IIT Delhi and AIIMS Delhi have officially partnered to establish a Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (AI-CoE), marking a significant step toward integrating advanced AI technologies into the country’s healthcare system. This collaboration, formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the directors of both institutions, aims to harness AI to develop innovative solutions that bolster national health programs and make quality healthcare more accessible and efficient for all Indians. Backed by a substantial Rs 330 crore grant from the Ministry of Education under the ‘Make AI in India, Make AI Work for India’ initiative, the new centre is set to become a pivotal hub for cutting-edge research and application in medical AI.
A Strategic Partnership for Transformative Healthcare
The AI-CoE will serve as a national platform for developing AI-driven technologies designed to address critical challenges in healthcare delivery. Prof. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi, emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership, highlighting that the collaboration could reshape healthcare by integrating technology and medical expertise. Prof. Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity to lead this national centre, stressing its importance in making healthcare both affordable and effective through innovative AI solutions.
The initiative aims to leverage indigenous AI systems to enhance health service delivery, improve skill levels among healthcare providers, and ensure that even remote or marginalized populations gain better access to quality medical care.
Focused Leadership Driving Innovation
The project will be jointly led by Dr. Krithika Rangarajan from AIIMS and Prof. Chetan Arora from IIT Delhi. Dr. Rangarajan noted the importance of placing patients at the heart of this endeavour, aiming to blend healthcare needs with technological advancements to benefit every citizen. Prof. Arora highlighted the goal of positioning the AI-CoE as a premier research centre with national and international influence, dedicated to revolutionizing public health services through AI.
This initiative represents a forward-thinking approach that combines the strengths of a leading medical institute and a premier technology university, setting the stage for India to emerge as a leader in AI-enabled healthcare solutions. As the Centre of Excellence begins its work, it is expected to accelerate the development and deployment of AI tools that could fundamentally improve healthcare outcomes across the country.
