Indian AI Cancer Care Platform Highlighted at BRICS Health Summit

An innovative Indian artificial intelligence platform designed to enhance cancer care has been featured prominently at the BRICS Summit. The platform, known as iOncology.ai, was included in a special issue of the BRICS Health Journal unveiled during the summit held from September 12 to 13.

AIIMS and C-DAC's Collaborative Effort

iOncology.ai is the result of a collaboration between the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune. The initiative is backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. This AI tool aims to integrate cancer-related clinical data to support various aspects of cancer care, including early detection, risk stratification, treatment planning, and longitudinal patient-data management.

Research and Validation

The review titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” authored by Ashok Sharma and his team from AIIMS and C-DAC, explores the potential of AI in improving cancer screening, early diagnosis, and access to specialist care in emerging economies. Currently, iOncology.ai is in the pilot-stage of clinical validation and implementation evaluation to determine its effectiveness in clinical settings.

Dr. Ashok Sharma emphasized the opportunity for India to showcase how locally developed technologies like iOncology.ai can address disparities in cancer care across the Global South. He highlighted the importance of BRICS collaboration in enhancing cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment through evidence-based solutions tailored to the needs of developing countries.

Addressing Global Cancer Challenges

The BRICS countries, which account for over 40% of the world’s population, face significant challenges in cancer care, with approximately 9 million new cases and 4.66 million deaths annually. The review underscores the disparities in cancer patterns and access to care among these nations. iOncology.ai is positioned as part of India’s growing cancer-control and digital-health framework, which includes initiatives like population screening and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.

The platform utilizes curated datasets from Indian clinical, radiological, and histopathological sources and plans to incorporate genetic data to work alongside electronic health record systems. However, it awaits comprehensive clinical validation, with prospective multi-centre trials necessary before broader implementation.