid by patients themselves directly at the point of treatment, according to the Economic Survey 2022-23.
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AI expenditure and healthcare industry
According to the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) report, the market size of the healthcare industry in India was valued at $372 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 20% from 2023 to 2030.
In addition, AI expenditure in India is expected to reach $11.78 billion by 2025 and add $1 trillion to India’s economy by 2035, as per a World Economic Forum WEF) report. The AI in Healthcare Market is projected to grow from $14.6 billion in 2023 to $102.7 billion by 2028.
Moreover, using AI to make diagnoses may reduce treatment costs by up to 50% and improve health outcomes by 40%, according to Harvard’s School of Public Health. And according to research by Accenture, AI might save the Indian healthcare sector $4.4 billion by 2025.
In that context, it may be noted that the Union Budget for 2023-24 allocated INR 89,155 crore to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to boost the country’s healthcare infrastructure, and undertake all the new-age research and innovation-based healthcare initiatives on a massive scale.
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The government has also encouraged several industry players to invest in research and development in the priority areas, including innovative technologies in healthcare.
Also, the NITI Aayog is closely working with technology giant Microsoft and the medical start-up Forus Health to develop automated solutions for early detection of diabetic retinopathy.
In addition, the Maharashtra government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with NITI Aayog to unveil the International Centre for Transformational Artificial Intelligence (ICTAI), focusing on rural healthcare.
Nationwide promotion of Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHA) and the use of AI for hyperlocal public health strategies to enhance preventive care and overall healthcare outcomes and further linked to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) that provides an unique digital health ID for each citizen with personalised and precision AI solution for healthcare.
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However, implementing AI in healthcare in India faces several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure successful adoption and integration.
Challenges
Here are some of the key challenges towards the successful implementation of AI in healthcare:
Data Quality and Availability: Limited availability of high-quality, labeled healthcare data needed to train AI models. Also, patient data is often fragmented across different systems and formats, making integration difficult.
Infrastructure Limitations: Inadequate digital infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, affects the deployment of AI solutions. The poor internet connectivity in remote regions hampers the use of AI-driven services.
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Skill Gap and Training: Shortage of skilled professionals with expertise in both AI and healthcare. Need for continuous education and training programmes for healthcare providers to effectively use AI tools.
Regulatory and Ethical Issues: Absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework specific to AI in healthcare. Patient data privacy is at risk, and biases in training data can lead to unfair diagnoses. Who’s accountable when AI makes a mistake? Also, unequal access to this technology could widen healthcare disparities.
Financial Constraints: High initial costs of AI technologies and the need for significant investment in infrastructure and training.
Awareness and Adoption: Resistance from healthcare providers and patients to adopt new AI technologies. Lack of awareness about the benefits and potential of AI in healthcare among stakeholders.
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Interoperability: Lack of standardised protocols and formats for data exchange between different healthcare systems.
Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors: The vast and diverse population presents varied healthcare needs, making standardised AI solutions challenging. Socioeconomic disparities lead to unequal access to healthcare technologies, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
To overcome challenges in implementing AI in healthcare in India, a comprehensive and collaborative approach is needed for improving data quality and availability, strengthening infrastructure, addressing skill gaps, developing regulatory framework, ensuring financial sustainability, raising awareness and encouraging adoption, ensuring interoperability, building trust and reliability, and addressing cultural and socioeconomic barriers.
To sum up, the application of AI in healthcare in India holds immense potential to revolutionise the medical landscape by improving accessibility, efficiency, and quality of care. By addressing key challenges such as data quality, infrastructure limitations, skill gaps, regulatory frameworks, and socioeconomic barriers, India can harness the power of AI to deliver more accurate diagnostics, personalised treatments, and effective healthcare management.
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Collaborative efforts between government, private sector, and academia, along with investments in education, infrastructure, and innovation, are crucial for successful AI integration. As these advancements take root, AI-driven healthcare solutions will play a pivotal role in addressing the diverse and evolving healthcare needs of India’s population, ultimately leading to a more equitable and robust healthcare system.
Post Read Question
Discuss steps taken by the government to implement AI in healthcare.
What are the challenges towards successful integration of AI in healthcare?
There are ethical concerns relating to the collection and handling of patient data in AI-driven healthcare. Evaluate.
(Amit Kumar is a doctoral candidate at IIT Delhi.)
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