Ahmedabad: India is widely known as the “pharmacy of the world” because of its strong pharmaceutical industry, but the country must now move towards becoming the “laboratory of the world” through innovation-led growth, Union minister of state for health and family welfare Anupriya Patel said on Saturday.She was speaking at the inaugural session of the IIMA Healthcare Summit 2026 at IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A), where she stressed the need for greater innovation and technological advancement in the healthcare sector.Describing artificial intelligence as a “force multiplier in healthcare management and delivery”, Patel said AI can help doctors, scientists and researchers process vast amounts of information and improve treatment outcomes. “It will help us move towards a future where every patient receives the right treatment at the right time, even in remote areas. But we also need to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI,” she said.The minister highlighted initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, saying they can strengthen screening programmes, clinical decision-support systems, disease surveillance, risk prediction, remote monitoring and personalised follow-up care.The event was attended by Punya Srivastava, secretary, ministry of health and family welfare; Manoj Joshi, secretary, department of pharmaceuticals; Rajeev Raghuvanshi, DCGI; and Sunil Barnwal, CEO of the National Health Authority, among others. The summit also witnessed the launch of the India Pharma Archives website and a book on Covid-19 vaccine development in India.Pankaj Patel, chairperson of the IIM-A board of governors and chairperson of Zydus Lifesciences, said India’s pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors are witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by technological advancements and a greater focus on patient-centric care.The summit also featured panel discussions on policy imperatives for India in 2047 and the role of AI in transforming diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and healthcare delivery. A startup showcase focusing on healthcare and AI innovations was also organised during the event.
