Indian AI Platform iOncology.ai Showcased at BRICS Health Summit
iOncology.ai, an AI-driven cancer care platform, gains international attention at BRICS Summit, highlighting India's role in global health innovation.
An innovative Indian artificial intelligence platform, iOncology.ai, designed to enhance cancer care, has garnered international recognition at the recent BRICS Health Summit. This platform, developed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune, was featured in a special issue of The BRICS Health Journal unveiled during the summit held on September 12-13.
Enhancing Cancer Care with AI
iOncology.ai aims to revolutionize cancer treatment by integrating clinical data to support early detection, risk assessment, treatment planning, and patient data management. The development of this platform has been supported by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, underscoring the country's commitment to leveraging technology for healthcare improvement.
A review titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” authored by Ashok Sharma and colleagues from AIIMS and C-DAC, explores the potential of AI in strengthening cancer screening and diagnosis. The review emphasizes how AI can improve access to specialist care, addressing disparities in cancer treatment, especially in resource-limited settings of the Global South.
Pilot Stage and Future Prospects
Currently, iOncology.ai is undergoing pilot-stage clinical validation to evaluate its performance and potential application in clinical environments. Although the platform is not yet clinically validated, it is being tested in research settings with plans for multicentre validation to establish its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility.
Dr. Ashok Sharma highlighted that iOncology.ai represents an opportunity for India to demonstrate the impact of locally developed innovations in bridging healthcare gaps. “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,” Dr. Sharma noted.
A Critical Need in BRICS Nations
BRICS countries, which account for over 40% of the world’s population, face significant challenges in cancer care, with approximately 9 million new cancer cases and 4.66 million deaths annually. The review points to disparities in cancer patterns and access to care across these nations, highlighting the importance of platforms like iOncology.ai.
The platform utilizes curated Indian datasets, including clinical, radiological, and histopathological information. Plans are underway to incorporate genetic data and integrate with electronic health record systems to further enhance its capabilities.