Healing with the Heart

The advent of AI is quietly reshaping the tools of medical profession in myriad ways, but one aspect remains intact, and even more pronounced—the unfading relevance of empathy towards patients

- DR ERA DUTTA

Every year on July 1, India celebrates National Doctors' Day, a day to honor the dedication, compassion, and resilience of the medical community. This date commemorates the birth and death anniversary of the legendary physician, Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, one of India's most respected doctors and former Chief Minister of West Bengal.

How many doctors do we have in India? As of 2024, India has over 13 lakh registered allopathic (MBBS, MD, DM) doctors. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the ideal doctor-patient ratio is 1:1000. India hovers around 1:834 in urban areas, but there is a huge disparity in the rural regions, indicating that we still need significant improvement.

The Rise of AI in Healthcare

AI is reshaping how medicine is practiced, right from improving diagnostic accuracy to streamlining medical workflows.

Here are a few ways AI is currently helping doctors:

Medical notes and summaries: AI tools can transcribe and summarize patient-doctor interactions, saving time.

Precision imaging: AI is outperforming human eyes in interpreting MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays in some cases.

Surgical assistance: In some operating rooms, AI-powered robotic systems assist surgeons with pinpoint accuracy, reducing error rates.