Punjab Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Centre for Health Research and Innovation to deploy artificial intelligence-driven technologies across parts of its public healthcare system, with an initial focus on screening and early detection at the grassroots level.
The agreement is aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery through AI-enabled diagnostic support, faster assessments and improved referral pathways. The pilot will be implemented in Patiala, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib districts, where selected tools will be used to assist frontline healthcare workers in identifying cardiac and respiratory conditions at an early stage.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the collaboration would help bring advanced healthcare technologies closer to people and support timely intervention. The initiative is expected to be rolled out through public health facilities, with healthcare providers receiving training to use the devices and integrate the process into routine care.
Under the pilot, AI-enabled tools such as Sunfox Spandan ECG and a digital stethoscope, referred to as AI Steth, will be deployed for quick cardiac assessments and respiratory screenings. The tools are designed to help health workers capture relevant patient data and generate preliminary insights that can support further medical evaluation. Officials said the project would also help in building a stronger referral system by flagging cases that require specialist attention.
The move comes at a time when state governments are increasingly exploring digital health solutions to reduce the pressure on tertiary hospitals and improve access in semi-urban and rural areas. By placing screening technologies closer to communities, the government aims to identify health risks earlier and enable patients to seek care before complications increase.
The Centre for Health Research and Innovation will support the deployment and training process as part of the partnership. The implementation will include capacity building for medical officers and frontline health staff so that AI-enabled screening can be carried out with adequate oversight. The pilot is also expected to generate operational insights on how such technologies can be scaled across the public health system.
For Punjab, the agreement adds to a series of technology-led interventions in healthcare, including previous efforts around AI-enabled screening and digital health monitoring. The latest pilot, however, places specific emphasis on routine public health delivery, especially for conditions that often require early diagnosis to improve outcomes.
While AI tools are not a replacement for doctors, they can assist health teams by improving the speed and consistency of screening. In public healthcare settings, where patient volumes are often high, such technologies may help prioritise cases and reduce delays in referral. Medical confirmation and treatment decisions will continue to depend on qualified healthcare professionals.
The success of the pilot will depend on the accuracy of the tools, quality of training, data handling practices and the ability of local facilities to follow up on flagged cases. Officials are expected to monitor the results before deciding on wider adoption across the state.
The initiative also reflects the wider shift in India’s healthcare ecosystem, where artificial intelligence is being tested for diagnostics, preventive care, patient monitoring and decision support. For technology companies and healthcare innovators, public sector pilots such as this could create opportunities to demonstrate practical use cases beyond large hospitals and private clinics.
As the pilot begins across the three districts, the Punjab Government will be looking to assess whether AI-backed screening can improve early detection, support frontline staff and make basic diagnostics more accessible. The outcome may influence how similar digital health models are adopted in other parts of the state.
The findings could also guide procurement, training needs and district-level planning for future public health technology rollouts.