The Government of Andhra Pradesh has introduced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in several government hospitals across the state to improve the quality and speed of medical services.
As part of the initiative, pilot projects are currently being implemented in 18 selected government hospitals in collaboration with 18 healthcare startups. The programme aims to help doctors detect diseases quickly through basic tests and provide timely treatment using AI-based diagnostic tools.
Officials said the new technologies are designed to assist doctors in diagnosing illnesses more efficiently while also enabling access to patients’ medical histories from anywhere. This is expected to ensure faster and more seamless healthcare services for patients.
Under the pilot programme, doctors are using AI-powered systems that can record conversations with patients and assist in diagnosis based on the symptoms described during consultations. These experimental services are currently being used in several hospitals, including Sattenapalli Area Hospital, Tenali District Hospital, Victoria Hospital in Visakhapatnam, Government General Hospital in Kakinada, and Parvathipuram District Hospital.
AI-supported devices are also being used in emergency care for newborns by providing light oxygen through body-mounted equipment. In addition, AI tools are helping doctors identify the causes of joint pain among elderly patients.
Also read: Can AI outperform humans in policing?
Hospitals such as the Government Mental Hospital in Visakhapatnam, Government General Hospital in Anantapur, Chagallu Primary Health Centre, and Rajanagaram Sub Centre have started using AI applications to conduct diagnostic tests. During the early phase, these tools are being used to detect conditions such as heart disease, neurological disorders in children, tuberculosis through cough analysis, anaemic cataracts, and diabetic neuropathy.
At Government General Hospital in Guntur, cervical cancer is being detected using an AI-powered camera. Portable diagnostic devices that can fit inside a suitcase are also being used to detect cataracts, anaemia and diabetic neuropathy. Meanwhile, advanced tests such as RT-PCR for tuberculosis detection are being conducted at Government General Hospital in Vijayawada.
Doctors are also using telemedicine technologies that can detect anaemia by analysing eye images without drawing blood samples. Similarly, a small device attached to a stethoscope can identify heart-related problems without the need for an ECG test.
In the intensive care units of hospitals such as Government General Hospital in Paderu, Government General Hospital in Kurnool, Government General Hospital in Anantapur and Sri Venkateswara Ramnarain Ruia Government General Hospital in Tirupati, specialised monitoring devices are being installed to continuously track patients’ blood pressure, pulse rate, body temperature and overall health condition.
The initiative has been launched with support from the Ratan Tata Innovation Hub under the programme titled AP MedTech Innovation Challenge. The state government had invited proposals from healthcare innovators, receiving a total of 297 submissions. After evaluation by the Committee for Applied Technologies in Health (CATH), 18 startups were selected for the pilot phase.
Officials said the outcomes of these pilot projects will be analysed before preparing a detailed report for Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Health Minister Y Satya Kumar Yadav and Health Secretary Veerapandian. Based on the findings, the government will decide whether to expand AI-driven medical services across all government hospitals in the state.
Follow us
