VIJAYAWADA: A high-level South India conference on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the national healthcare sector will be held in Vijayawada on December 15, Health Department Secretary Saurabh Gaur said.
The event titled ‘National Health Sector - AI Utilisation Framework and Inter-Departmental Collaboration,’ will bring together senior officials from seven States and three Union Territories.
The State Medical and Health Department has constituted ten special panels to oversee arrangements. Gaur said the discussions will help formulate recommendations for the Central government on integrating AI into healthcare.
Health and IT secretaries, along with National Health Mission directors from Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and Puducherry, are expected to participate. Experts from IITs, NITs and other national institutions have been invited.
The Central government is preparing a national draft policy to integrate AI in healthcare, citing its potential to improve outcomes.
Several countries, including the US, France and European nations, have developed AI strategies.
As part of India’s framework, five states are hosting regional consultations, with inputs to be discussed at the AI Impact Summit for Health in New Delhi from February 26 to 28 next year, Health Commissioner Veerapandian said.
The Vijayawada conference will focus on five themes: data and digital infrastructure, governance and ethics, policies, workforce and capacity building, research and innovation, evidence generation, and health-system integration.
Officials will review IT usage in healthcare, assess results so far, and identify areas where AI can enhance service delivery.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), ICMR, and the Union IT Ministry are partnering in the event, which will run from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm.