India's AI Cancer Care Platform iOncology.ai Highlighted in BRICS Journal
iOncology.ai, developed by AIIMS and C-DAC, gains international attention in BRICS Health Journal for its potential to transform cancer care.
At the recent BRICS Summit, an Indian artificial intelligence platform, iOncology.ai, was prominently featured in the BRICS Health Journal. This platform, developed collaboratively by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune, is supported by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
AI-Powered Innovations in Cancer Care
The iOncology.ai platform is designed to enhance cancer care by integrating clinical data, facilitating early detection, and assisting in treatment planning. The platform also supports multidisciplinary reviews and longitudinal patient-data management. A review titled “Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation,” authored by Ashok Sharma and his team, examines the potential of AI to improve cancer screening and diagnosis in India.
The platform is currently in the pilot stage, undergoing clinical validation and implementation evaluation to determine its efficacy in real-world settings. Dr. Ashok Sharma emphasized the opportunity for India to showcase how local innovations could address cancer-care disparities in emerging economies, especially through BRICS collaboration.
Addressing Global Cancer Challenges
The BRICS countries collectively account for over 40% of the global population, facing approximately 9 million new cancer cases and 4.66 million deaths annually. The review underscores the significant disparities in cancer patterns and healthcare access across these nations. iOncology.ai aims to be a part of India’s expanding cancer-control efforts, including the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
The platform employs curated Indian clinical, radiological, and histopathological datasets, with plans to incorporate genetic data in the future. However, it is still in the research phase, lacking peer-reviewed evidence of its diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility. Comprehensive multicentre validation is required before it can be widely adopted in clinical settings.
Future Prospects and Global Impact
iOncology.ai’s inclusion in the BRICS Health Journal highlights the growing global interest in using technology to tackle healthcare challenges. The platform’s development reflects a broader trend towards evidence-based, interoperable solutions tailored to the needs of resource-constrained settings. As the platform progresses through validation, it holds promise for empowering clinicians and improving cancer care outcomes across the Global South.