Indian AI platform for cancer care featured in BRICS health journal
The platform, iOncology.ai, has been developed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Pune, with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
An Indian AI platform for cancer care called iOncology.ai will receive global attention at the upcoming BRICS Summit. This technology was showcased in a special edition of The BRICS Health Journal, unveiled during the September 12-13 summit. The platform was developed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Pune, and backed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
iOncology.ai aims to streamline cancer care by integrating clinical data, aiding early detection, risk assessment, treatment planning, multidisciplinary review, and managing long-term patient data. The review titled "Transforming cancer care in emerging economies: India’s AI innovation," authored by Dr. Ashok Sharma and colleagues from AIIMS New Delhi and C-DAC Pune, discusses the potential of AI in enhancing cancer screening, early diagnosis, and access to specialist care in developing nations.
Currently undergoing pilot-stage clinical validation, the platform's performance and feasibility in real-world settings are being assessed. Dr. Sharma highlighted that India has a chance to showcase how locally-developed innovations like iOncology.ai can help alleviate cancer-care disparities within the Global South. He emphasized that through BRICS collaboration, the focus should be on reinforcing cancer prevention, early diagnosis, treatment, and therapy using evidence-based, interoperable solutions tailored to the needs of emerging economies.
The review underscores that BRICS countries represent more than 40% of the world's population, with approximately 9 million new cancer cases and 4.66 million deaths annually. It also underscores significant disparities in cancer patterns and access to screening, early diagnosis, and specialist care across these nations. iOncology.ai is aligned with India's expanding cancer-control and digital-health infrastructure, including population screening, cancer surveillance, tertiary care, and the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.
However, it is important to note that iOncology.ai has yet to undergo clinical validation. It is being evaluated in a research setting, and there is currently no peer-reviewed evidence validating its diagnostic accuracy, clinical utility, or effectiveness. Before it can be widely adopted in clinical practice, prospective multicentre validation is necessary.
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