Punjab joins hand with PGIMER to promote AI in health sector

Chandigarh: Punjab government and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have agreed to jointly promote artificial intelligence in the health sector.

Rakesh Verma, principal secretary, science, technology and environment, said artificial intelligence was an effective mechanism to address health-related issues.

Verma was addressing the doctors and scientists at one day symposium on application of artificial intelligence in biomedical instrumentation and certification of biomedical devices organized by biomedical devices and instrument hub, PGIMER.

He emphasised on the institutional strength of medical device hub at PGIMER, high-end instrumentation and expertise at IIT Ropar and Centre of Excellence at Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) Mohali on AI for startups to meet the emerging requirements of this sector.

Further, global innovation hub and life sciences park being set up at Mohali will also have special focus to promote artificial intelligence and medical devices, he added.

Presenting details about recently launched Mission Innovate and Mission Tandrust Punjab, he highlighted the significance and role of artificial intelligence to scientifically and more accurately deal with the highly complex health-related problems. He also pointed out that India’s per capita expenditure on healthcare and medical devices was far below against the global average and currently 70-75% medical devices were being imported.