Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated an AI-enabled E-ICU Command Centre at Yashoda Medicity, marking a significant step in technology-led critical care delivery. The facility links a central command hub with ICU beds, integrating artificial intelligence with real-time patient monitoring to improve clinical outcomes and streamline intensive care management.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Nadda praised Yashoda Medicity for delivering services across 65 specialties and building a robust multi-specialty ecosystem. He highlighted the integration of the E-ICU with MMG District Hospital as an example of corporate social responsibility and public–private collaboration to strengthen district-level healthcare.
The Minister underlined the value of AI in emergency and critical care, noting that timely alerts, risk stratification, and data-driven insights can significantly enhance patient safety. AI-supported systems, he said, enable early detection of clinical deterioration and assist doctors in making faster, evidence-based decisions.
Referring to the government’s digital health vision under the leadership of Narendra Modi, he said the integration of AI aligns with the broader goal of a digitally empowered healthcare system. He recalled that the National Health Policy 2017 laid the groundwork for a comprehensive digital health ecosystem under the Digital India initiative.
Shri Nadda informed that over 1.81 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are operational nationwide, with more than 50,000 certified under National Quality Assurance Standards. The government aims to ensure full NQAS certification within two years to standardise primary healthcare quality.
He also highlighted the impact of the eSanjeevani telemedicine platform, which has delivered over 45.2 crore consultations, expanding specialist access in remote areas. The U-WIN digital platform has registered more than 11.47 crore beneficiaries, supporting immunisation and maternal care under the Universal Immunisation Programme, which provides 27 vaccine doses covering 12 diseases and has achieved nearly 99% coverage.
On disease control, he noted that AI-enabled handheld X-ray devices have strengthened tuberculosis screening, with India’s TB incidence decline rate at 17%, compared to the global average of 7%. Improvements in maternal and under-five mortality indicators were also cited, driven by digital tracking and targeted interventions.
The Minister referenced the launch of the SAHI (Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare for India) portal and the BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI) initiative to promote ethical AI use and validation of AI-based health solutions.
Highlighting India’s public health achievements, he said the country developed two indigenous COVID-19 vaccines within nine months and administered over 220 crore doses through a fully digital certification system. Under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, the world’s largest publicly funded health assurance programme, around 62 crore beneficiaries receive ₹5 lakh coverage per family annually, including all senior citizens above 70. Citing findings reported in The Lancet, he noted that expanded financial protection has enabled cancer treatment to begin within 90 days of detection.
The newly launched AI-enabled E-ICU at Yashoda Medicity connects its base command centre with MMG District Hospital, offering 24/7 specialist oversight. The system integrates hospital data and bedside devices into a central dashboard, generating early alerts and guiding timely interventions.
The initiative is expected to enhance district-level critical care through better coordination, standardized protocols, and specialist supervision, further strengthening India’s digital health and intensive care infrastructure. Senior health ministry officials and medical professionals attended the inauguration.
(Text and photos source: pib.gov.in)