The National Health Authority (NHA) and IIT Kanpur have entered into a landmark partnership aimed at harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform healthcare in India. The two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today in the presence of Union Health Secretary Shri Apurva Chandra. The agreement was formalized by Ms. L. S. Changsan, Additional Secretary of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and CEO of NHA, and Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur.

Under this collaboration, IIT Kanpur will develop a cutting-edge federated learning platform as part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). This platform will host various machine learning models, a quality-preserving database, an open benchmarking system for AI models, and a consent management system to facilitate research. The platform will be governed by the NHA and is designed to unlock the vast potential of AI in improving healthcare outcomes across the nation.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Apurva Chandra emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that data-driven approaches are the future of healthcare. He noted that the platform will create an open public benchmark for AI models, allowing the quantification and diagnosis of diseases to be measured against standardized AI models. By addressing the challenge of reliable disease diagnosis data, this partnership aims to bring clinical accuracy and better healthcare outcomes to patients.

Ms. Changsan underscored the significance of AI in the country’s healthcare landscape, calling it a major step forward in the ongoing efforts to use technology for public health improvements. She said that the platform will allow researchers access to high-quality data while maintaining stringent privacy measures. This collaboration will accelerate the development of AI-driven health solutions that are expected to address critical health challenges.

Prof. Manindra Agrawal expressed optimism about the potential impact of the partnership, noting that it will democratize access to quality healthcare. He stated that the platform will empower researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers to harness the power of AI for better health outcomes, positioning India at the forefront of AI-driven healthcare innovation.

The event was attended by senior officials, including Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, OSD, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,  Kiran Gopal Vaska, Mission Director of ABDM, and representatives from IIT Kanpur. This initiative promises to be a transformative step in India's healthcare sector, addressing the critical need for reliable data and AI solutions to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient care. The partnership aims to build a robust digital health infrastructure, driving innovation while ensuring data privacy and accessibility for stakeholders across the health ecosystem.