Gurugram: Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a transformative force in healthcare. Acknowledging the urgent need for this change, Policybazaar for Business, the corporate division of one of India’s leading insurance platforms, has analyzed its impact in their recent whitepaper titled Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Revolutionising Patient Care and System Efficiency. The report advocates for the integration of AI into India’s healthcare system, supported by data and actionable recommendations. It goes beyond technological discussions to explore how AI’s rapid adoption is altering risk and accountability in Indian healthcare, emphasizing the need for professional indemnity frameworks to adapt accordingly.
Transforming patient care through AI, India, home to over 1.4 billion people, has only 1.3 to 1.4 hospital beds per 1,000 individuals, significantly below the recommended three beds. The whitepaper demonstrates how AI-enabled platforms can decrease diagnostic turnaround times by as much as 80%, particularly in radiology. The implementation of AI in diagnostics promises faster treatment and improved outcomes, particularly in underserved areas. AI in action: Success stories from the field include: ● Qure.ai’s qXR tool, which screens for tuberculosis in remote regions. ● Niramai’s Thermalytix system, facilitating non-invasive breast cancer detection through thermal imaging. ● Manipal Hospitals have cut discharge times from 4–8 hours to just one hour using AI automation.
● Strand Life Sciences employs AI-driven genomics for personalized cancer treatments. Additionally, platforms like Practo and Mfine use AI chatbots to assist over 100 million patients monthly, while Apollo 24/7 utilizes AI for triage and teleconsultations. The question of accountability: As AI transitions from aiding medical professionals to influencing medical decisions directly, the concept of accountability is shifting. When algorithms analyze scans or recommend treatments, determining liability becomes increasingly complicated. However, the whitepaper notes that only about 20% of Indian doctors possess professional indemnity (PI) insurance, with most existing policies lacking explicit coverage for AI-related liabilities.
Policybazaar for Business is collaborating with healthcare practitioners to reassess and enhance their indemnity coverage, ensuring that doctors are protected against errors related to AI-assisted decisions, particularly in critical areas like cardiology and oncology. Sajja Praveen Chowdary, Head of Policybazaar for Business, stated, “As AI usage expands within the healthcare sector, the role of doctors is also changing. This shift necessitates a new level of protection, and professional indemnity coverage is evolving to encompass technology-assisted decisions, allowing doctors to embrace innovation while remaining legally safeguarded.
The dialogue surrounding AI in healthcare must prioritize trust and transparency.” Preparing for an AI-enhanced future, the whitepaper predicts that by 2030, AI could reduce diagnostic errors by up to 30%, and telemedicine, as part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, could provide care to 500 million Indians. With $1.4 billion invested in private AI this year, India ranks among the world’s top ten markets for AI innovation. The report concludes with a call to action for policymakers, insurers, hospital administrators, and clinicians to work together to develop digital infrastructure, establish clear regulatory frameworks, and foster public-private partnerships that can responsibly and effectively scale AI solutions.
