Robotics, AI and IT: Paving the way towards revolutionised healthcare system

June 21, 2024

NEW DELHI – ‘Doom of humanity’ and ‘A tool that will replace and render humans useless’- the past few years have been bombarded with such speculations with the rise of AI at an alarming rate. However, every coin has two sides. With the correct administration, monitoring and supervision, AI can overcome human limitations and guide us towards a brighter and more hopeful future. In recent years, various path-breaking discoveries in the biological and medical fields have altered how we deal with health, and disease.

There is a famous proverb that states, “A good surgeon must have an eagle’s eye, a lion’s heart and a lady’s hand.” However, doctors are bound by the constraints of being human. Fatigue, exhaustion and tremors restrict the human body from hundred per cent efficiency. With the blend of a doctor’s expertise and a robot’s precision, the discovery of Robotic Assisted Surgery (RAS) has improved patient outcomes, reduced the time for hospital stay and significantly reduced blood loss and damage to surrounding tissues during surgeries. This system comprises a robotic arm, console, patient cart and image screen, which provides a three-dimensional view of the target area for surgery. The motion of the robotic arm is controlled by its input data and the surgeon’s hand movement, allowing it to navigate a small field with accuracy and finesse. More than a hundred robotic systems have been installed across the country to assist in the fields of cardiology, laparoscopy, gynaecology and more.

Another significant discovery is the use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) for the treatment of mental health disorders. They morph the real-life environment with a virtual and stimulated one. VR headsets