Bringing Quality Healthcare Closer to Communities in the Age of AI in India

India has made remarkable strides in expanding healthcare access over the past decade. Landmark initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and the strengthening of the National Health Mission have significantly widened the reach of essential health services across the country. Concurrent investments in digital infrastructure, particularly through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, have laid the groundwork for more integrated, efficient, and patient-centric care. To date, over 80 crore Ayushman Bharat Health Accounts (ABHAs) have been created, enabling the construction of portable, comprehensive health histories at scale.

The Challenge: Quality and Continuity of Care at the Last Mile

The next critical challenge is ensuring that this expanded access translates into high-quality, continuous, and trusted care—especially for those in India’s last-mile communities. The country’s healthcare landscape faces a dual burden: not only must access keep pace with the growing population, but it must also address a rapidly evolving disease profile. According to recent data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for nearly 61.8% of all deaths, highlighting a significant shift in India’s epidemiological profile.

• Cardiovascular diseases account for 28.1% of deaths.
• Cancers contribute 8.3%.
• Chronic respiratory diseases represent 10.9%.
• Diabetes and related conditions make up 6.5%.

This shift is driven by changing lifestyles marked by sedentary habits, unhealthy diets, and increasing stress. Alarming studies show that only one in four screened individuals are disease-free by age 30, plummeting to just 7% by age 40, indicating that health deterioration begins early in adulthood.

Government Efforts and Investments in Healthcare

Government health expenditure has risen to 1.84% of GDP as of 2021–22, with out-of-pocket expenses declining to 39.4% of total health expenditure. On the supply front, 1.81 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational, offering an expanded package of 12 essential services and teleconsultation facilities. These centers play a vital role in the population-based screening program targeting early detection of diabetes, hypertension, and common cancers, especially for individuals above 30 years under the National Health Mission.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Healthcare

Technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI), offers a transformative opportunity to bridge existing healthcare gaps. When thoughtfully deployed, AI can enhance frontline healthcare delivery by enabling:

• Early disease detection
• Improved patient triaging
• Stronger referral systems
• Predictive analytics for population-level risk identification

This shift allows healthcare systems to move from reactive treatment models to proactive prevention-focused strategies.

India is already witnessing tangible impacts from AI integration. For example, AI-enabled tools in tuberculosis care have led to approximately 16% more case detections and a 27% reduction in negative treatment outcomes. The national telemedicine platform has surpassed 40 crore consultations, demonstrating the viability and scalability of remote care. When combined with AI decision-support and digital health records, these platforms drastically improve care continuity, especially in underserved regions where specialist access is limited.

It’s important to note that AI acts as a decision-support tool to empower, not replace, clinical judgment and frontline health workers.

Community-Based Healthcare Models and Technology Integration

The success of AI and digital health initiatives hinges on integration with existing healthcare infrastructure and community trust. Grassroots organizations are vital in bridging public health systems with local populations through mobile medical units and outreach programs. These models are essential for managing the NCD burden, where long-term care, lifestyle modifications, and treatment adherence require sustained engagement beyond episodic clinical visits.

Digital tools complement these efforts by enabling:

• Portable diagnostics
• Remote consultations
• Digitally tracked treatment pathways

Together, these create a seamless continuum of care tailored to the needs of the community.

Policy Developments Supporting NCD Prevention and Care

The government is strengthening healthcare infrastructure and broadening access to affordable treatment under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). Key initiatives include free drug provision under the National Health Mission and affordable medicines through Jan Aushadhi centers, which help ease the financial burden for patients.

Current infrastructure achievements include:

• 770 District NCD Clinics
• 364 District Day Care Cancer Centres
• 6,410 Community Health Centre-level NCD clinics
• Approval of an additional 297 District Day Care Cancer Centres for FY 2025–26

Expanded tertiary facilities are improving access to specialized treatment, completing the care continuum from primary to tertiary levels.

The Path Forward: Integrated, Inclusive, and People-Centric Healthcare

The convergence of public health systems, cutting-edge technology like AI, and active community engagement represents a paradigm shift towards integrated and people-centric healthcare in India. However, challenges remain such as ensuring that AI systems are inclusive and representative, safeguarding data privacy, and improving digital literacy for equitable technology adoption.

India stands at a pivotal juncture in its healthcare evolution. The future will not just be about broader access, but about delivering continuous, trusted, and responsive care tailored to emerging health demands. By combining the reach of public health infrastructure with AI’s precision and the strength of community networks, India can make quality healthcare a reality for every citizen.

Note: Views expressed are personal by the authors K Madan Gopal, senior public health expert and former NITI Aayog consultant, and Santanu Mishra, co-founder of Smile Foundation.