Ujjwal KumarUttar Pradesh has made great strides in strengthening health infrastructure and service delivery in recent years.From expanding its hospital network to improving rural support through digital health platforms, the state has steadily addressed complex and diverse public health challenges.Building on this progress, Uttar Pradesh is now leveraging artificial intelligence across key sectors to drive targeted innovation in public healthcare, in line with the national vision under the India AI Mission.With an outlay of over Rs 10,300 crore, the India AI Mission focuses on sovereign AI capabilities, robust data infrastructure, and deployment of AI in priority sectors such as healthcare. This national framework provides a strong foundation for states to improve patient outcomes, improve operational efficiency, and address unique community health challenges.In line with this vision, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as a key driver of AI adoption in public healthcare. With a population of more than 240 million people, our state’s size and diversity present both unique challenges and opportunities for change.By incorporating AI into the healthcare delivery system, UP is enhancing access, efficiency, and quality of care, especially in underserved and remote areas, and contributing to India’s evolving AI-enabled governance framework.A landmark step was the establishment of India’s first government hospital-based AI clinic at the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) in Greater Noida. Operating under the GIMS Center for Medical Innovation, the clinic will enable AI startups and innovators to pilot and validate their solutions in real-world clinical settings. It focuses on improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing turnaround time through AI-assisted analysis of radiology, pathology, and laboratory data.Public health facilities across the state collectively process more than 1 billion outpatient visits annually, and efforts like this demonstrate how AI can democratize access to advanced diagnostics in resource-limited settings.Telemedicine has emerged as another key pillar of UP’s AI-driven health strategy. Through an MoU with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, the Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare is promoting AI-integrated telemedicine services such as telemedicine hubs, point-of-care diagnostics, and population health analytics.These efforts support thousands of telehealth visits in rural areas each month, helping to reduce diagnostic variability and extend expert care to remote populations. Complementing this initiative, the state is collaborating with IIT-K to develop a digital AYUSH platform to enable online OPD services for traditional health systems, improving transparency, accessibility, and patient experience.Uttar Pradesh Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (UPMSCL) is at the heart of this ecosystem, ensuring efficient procurement and distribution through its technology-enabled platform.The company’s e-procurement system manages bidding for medicines, equipment and consumables across 75 districts, with an annual procurement value of over Rs 2,000 crore. Use data analytics to predict demand for more than 30,000 facilities, minimize stockouts, optimize logistics, and achieve 15% faster schedules.UPMSCL is incorporating AI in predictive inventory management and leveraging the India AI Mission’s data lab to make its supply chain more resilient to disruptions such as pandemics.Preventive healthcare is another area where AI is delivering tangible benefits. Institutions such as SGPGIMS in Lucknow are exploring advanced AI applications in oncology, cardiology and radiology, including early detection of diseases and image analysis.A statewide AI-enabled disease surveillance system under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Program aggregates data from hundreds of reporting units to enable early identification of outbreaks and faster critical public health responses, especially in flood- and disaster-prone areas.To maintain progress, UP invests in capacity development. The National Board of Exams in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is offering a free six-month online course on AI in Medical Education that is accessible to physicians across the state.The program, which covers clinical applications, ethics and patient safety without the need for programming skills, is in line with India AI Mission’s goal of upskilling 1 million people in AI by 2028. The state’s AgriStack and HealthStack initiatives are further integrated with AI to provide personalized advice and align with the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, which provides an integrated record serving 15 million beneficiaries.UP’s AI-powered healthcare transformation represents a bold leap into a future where technology can provide fair and efficient care to all citizens. As a frontrunner, UP is not only aligned with India’s national AI agenda, but actively shaping it and paving the way for technology-driven health resilience that saves lives and builds a healthier nation. The India AI Impact Summit 2026, taking place from February 16 to 20, will highlight these achievements and foster collaboration to expand health equity across the country and inspire global innovation models.(The author is an IAS officer who is the managing director of UP Medical Supplies Corporation Ltd.)
