New Delhi, Dec 12: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing healthcare and pharmaceuticals during his address at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Pharma & Life Sciences Summit 2025, stressing that thoughtful integration of AI, paired with private sector partnerships, could drive India’s biotech leadership.
Dr Singh praised the shift in governance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where the government proactively engages industry in a “whole-of-government, whole-of-industry” model. He noted collaborations in cutting-edge fields like gene therapy, biotechnology, and vaccine development, with the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) teaming up with private firms on indigenous innovations such as synthetic antibiotics, DNA and HPV vaccines, and bio-manufacturing.
Declaring AI indispensable for diagnostics, drug discovery, and healthcare delivery, the Minister advocated a hybrid approach balancing technology with human empathy. He cited AI-driven diagnostics slashing culture testing from days to minutes and AI-powered telemedicine reaching remote villages in local dialects, boosting patient trust and outcomes.
Dr Singh invited industry to tap the newly launched ₹1 lakh crore R&D Fund for deep-tech in health and agriculture, marking a first where government directly funds private innovation. He celebrated India’s evolution from importing curative care to exporting preventive solutions like vaccines, biosimilars, and affordable devices, urging stakeholders to co-create an integrated science-medicine-technology ecosystem for global impact.
