BioSpectrum India

India's medical diagnostics sector is undergoing a transformative shift, fuelled by the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to a report by Research and Markets, the AI-based Medical Diagnostics Market in India was valued at $12.87 million in 2024 and is projected to soar to $44.87 million by 2030, growing at an impressive CAGR of 23.1 per cent. However, the rapid adoption of AI technologies in diagnostics is probably more focused on early detection of diseases such as cancer, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, among others. Sensing this bend, the industry has now started deploying AI to detect unexplored areas such as ophthalmology, dermatology, trichology, in vitro fertilisation, to name a few. Let's find out more about the potential that lies in the hands of AI in medical diagnostics.

A sizable obese population in India is a free ground for multinational pharma companies to launch various anti-obesity drugs. Let aside the affordability issue, these drugs can be a game changer. However, severe side effects lurk in the background. Alternative treatment and fundamental lifestyle changes can be seen as an alternative mode to counter obesity. Let's examine the available and prospective obesity therapeutics.

While modern hospitals are made of high-end technology and sleek interiors, there is an invisible trail of carbon emissions that shadows this pursuit of healing. This is a contradiction at the heart of healthcare design: buildings meant to restore health are, paradoxically, exacting a toll on the health of the planet.

Although COVID-19 has ended, the threat of new and re-emerging zoonotic viruses remains, the most recent cases being the Nipah virus (NiV) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) outbreaks; there is also the risk of accidental or intentional biological threats. Addressing them requires effective surveillance systems and response mechanisms within a health emergency preparedness framework. Strengthening India's ability to identify and respond to pathogens depends on technological breakthroughs in a defined framework, an innovation-based ecosystem, and sustained international collaboration. Shravishtha Ajaykumar, Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation; and Lakshmy Ramakrishnan, Associate Fellow, Observer Research Foundation share their views.

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into the research and development value chain promises to revolutionise drug discovery and clinical development processes. Yet, to truly orchestrate this evolution from manufacturing giant to innovation leader, and to accelerate the journey, Indian biotech and pharmaceutical firms require strategic international partnerships that complement their inherent strengths.