Surge in Gen AI Adoption in Indian Health Sector: EY Report

The survey reveals that 84% believe Gen AI can positively impact workforce productivity, and 60% think it could amplify workforce potential.

In a notable shift, the traditionally conservative Indian healthcare and life sciences sector is embracing generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI), with 60% of participants in an EY survey anticipating a significant impact on the entire value chain.

The survey indicates that 28% of healthcare and life sciences firms in India have already implemented their first Gen AI solution, and an additional 48% plan to implement it within the following year.

In the healthcare sector, Gen AI holds promise for various aspects of the value chain, including clinical services, customer operations, and branding. For life sciences, integrating Gen AI can accelerate the assimilation of technologies throughout the value chain, particularly in drug development and the creation of highly targeted therapies.

Sharing thoughts, Suresh Subramanian, partner & leader, national life sciences, EY Parthenon India, said, "While the Indian life sciences enterprises initially exercised caution regarding AI adoption, numerous Gen AI applications are now contributing to drug development and highly targeted therapies, which is likely to put India in the global clinical trial map’’.

He further noted that there is likely fast followership by pharma and medical devices in Gen AI. Its growing use has also been noted in customer acquisition, delivering personalised care, patient experience and outcomes, and process optimisation across the value chain, including supply and demand planning and operational efficiency, to enhance overall productivity.

Shift in Attitudes Toward AI Adoption

While some Indian organisations are already piloting Gen AI in controlled environments, the survey highlights that 80% of the surveyed firms acknowledge that they are not fully prepared to adopt this technology. Despite this, there is a keen interest in establishing Gen AI infrastructure.

Kaivaan Movdawalla, healthcare leader, EY Parthenon India, said, "In an environment marked by significant demand-supply disparities and a shortage of clinical and non-clinical talent (e.g., only 64 doctors per 100,000 patients compared to the global average of 150 per 100,000), Gen AI holds the potential to augment the healthcare system's capabilities and accelerate the transformation of diagnostics, treatments and patient care."

While concerns about potential job displacements exist, surveyed leaders express confidence that Gen AI will not replace the core healthcare workforce but rather enhance efficiency.

The survey reveals that 84% believe Gen AI can positively impact workforce productivity, and 60% think it could amplify workforce potential. However, industry leaders caution that the adoption and implementation of Gen AI will pose challenges.

Concerns include a lack of adequate skills and understanding within the existing ecosystem, reservations regarding result accuracy, and apprehensions about data privacy and cybersecurity. The potential for biased responses also underscores the need to address these challenges before the widespread adoption of Gen AI.

Planning for Gen AI Implementation

Despite the challenges, the survey indicates a forward-looking approach, with 48% of surveyed firms planning to implement Gen AI within the following year. This suggests a growing recognition of the transformative potential of Gen AI in improving various aspects of healthcare and life sciences in India.

While the shift toward Gen AI adoption is gradual, the positive attitudes among surveyed leaders indicate a willingness to explore and integrate advanced technologies to enhance healthcare outcomes and address the unique challenges faced by the Indian healthcare and life sciences sector.

Talking about Gen AI, in a recent development, Pune-based Sancheti Hospital launched a generative AI tool, OrthoAI to help orthopaedic experts access vast and rich medical literature. This is the first initiative powered by AI for orthopaedics that will update doctors with the latest content through thousands of published articles and videos under one roof for better decision-making.