AI-Based Diagnostic Tools Boosting TB and Diabetes Care: Government

New Delhi— The government is increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to transform public health services, particularly to strengthen the diagnosis and management of tuberculosis and diabetes, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav informed the Lok Sabha.

In a written reply, Jadhav stated that the Ministry of Health has designated **AIIMS Delhi**, **PGIMER Chandigarh**, and **AIIMS Rishikesh** as *Centres of Excellence (CoE) for Artificial Intelligence* to accelerate the development and adoption of AI-driven healthcare solutions.

He highlighted several AI tools already in use, including the **Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)** integrated into the e-Sanjeevani telemedicine platform, the **MadhuNetrAI** solution for identifying Diabetic Retinopathy (DR), and an **Abnormal Chest X-ray Classifier Model** used for screening respiratory diseases.

### **AI for Diabetic Retinopathy**

MadhuNetrAI is designed to help non-specialist health workers conduct DR screenings. The AI model analyses retinal fundus images, classifies DR into standard grades, and prioritises urgent cases for specialists.
According to the minister, the solution has been deployed across **38 facilities in 11 states**, analysing over **14,000 retinal images** and benefiting **7,100 patients**.

### **AI for Tuberculosis Diagnosis**

Under India’s TB elimination programme, the **‘Cough Against TB’ (CATB)** AI tool is being used to screen for pulmonary TB in community settings.
In areas where it has been deployed, the tool has helped identify **12–16% more TB cases** compared to conventional screening methods.
Between March 2023 and November 30, 2025, CATB screened more than **1.62 lakh individuals**.

### **AI in Telemedicine**

The **CDSS** integrated into e-Sanjeevani supports healthcare providers by suggesting AI-driven differential diagnosis options and ensuring structured entry of patient complaints.
Since its integration in April 2023, over **282 million consultations** have benefited from improved, standardised data capture across Health and Wellness Centres.

### **Ensuring Safety and Governance**

Jadhav affirmed that all AI deployments follow strict government standards and frameworks, including:

* MeitY’s AI Governance Guidelines
* ICMR’s Ethical Guidelines for AI in Healthcare
* Information Technology Act 2000
* Digital Personal Data Protection Act 2023
* Information Security Policy for Healthcare

These frameworks ensure safe, secure, and reliable AI operations in the health sector.

— With inputs fromIANS