Indian AI Cancer Care Platform Showcased at BRICS Health Summit
iOncology.ai, developed by AIIMS and C-DAC, gains recognition at BRICS for its potential to revolutionize cancer care.
An innovative artificial intelligence platform from India, designed to enhance cancer care, has been spotlighted at the BRICS Health Summit. The platform, known as iOncology.ai, was featured in a special issue of The BRICS Health Journal during the summit held on September 12-13.
Developed collaboratively by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, iOncology.ai aims to integrate cancer-related clinical data. Its primary functions include early detection, risk stratification, treatment planning, multidisciplinary review, and longitudinal patient-data management.
BRICS Journal Highlights Indian AI Innovation
The journal review titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” authored by Dr. Ashok Sharma and his colleagues at AIIMS and C-DAC, delves into how artificial intelligence can bolster cancer screening, early diagnosis, and access to specialized care. Dr. Sharma emphasized the potential for locally developed innovations like iOncology.ai to bridge cancer-care disparities across the Global South.
“Through BRICS collaboration, our focus should be on strengthening cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and therapy through evidence-based, interoperable solutions tailored to the needs of emerging economies,” said Dr. Sharma. He highlighted the importance of empowering clinicians to deliver earlier, smarter, and more equitable cancer care, particularly in resource-constrained settings.
Addressing Global Cancer Challenges
The review notes that BRICS countries represent over 40% of the world’s population and face around 9 million new cancer cases annually, with 4.66 million deaths. It underscores the disparities in cancer patterns and access to screening, diagnosis, and specialist care across these nations. iOncology.ai is positioned within India’s expanding cancer-control and digital-health infrastructure, which includes population screening, cancer surveillance, tertiary care, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
The platform leverages curated Indian clinical, radiological, and histopathological datasets, with future plans to incorporate genetic data and integrate with electronic health-record systems. Despite its promising framework, iOncology.ai is still in the pilot-stage clinical validation and implementation evaluation phases, with no peer-reviewed evidence yet confirming its diagnostic accuracy or clinical utility.
Future Prospects and Validation Needs
The ongoing pilot-stage clinical validation will determine the platform’s effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Prospective multicentre validation is necessary before iOncology.ai can be widely adopted in clinical practice. The initiative reflects India’s commitment to advancing cancer care through technology and international collaboration.