JP Nadda urges early lung screening, responsible AI use in health sector
New Delhi, May 21
Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda urged stronger global action on early lung‑health screening and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence to reshape healthcare systems.
Speaking at two high‑level side events during the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Nadda said timely screening, early diagnosis and equitable access to care lies at the heart of resilient and people-centred health systems.
He mentioned India's National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme and the TB‑Mukt Bharat campaign as one of the world's largest screening and early detection efforts.
He underlined that the country has "expanded active case finding among vulnerable populations through house-to-house outreach, mobile screening teams, community campaigns and focused drives in high-risk areas and among vulnerable populations."
The minister said that India has significantly scaled up modern diagnostics to detect TB and other lung diseases.
Molecular testing platforms, digital chest X-ray services, AI-assisted interpretation tools, handheld screening devices and decentralized testing systems are being deployed extensively to reduce diagnostic delays, particularly in remote and underserved regions.
Regarding India's digital initiatives, Nadda noted that the government has launched the TB Mukt Bharat App featuring "Khushi", an AI-enabled multilingual chatbot designed to be accessible even on entry-level smartphones.
The platform provides real-time guidance on symptoms, entitlements and nearest diagnostic facilities, thereby helping bridge the gap between symptom onset and timely care, the statement said.
In another event on the use of artificial intelligence in the health sector, the minister highlighted AI-led health care delivery must be "shaped by sound regulation, rigorous research, ethical oversight, and a deep commitment to equity so its benefits reach every citizen".
The minister also highlighted the launch of the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India (SAHI) during the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026 and described it as "the first comprehensive strategy emerging from the Global South, guiding India's healthcare journey in an ethical, transparent and people-centric manner."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see India taking lead on AI ethics in healthcare. But let's be honest – until every village has basic X-ray machines and trained technicians, AI is just a fancy add-on. Focus on infrastructure first, minister sahab.
I work in public health in UP. The house-to-house screening for TB has actually helped catch many cases early. The handheld screening devices are a game-changer in our district. Nadda ji is right about early detection saving lives. Let's hope AI tools reach the last mile.
The SAHI strategy sounds impressive on paper. India being first from Global South to have comprehensive AI healthcare policy is noteworthy. But we've seen many grand announcements before. Implementation on ground is what matters. Also, please ensure data privacy with all these AI tools.
My mother was diagnosed with TB last year through a mobile screening camp. The digital X-ray and AI interpretation caught it early. She's fully recovered now. So yes, this approach works! But what about lung cancer screening? That's even more urgent with rising cases.
As someone who worked on healthcare tech in Bangalore, I'm cautiously optimistic. The Khushi chatbot is clever – designed for entry-level phones is smart in Indian context. But AI in healthcare needs massive validation data. Hope they're using diverse Indian datasets, not just Western ones.
K