JP Nadda Urges Early Lung Screening, Responsible AI Use In Health Sector

Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda called for stronger global action on early lung-health screening and responsible AI deployment in healthcare at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva. He stressed the importance of timely screening, early diagnosis, and equitable access to care for building resilient health systems, citing India’s National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme and the TB-Mukt Bharat campaign as key initiatives. India has expanded active case finding for tuberculosis and lung diseases through house-to-house outreach, mobile screening teams, and community campaigns in high-risk areas. The country has scaled up modern diagnostics, including molecular testing platforms, digital chest X-ray services, AI-assisted interpretation tools, and handheld screening devices to reduce diagnostic delays in remote regions. Nadda highlighted the TB Mukt Bharat App, which features 'Khushi,' an AI-enabled multilingual chatbot accessible on basic smartphones. The app provides real-time guidance on symptoms, entitlements, and nearby diagnostic facilities, bridging gaps between symptom onset and timely care. At another event, Nadda emphasized that AI-led healthcare must adhere to sound regulation, rigorous research, ethical oversight, and equity to ensure benefits reach all citizens. He also announced the launch of the Strategy for AI in Healthcare for India (SAHI) during the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, describing it as the first comprehensive AI strategy from the Global South, guiding India’s ethical and transparent healthcare transformation.