Indian AI Platform for Cancer Care Gains Global Spotlight at BRICS Summit
iOncology.ai, an AI-driven platform for cancer care, is featured in the BRICS Health Journal, highlighting its potential to transform cancer treatment in emerging economies.
An Indian artificial intelligence platform, iOncology.ai, developed to enhance cancer care, has been highlighted in a special edition of the BRICS Health Journal. This recognition came during the BRICS Summit held from September 12 to 13.
The platform is a collaborative effort between the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune. It receives support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. iOncology.ai aims to integrate cancer-related clinical data, facilitating early detection, risk assessment, treatment planning, and long-term patient data management.
Review Highlights AI's Role in Cancer Care
The review titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” authored by Ashok Sharma and colleagues from AIIMS and C-DAC, explores how AI can bolster cancer screening, early diagnosis, and specialist care access. The platform is currently in the pilot stage of clinical validation and implementation evaluation to assess its effectiveness in clinical settings.
Dr. Ashok Sharma, discussing the platform, emphasized India's potential to showcase how local innovations like iOncology.ai can address disparities in cancer care 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,” Sharma stated.
Addressing Cancer Care Disparities
The review notes that BRICS countries account for over 40% of the global population, with approximately 9 million new cancer cases and 4.66 million deaths annually. It also highlights significant disparities in cancer patterns and access to screening and specialist care. iOncology.ai is positioned within India’s growing cancer control and digital health infrastructure, which includes population screening, cancer surveillance, tertiary care, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
The platform utilizes curated Indian clinical, radiological, and histopathological datasets, with plans to incorporate genetic data and interface with electronic health record systems. However, iOncology.ai is still undergoing research validation and has not yet been clinically validated. It lacks peer-reviewed evidence confirming its diagnostic accuracy or clinical utility, necessitating multicentre validation before broader clinical application.