AI to Empower Doctors, Says Damodar

Hyderabad: Health minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on Saturday said that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to significantly enhance the capabilities of doctors and should evolve into a powerful tool in the hands of medical professionals to save lives. “Until now, healthcare systems have largely focused on treating diseases after they occur. Today, with artificial intelligence, genomics, advanced diagnostic technologies and digital health innovations, it is becoming possible to predict and prevent diseases and offer personalized treatment for each individual,” he said.

Speaking at the valedictory session of the international conference titled Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare 2.0 – Empowering Precision and Personalizing Care at private hospitals in Hitec City, Rajanarsimha emphasized that no matter how advanced artificial intelligence is, its ultimate goal should be to improve people’s lives. He explained that AI-based initiatives have already been introduced in the public healthcare system, including AI-assisted x-ray analysis, early sepsis detection systems, and technologies that can detect diseases such as fatty liver at an early stage.

He said the government plans to expand AI-powered diagnostic systems to district hospitals to ensure that advanced healthcare services reach even areas where specialist doctors are not available. “Artificial intelligence will not replace doctors. It will empower them to provide better healthcare. Technology must become a life-saving tool in the hands of medical professionals,” he added.

Experts from Google, Microsoft, IIIT Hyderabad, IIT Hyderabad, ISB, Novartis, Stanford University, King’s College London, Medtronic and TCS attended the conference.

Dr Chinnababu Sunkavalli, clinical director and robotic surgical oncologist, said: “Artificial intelligence is not just a technological advance; it is a transformative force that is redefining the future of healthcare. AI plays a critical role in enabling more accurate diagnoses, efficient clinical workflows and personalized treatment strategies. By bringing together healthcare leaders, researchers, technology innovators and policymakers from around the world, this conference serves as a catalyst for the next wave of healthcare transformation.”