Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to become a key driver of affordable and equitable healthcare in India as the country advances toward its 2047 development vision, Union Minister Anupriya Patel said on Tuesday at AI Impact Summit 2026.

Addressing a roundtable on “Innovation to Impact: AI as a Public Health Gamechanger,” Patel described AI as an enabler and force multiplier capable of accelerating progress toward inclusivity and health equity. She noted that as India works toward becoming a developed nation by 2047, healthcare will remain a central pillar, supported by comprehensive technological integration across the national health framework. 

AI adoption in healthcare is not technological modernisation but strategic response 

Patel highlighted that the adoption of AI in healthcare is not merely technological modernisation but a strategic response to India’s unique public health challenges. Dismissing fears that AI could replace doctors, she said healthcare thrives not only on algorithms but also on empathy and compassion. “AI will assist clinicians, not substitute the human touch that defines care,” she said, underlining that the ultimate takeaway for policymakers is AI’s potential to significantly reduce healthcare costs. 

Roy Jakobs, CEO of Royal Philips, said global healthcare systems are at an inflection point, with rising demand and workforce pressures necessitating rapid adoption of data- and AI-driven innovation. “AI will have its greatest impact in healthcare, and the shift has already begun,” he said, adding that data, workflow integration and clinical expertise must work seamlessly for meaningful transformation. 

Stimulating AI innovation while safeguarding public values through legislation 

Nico Schiettekatte of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands said the focus is shifting from experimentation to implementation and scale. He outlined a dual-track approach in the Netherlands—stimulating AI innovation while safeguarding public values through legislation, particularly at the European Union level. 

Industry leaders echoed the urgency. Bishnu Panigrahi of Fortis Healthcare said there is “no stepping back” from AI adoption in healthcare, while Dr. Harsh Mahajan of Mahajan Imaging & Labs highlighted the use of AI-enabled handheld X-rays in India’s tuberculosis screening programme, where millions have been screened and abnormal cases flagged for further examination. 

The discussion brought together policymakers, industry executives, and global stakeholders to chart a road map for embedding AI into routine care, aligning public and private efforts, and positioning AI-enabled healthcare as a public good and engine of inclusive growth.