Speaking at the 12th Dr. Manohar V.N. Shirodkar Memorial Lecture at CSIR – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Chairman of AIG Hospitals Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy underscored AI’s growing role in revolutionising medical care.
| Photo Credit: Siddharth Kumar Singh
Speaking at the 12th Dr. Manohar V.N. Shirodkar Memorial Lecture at CSIR – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT) in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Dr. Reddy underscored AI’s growing role in revolutionising medical care.
Reflecting on his evolving perspective, Dr. Reddy admitted he was initially skeptical of AI’s role in medicine. “Five years ago, I believed that medicine was purely about human empathy and natural intelligence. But over the last two years, I have seen how AI can enhance patient care,” he said.
A major highlight of his lecture was the introduction of MIRA at AIG Hospital in Hyderabad, an AI-powered medical information robot designed to assist doctors, support nurses, and provide accurate medical information to patients. Dr. Reddy explained how MIRA has helped streamline medical consultations by answering patient queries, reducing consultation time, and supporting medical education through detailed insights into complex procedures.
AI has also proven instrumental in diagnostics, particularly in the early detection of critical diseases such as pancreatic cancer. Dr. Reddy showcased how AI algorithms are now capable of detecting subtle patterns in imaging scans that even expert radiologists might miss, allowing for early intervention and potentially life-saving treatments. “AIG Hospitals has developed predictive AI models that alert doctors about high-risk patients, significantly reducing emergency cases and improving survival rates,” he said.
One of the hospital’s AI-driven innovations is an early warning system called ‘iSAFE,’ which continuously monitors patient vitals and detects critical changes before they escalate into medical emergencies. “Since implementing iSAFE, we have managed to prevent every single cardiac arrest emergency in the last six months,” Dr. Reddy revealed.
Dr. Reddy also highlighted AI’s transformative impact on drug discovery, where it has significantly reduced the time required to develop new medicines. AI-driven simulations now allow researchers to predict drug interactions with human cells, expediting the development of vaccines and treatments, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. “AI-driven drug discovery is cutting costs and accelerating breakthroughs in treatments for chronic and rare diseases,” he noted.
Beyond clinical applications, AI is playing an essential role in hospital management. AI-driven operational models have helped streamline workflows, reduce patient wait times, and optimise resource allocation. AIG Hospitals successfully implemented AI to restructure its pre-surgical consultation process, reducing patient dropouts from 20% to less than 1%. “AI allowed us to design a more efficient system, ensuring that nearly every patient scheduled for surgery follows through with their procedure,” Dr. Reddy said.
As AI continues to reshape the healthcare industry, Dr. Reddy underscored the need for medical professionals to adapt to this technological shift.
Published – March 13, 2025 12:47 am IST
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