How AI is Revolutionizing Healthcare Services

Ajay Khajuria
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of healthcare, making it more accessible, accurate, and proactive. I recently came across a fascinating advancement where a healthcare facility has developed an AI-powered system that uses facial scanning to capture basic health parameterssuch as blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse rate, and respiratory ratewithout the need for traditional medical equipment. This innovation is made possible through sophisticated algorithms that allow for a gadget-free health assessment, simply through a camera scan.
What’s even more impressive is that the same system can assess your stress levels and provide insights into your current mental and emotional state. For those of us born in the mid-1970s, who’ve witnessed the evolution from bulky manual BP monitors to compact handheld devices, this leap to touchless diagnostics is nothing short of revolutionary. All it requires is a decent smartphone and internet connection.
This breakthrough has immense potential across various domains, especially in resource-constrained settings. Here are some compelling use cases:
Rural and Remote Healthcare Monitoring
In regions like the upper hills of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, or remote parts of Ladakh, where access to healthcare is limited, this AI-enabled face scan technology can be a game-changer. Pregnant women and other vulnerable individuals can be regularly monitored for vital signs without needing physical medical devices. Doctors, even if located remotely, can analyse these readings and take timely action if any parameter seems abnormal. This has the potential to transform the rural healthcare landscape by offering preventive care with minimal infrastructure.
Mental Health and Student Well-being
These AI tools are not limited to physical health-they can also detect emotional and psychological patterns through subtle facial cues, tone of voice, and biometric responses. By identifying signs of anxiety, depression, or high stress, they can serve as virtual counselors, offering timely alerts and guidance. In the context of academic stress, especially around exam results, such systems could play a critical role in suicide prevention by detecting early warning signs and initiating appropriate interventions.
Road Safety and Accident Prevention
Imagine embedding such technology into cars or bikes,where a mandatory scan before ignition checks for the driver’s stress, BP, or unstable vitals. If the system finds any signs concerning, it can prevent the vehicle from starting or issue a warning. This could significantly reduce road accidents caused by fatigue, stress, or impaired judgment.
The use cases are endless and deeply impactful. Technology like AI must be harnessed to improve the quality of life for all. When people witness these real-world benefits, even skeptics begin to recognize the transformative potential of AI. I say this not from hearsay, but from direct observation and interaction with such innovations and with conviction, I can state that AI is not just the future, it is the present working towards a healthier, safer world.
(The author is Professor-of-Practice at MIET & Member advisory board Impact Guru Foundation)

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