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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a powerful tool in the healthcare sector, taking decision making, diagnosis and quality of treatment to new heights. Through its efforts, the government has shown to the country and the world that AI health services can be empowered with strong political will, digital infrastructure and dedication of frontline workers.

At the same time, with equal access and coordination among other states, the state will become an example of AI-based public health innovation not only in the country but also at the global level in the coming years.

According to Additional Chief Secretary Health and Medical Education Amit Kumar Ghosh, CM Yogi Adityanath has a clear vision that technology should be used to provide better, accessible and timely health services to the common people. In such a situation, along with strengthening the health infrastructure, digital platforms have also been given priority in the last nine and a half years.

The result of this is that today Uttar Pradesh is among the leading states of the country, where there is the most potential for implementing AI based health solutions.

Nearly 10 lakh frontline health workers, Asha, ANM, nurses and doctors in the state remain the backbone of health services from rural to urban areas. To make their work easy and effective, many big digital platforms are active in the state.

Among these, platforms like Health Management Information System (HMIS), Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal, Nikshay portal (for TB control) and e-Sanjeevani are today not limited to just data collection, but are playing an important role in policy making, monitoring and quick decisions. This data creates a strong foundation for AI based solutions.

Additional Chief Secretary said that the state has made digital public infrastructure the central pillar of health improvement. There has been a massive expansion of telemedicine network through e-Sanjeevani. Today Uttar Pradesh has become the state providing maximum teleconsultation in the entire country.

This network is now moving towards adopting AI based clinical decisions. Currently AI based Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) is helping doctors in primary health centers and telemedicine services to take treatment decisions.

This system suggests different treatment options based on the patient’s symptoms, past history and available data. This is not only improving the quality of treatment, but is also reducing the pressure on doctors in hospitals with more patients.

CM Yogi believes that AI cannot replace the doctor, but rather empowers him. Under this thinking, AI is being adopted as a supporting tool in the state.

Director General of National Health Mission, Dr. Pinky Joval said that the number of patients suffering from TB in the state is good. In view of this, the Yogi government has kept TB eradication among its top priorities. By combining AI based analytical tools with the Nikshay portal, areas and patient groups are being identified where the risk is higher.

Mapping and early warning are helping doctors anticipate where additional resources and intensive monitoring are needed. Due to this, identification of cases is possible even before they occur, which strengthens CM Yogi’s vision of “Prevention is the best treatment”. Along with this, reducing maternal and child mortality rate is one of the main priorities of the Yogi government.

AI based tools are helping in identification of high-risk pregnancies, timely referral and neonatal care. At the same time, frontline workers get simple digital signals, due to which they are taking necessary steps in time.

The cases of non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes and hypertension, are increasing in the state. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), about 6.5 percent of adults in the country are suffering from diabetes. AI is empowering screening and early detection at the community level in the state.

Pilot projects such as retinal image analysis to identify diabetic retinopathy have shown that AI can expand access to screening and make referral systems more effective.

The AI ​​model being adopted in the state is completely human-centric. In this, technology is being developed keeping in mind the experience of ASHA, ANM, nurses and doctors. The initial pilot project in the state has made it clear that when AI solutions are in line with the needs on the ground, they are easily adopted.

Due to this, collaboration between research institutes, technology companies and donor agencies in the state is giving impetus to innovation. Yogi government is working towards developing the state as a model state in the field of AI, from which other states of the country can also learn.