Source: TH
Why in News?
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has launched two digital initiatives — SAHI and BODH — to strengthen the safe and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence in India’s healthcare system.
Launched By
Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda at the India AI Impact Summit.
Objective
To promote the ethical, secure, and evidence-based deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in India’s healthcare ecosystem.
Background Context
- India is building a comprehensive digital health ecosystem as envisioned in the National Health Policy, 2017.
- The Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (2020) created digital public infrastructure for healthcare.
- AI development depends on:
- Strong digital infrastructure
- High-quality health data
- Regulatory oversight
Key Initiatives
1. SAHI (Secure AI for Health Initiative)
Nature: Governance and policy framework
Purpose:
- Provide a national roadmap for responsible use of AI in healthcare.
- Ensure AI is:
- Ethical
- Transparent
- Accountable
- People-centric
Significance:
- Establishes standards for AI deployment in health services.
- Focuses on trust, safety, and regulatory oversight.
2. BODH (Benchmarking Open Data Platform for Health AI)
Nature: Evaluation and validation platform
Purpose:
- Test and benchmark AI-based health solutions.
- Assess performance, reliability, and real-world effectiveness before large-scale deployment.
Significance:
- Prevents premature adoption of untested AI tools.
- Promotes evidence-based implementation.
