Judicious use of AI can be boon for healthcare pharma sectors: Dr Jitendra Singh
New Delhi: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology Dr Jitendra Singh has emphasized that judicious use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a boon for healthcare pharma sectors, while underscoring the government’s strong collaboration with the private sector in emerging biotechnology and gene therapy projects.
Addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Pharma & Life Sciences Summit 2025, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the biggest transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership has been that the government reaches out to the industry with equal enthusiasm, reflecting a true whole-of-government, whole-of-industry approach.
The Minister highlighted that AI is no longer a choice but an essential tool in diagnostics, drug discovery, and healthcare delivery. He, however, said that its use has to be human-centric. “The real challenge is how effectively we integrate AI in a hybrid model that balances technology with human empathy,” he remarked.
Citing examples from healthcare innovation, he said AI-based diagnostic models are now reducing time for culture testing from days to minutes, and telemedicine projects driven by AI are extending medical services to remote villages in local dialects, significantly improving patient confidence and outcomes.
Highlighting India’s growing scientific and industrial capabilities, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the government is actively partnering with the private sector in frontier areas such as gene therapy, biotechnology, and vaccine development. He mentioned that several Department of Biotechnology (DBT) initiatives now operate in collaboration with leading private firms to develop indigenous solutions in areas like synthetic antibiotics, DNA and HPV vaccines, and bio-manufacturing.
Referring to the government’s broader research push, the Minister invited industry leaders to leverage the recently announced Rs 1 lakh crore R&D Fund, which supports deep-tech projects across health, agriculture, and other sectors. “For the first time, the government is financing private companies for innovation — marking a paradigm shift in India’s R&D ecosystem,” he noted.
Dr. Jitendra Singh also lauded India’s transition from being an importer of curative healthcare to an exporter of preventive healthcare, citing the country’s growing global footprint in vaccines, biosimilars, and affordable medical devices. “We are now producing high-quality, cost-effective health technologies that are finding markets across the world,” he added.
Concluding his address, the Minister urged industry stakeholders to act as partners in national progress, not only leading their own sectors but also suggesting new areas for collaboration.
“Science, medicine, and technology are now part of a single ecosystem, and together we must prepare for a larger, integrated role in shaping the future of global healthcare,” he said.
