AI transforms healthcare industry
Source: The Sangai Express / Konsam Samita

Imphal, April 12 2025: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the healthcare industry and made life easier for patients, doctors and hospital administrators alike.

However, innovations in AI should be paired with increased awareness and education on the subject.

Speaking to The Sangai Express about the transformative impact of AI on the healthcare industry, Keithellakpam Poirei Federick, IT Manager, American Oncology Institute (AOI) at Babina Speciality Hospital, Imphal, said that AI technology is employed in stroke management, early detection of cancer and tuberculosis and in neurosurgery.

In treatment of cancer, AI-powered systems are used in early detection and diagnosis and AI algorithms in treatment, planning and precision oncology.

At AOI, AI technology is used in various clinical applications including the tedious work of formulating patients' vital discharge summary to save time, said Keithellakpam Poirei Federick.

Verbally dictating the patient's discharge summary allows the AI application to take notes, thus reducing the content writing tasks.

Earlier this work required a doctor and a nurse assistant, but AI has made the job easier by entirely skipping the arduous task of typing out the summary, he added.

On another note, Poirei Federick introduced another "semi AI" application that will update a patient's information after he/she gets a ticket from the hospital counter for registration.

In the past, doctors gave handwritten prescriptions and plans of treatment to patients.

But now everything has been computerized.

The application will automatically store the spoken input (oral dictation) of the diagnosis, treatment etc and save it as a note.

Saying that many machines at the AOI are automated, he expressed belief the equipment will be replaced by AI in the future.

Many people, including AOI staff, harbour apprehension that their jobs will be affected by such transformations in the healthcare sector.

Dispelling this fear, Poirei Federick said that AI technology will only minimize human effort and reduce their burden.

He reiterated that advancements in AI will not reduce job opportunities but increase it as humans cannot be replaced.

Any update on a machine will cut down on human labour, but artificial systems can break down, which will require human intervention.

Poirei Federick maintained that AI applications will need to be reframed in the future as they will need a human touch.

This article was written as part of the 5th Scientific Journalism Programme on AI and its uses organized by the Public Relations & Media Management (PRMM) Cell of Central Agricultural University (CAU), Imphal .

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