AI Reshaping India's Healthcare: From TB Control to Telemedicine and Digital Care

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming India’s healthcare system, playing a key role in disease detection, treatment, and expanding access to medical services. From tackling tuberculosis to enabling remote doctor consultations, AI-driven technologies are strengthening public health delivery and moving the country closer to the vision of Developed India 2047

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India AI Mission boosts healthcare innovation

In March 2024, the central government, chaired by Narendra Modi, approved the India AI Mission with a budget of ₹10,371.92 crore. The mission aims to enhance patient care through AI, improve healthcare access in rural and remote areas, and support the control of large-scale diseases through technology-driven solutions.

AI helping India fight tuberculosis

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

has integrated AI tools into several national health programmes, including efforts to eliminate tuberculosis. AI-based screening and surveillance systems have contributed to a 27% reduction in severe TB cases, enabling earlier diagnosis and more targeted treatment.

Telemedicine expands healthcare reach

The adoption of telemedicine has surged across the country, making healthcare more accessible and affordable. Through the government’s eSanjeevani

platform, around 282 million teleconsultations were conducted between April 2023 and November 2025, benefiting nearly 12 million patients.

Telemedicine has reduced the burden on hospitals and allowed patients—especially in rural and underserved regions—to consult doctors from their homes, saving both time and cost.

AI and Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

AI is also playing a crucial role in the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission

, which aims to create an integrated digital health ecosystem. Back in 2018, NITI Aayog highlighted AI, robotics, and the Internet of Medical Things as the “new nervous system” of healthcare in its National Strategy for AI.

Further strengthening this effort, the National Health Authority signed an agreement with IIT Kanpur in October 2024 to promote research and innovation in AI-driven healthcare solutions.

Ethical and safe use of AI in medicine

From diagnosis to treatment planning, AI tools are being deployed in accordance with ethical guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research

. These guidelines ensure patient data privacy, confidentiality, and responsible use of technology, building trust in AI-enabled healthcare systems.

The road ahead

With AI improving disease surveillance, expanding telemedicine, and supporting digital health infrastructure, India’s healthcare system is undergoing a major transformation. As technology continues to bridge gaps in access and quality of care, AI is set to become a cornerstone of India’s journey towards universal and equitable healthcare.