DIMAPUR: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to make healthcare more accessible, affordable and efficient, but it should complement doctors rather than replace them, said Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals, while delivering the 16th Foundation Day Lecture at ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education.
Speaking on “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Healthcare,” Dr. Reddy said AI is transforming drug discovery, radiology, telemedicine, precision medicine, cancer detection, genomics and remote patient monitoring. He noted that AI has reduced drug discovery timelines from decades to nearly two years, paving the way for major advances in pharmaceutical research.
Addressing concerns over AI replacing physicians, he said, “AI will not replace doctors, but doctors who know how to use AI will replace those who don’t.” Highlighting AI initiatives at AIG Hospitals, Dr. Reddy said the hospital’s AI-powered Medical Information Robotic Assistant (MIRA) supports doctors, nurses and patients, while the iSAVE early warning system alerts doctors before a patient’s condition deteriorates, enabling timely intervention.
He added that AI has streamlined pre-surgery evaluations, reducing surgery dropout rates from nearly 20% to around 1%, and is helping manage the hospital’s high-volume endoscopy services.
Dr. Reddy also highlighted AI’s role in affordable fatty liver screening, AI-generated clinical documentation, early cancer detection through CT scan analysis and continuous health monitoring using wearable devices. He stressed that ethical concerns, data privacy and regulation must be addressed as AI adoption grows. The welcome address was delivered by vice chancellor (I/c) Dr. T. Koti Reddy and the event was presided over by chancellor of ICFAI, Dr. C. Rangarajan, who said AI is still in its early stages and must be adopted responsibly to ensure its benefits reach all sections of society.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026