AI's Impact on Healthcare: Insights from Pune's Top Doctors

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning have dramatically transformed the medical field and healthcare. AI is reshaping the way patients are diagnosed, treated, and monitored. On this Doctors' Day, Pune Times Mirror spoke with specialized doctors to understand the profound impact of AI on healthcare.

Dr. Lata Bhoir, head of the Surgery department at Sassoon General Hospital, highlighted the importance of AI in medicine. She explained, 'In robotic surgery, specific software is installed in robots to perform surgeries. However, this is still handled by robotic machines and not AI. But in radiology and pathology, AI is used extensively. When X-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans are conducted, AI software reads and generates reports. Manually reading these reports takes a lot of time, but now radiology hospitals require less manpower.'

Dr. Bhoir added, 'Similarly, AI software processes data from numerous tests, reads, and analyzes reports from blood and other tests conducted at pathology labs. While machines do not diagnose diseases, they analyze reports. AI is generally accurate, but it can occasionally make mistakes, although this is rare.'

AI, like in all fields, analyzes large data sets, offers insights, and provides recommendations. Algorithms based on extensive clinical data sets can predict patients' clinical outcomes. AI can make sense of vast amounts of clinical data that human beings cannot manage.

Dr. Jyoti Mehta, Consultant Radiation Oncologist at Onco-Life Cancer Centre, Talegaon, shared, 'AI is becoming increasingly popular in healthcare. It enables experts to make faster and more accurate decisions, thereby saving patients' lives. From analyzing medical scans to predicting disease risks based on patient data, AI can help with timely diagnosis, and doctors can develop personalized treatment plans.'

She further noted, 'AI is also useful in various administrative tasks such as appointment scheduling and record-keeping. AI-powered chatbots and virtual health assistants are a boon for patients. They make healthcare information readily available and accessible, even to those in remote areas. Currently, AI has revolutionized the healthcare sector.'

Dr. Randhir Kenjale, consultant spine and orthopedic surgeon at Ruby Hall Clinic, discussed the role of AI in orthopedics. He stated, 'AI in the orthopedic field is still in its early stages in India. However, AI-based software is used in robotic surgeries, especially in joint replacement surgeries. AI gathers large sets of data, processes it, and recommends solutions for patient treatment. In a few months, we will have advanced AI-based robotic machines that will perform precise surgeries, reducing inaccuracies and increasing precision in outcomes.'

AI is also reshaping cancer treatment by planning treatments and developing new drugs. It helps with early detection, predicts patients' responses to therapies, develops treatment plans, and aids in discovering new drugs.

Dr. Lata Bhoir reiterated, 'AI is generally accurate but can occasionally make mistakes, although this is rare.'

As AI continues to evolve, its integration into healthcare promises to bring more advancements and benefits, improving patient outcomes and making healthcare more efficient and accessible.