Mumbai, Jan 14 : Artificial Intelligence (AI) can play a decisive role in narrowing the long-standing gap between urban and rural healthcare, experts said on Tuesday, stressing that its true potential lies in empowering frontline health workers and improving access to quality care in remote areas.
Speaking on the second day of the two-day Uttar Pradesh AI and Health Innovation Conference, health experts and policymakers discussed how AI-driven solutions can strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
Secretary, Medical Health and Family Welfare, Dr Pinky Jowel, said AI would be most effective when it supports grassroots-level healthcare workers such as ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and doctors, who form the backbone of the healthcare system in villages.
“When technology supports these workers, timely and more effective treatment becomes possible,” she said, highlighting the need to expand telemedicine and remote care services so that people in far flung areas can easily access medical advice.
Dr Jowel noted that nearly 1.80 lakh ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs, and Chief Health Officers are directly connected with communities across villages and towns, making them central to both state and national healthcare delivery. She emphasised that AI-based tools should be designed to simplify their work rather than increase their workload.
She added that the effective use of AI at facilities such as Ayushman Arogya Mandirs could ensure quality healthcare services even in remote and underserved regions.
Several conference sessions showcased AI solutions already being implemented, particularly in areas such as early disease detection and timely referral of patients to appropriate healthcare facilities. Experts underlined that such technologies can significantly improve outcomes if integrated seamlessly into existing systems.
Panelists also stressed that successful adoption of AI in healthcare requires strong inter-departmental coordination. Collaboration among various government departments from policy formulation to on-ground implementation is essential to fully harness AI’s potential and ensure uniform healthcare delivery from villages to tertiary hospitals.
Data security and patient consent were highlighted as critical concerns, especially given that women and children make up nearly half of the population. Experts noted that transparency and trust are vital for public acceptance of new technologies and must be at the core of AI-driven healthcare systems.
AI can also play a crucial role in reducing maternal mortality by enabling early identification of high-risk pregnancies. By helping frontline workers detect warning signs early and refer patients promptly to hospitals, AI-driven systems can save the lives of mothers and children through timely intervention at the village level.