Apollo Hospitals, a leading healthcare provider in India, is increasing its investment in artificial intelligence (AI) to improve operational efficiency and reduce administrative tasks for healthcare professionals. The hospital chain, which operates over 10,000 beds, has been allocating 3.5% of its digital budget to AI in the past two years and plans to increase this investment to free up more time for doctors and nurses.
Apollo’s goal is to use AI to automate tasks such as medical documentation, diagnostic support, and patient records management, allowing healthcare professionals to focus on more critical tasks. The hospital is developing AI-powered tools to analyze electronic medical records, provide diagnostic recommendations, and assist with test ordering and treatment plans. Additionally, Apollo is working on an AI-powered system to help clinicians select appropriate antibiotics.
The company plans to expand its bed capacity by one-third in the next four years, with a portion of the revenue from this expansion going towards further AI development. However, Apollo faces challenges such as high implementation costs, inconsistent data formats, and limited electronic medical records, which can slow AI adoption in the healthcare sector. Despite these challenges, healthcare providers believe that AI can improve efficiency and patient care, with investments expected to grow in the coming years.
Overall, Apollo’s increased investment in AI is a significant step towards improving healthcare operations and enhancing the patient experience. As the company looks to expand its bed capacity and AI capabilities, it will be interesting to see how it overcomes the challenges and maximizes the benefits of AI in the healthcare sector.