by Mr. Sumit Goswami,Business Unit Head, Eli IndiaTechnology is rapidly altering how people function in their daily lives, with healthcare being at the forefront of this evolution. There have been many perceptible ways where technology has driven the success of healthcare- from microscopes, in the past to MRI machines, helming the current scenario of health centres. The main drivers of technology today and in the future, are smartphones, big data and most importantly, artificial intelligence (AI).Technology has left a positive influence in Indian Healthcare . Given the ancient knowledge and practices, India built its system of healthcare on firm grounds of ayurveda. The modern Indian healthcare is a great mix of science with age- old medicinal practices. Advancement in science has aided healthcare evolve to a great extent, with majority of Indians embracing the use of technology and in turn, becoming more and health savvy. From researching on medical terms, to booking an appointment at a hospital, or even having a video-consultation, technology has helped Indians to be in -charge of their health.This is where, Artificial Intelligence, with its ability to process data in a speedy fashion, revolutionizes healthcare for the future. Alongside, helping to make new discoveries, they also help doctors detect embedded/dormant signs of diseases that may manifest in some patients. Having AI enabled system as a backup helps reduce medical errors and increases productivity of medical professionals. Yet, AI is not meant to replace humans but add an unbiased second option. An AI system is controlled by its programmers, so it can only offer a doctor its take on a diagnosis, treatment options, and possible risks and outcomes predicted for certain courses of action.Competent medical minds will still be utilized to interpret the information, and they should benefit from having more and better information to base decisions on. Today’s healthcare professionals are often overwhelmed with too much information, and these smart computer systems can help sift through excess to unearth the essential facts. For example, the right AI system might predict the outcomes of overusing antibiotics for patients, even before the doses are administered. This has helped a developing nation like India, whose population is majorly rural-based and whose dependence on medicine is reaching to an alarming level.Here are 4 ways where AI can impact the Indian healthcare on a more constructive level-1. 69.2 million Indians suffer from Diabetes as per data from World Health Organization. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes was recently estimated to be 34.6%. Indian healthcare system needs better management of diabetes, improved surveillance, better prevention and awareness. Detection of DR in India is a major challenge, which can be solved through incorporation of AI. AI Technology can help doctors collect images of retina of diabetic patients and then run them through machines which can quickly scan the images and arrive at a collection of data. AI specialists can derive a pattern from the data and write algorithms to detect the dormant signs of the disease, ensuring an early diagnosis and prevention of the disease amongst diabetics.2. For every 1681 citizens in India, there is only one doctor available as per medical council of India report published in May 2016. The doctors work under tremendous pressure, diagnosing and treating thousands of patients daily. AI based systems can improve diagnosis by studying past patient data and medical records. The systems can help collate the test reports of patients, aid diagnosis by deriving results from the patient’s data and medical records of similar symptoms and suggest treatments. This will help in improving efficiency of doctors, reduce errors and provide a more comprehensive care to patients.3. 68.84% of population reside in rural India as per recent census. Last mile delivery of healthcare amenities is still a major challenge in India, especially to places that lack the connectivity of routes. Lack of proper healthcare centres, doctors, testing labs and medical facilities in rural India, results in a high mortality rate from diseases. Technology can help the rural population by providing diagnostic facilities, therapeutic knowledge and preventive and predictive technology in healthcare. Predictive modelling of diagnosis data and patient health record will help in identifying and preventing disease outbreak. AI based applications can be extremely helpful in preliminary diagnosis 4. India is known to suffer from a dual disease burden. While the country has witnessed and cured chronic diseases, it still hasn’t overcome challenges posed by infectious diseases and malnutrition. Decentralization of diagnostic testing needs to be inculcated through AI based diagnostic technology. Diagnoses that occur in real-time, provide higher levels of accuracy, operable by low skill level employees, all at an affordable price, have the probability to completely turn around clinical diagnostics. Rapid diagnostic tests, through the aid of AI enabled technology, have had a significant impact on screening for malaria and HIV.Together the synergy of new technologies, with the help of big data and AI, is primed to combat the disease- prone diaspora of India. The key is to ensure that majority of the population can access and therefore benefit from this technological disruption. If India is successful in doing so, there is an opportunity to benefit from the positive changes that technology will bring to healthcare.